Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 'One wounded, bruised, or cut in the member doth not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; 2 a bastard doth not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even a tenth generation of him doth not enter into the assembly of Jehovah. 3 'An Ammonite and a Moabite doth not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even a tenth generation of them doth not enter into the assembly of Jehovah—to the age; 4 because that they have not come before you with bread and with water in the way, in your coming out from Egypt, and because he hath hired against thee Balaam son of Beor, of Pethor of Aram-Naharaim, to revile thee; 5 and Jehovah thy God hath not been willing to hearken unto Balaam, and Jehovah thy God doth turn for thee the reviling to a blessing, because Jehovah thy God hath loved thee; 6 thou dost not seek their peace and their good all thy days—to the age. 7 'Thou dost not abominate an Edomite, for thy brother he 'is'; thou dost not abominate an Egyptian, for a sojourner thou hast been in his land; 8 sons who are begotten of them, a third generation of them, doth enter into the assembly of Jehovah.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:1-8

(Read Deuteronomy 23:1-8)

We ought to value the privileges of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages. No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of blessings; and a bad example, or an unsuitable marriage, may shut our children from them.