Deut. 23 Who are to be excluded from the congregation, Deut. 23:1–6. An Edomite and Egyptian not to be abhorred, and why, Deut. 23:7–8. No uncleanness to be in the camp, Deut. 23:9–14. No filthiness, Deut. 23:17. No abominable sacrifice must be, Deut. 23:18. No usury, but to strangers, Deut.

Heb. wounded by compression, or attrition, or contusion, to wit, of the stones, which was the course the Gentiles took with infants to make them eunuchs. And these eunuchs and bastards, Deut.

A bastard; so the word is commonly rendered, and so it notes a person base-born, or born in fornication or adultery, or by incestuous or any prohibited mixtures of man and woman. Object. 1. This law seems harsh, and too severe for the innocent bastard. Answ. 1.

This may be understood either, 1. Of the males only, or the children of such fathers, as interpreters commonly take it. Or rather, 2. Of females also, or of all that were born either of such fathers or mothers, as may be gathered from Ezra 10:0 Neh.

They met you not, as the manner of those times was to wait and provide for strangers and travellers; see Gen. 14:17, Gen. 18:2–3, Gen. 19:1–2, Judg. 19:17–21; which was the more necessary, because in those times and countries there were no such public houses of entertainment, as now there are among…

i.e. Forced Balaam to bless thee, who was hired and inclined to curse thee, if possibly he could.

i.e. Make no contracts, either by marriages, or leagues, or commerce with them, but rather shalt constantly keep a jealous eye over them, as enemies who will watch every opportunity to insnare or disturb thee.

An Edomite; the children of Edom; only the Amalekites are excepted by God’s particular order, and upon special reason, Deut. 25:17–19. Thy brother, by Esau, Jacob’s brother.

Supposing their grandfather or great grandfather turned proselyte, and the children continue in that faith received by such ancestors.

Then especially take heed, because that is a time and state of confusion and licentiousness, when, as one said, the laws of God and man cannot be heard for the noise of arms; and because the success of thy arms and enterprises depends upon God’s blessing, which wicked men have no reason to expect;…

Of which uncleanness see Lev. 15:4, Lev. 15:16–17; or by uncleanness of any like kind; one kind being here, as oft, put for all. He shall go out of the camp. Quest. Why doth this uncleanness oblige a man to go out of the camp, when it did not oblige him to such a removal, Lev. 15:0? Answ. 1.

To wit, to ease thyself, as it follows, Deut. 23:13.

A paddle; the nature of which may be known from the use, which here follows. Cover that which cometh from thee; partly, to prevent the annoyance of ourselves or others; partly, to preserve and exercise modesty and natural honesty; and principally, that by such outward rites they might be inured to…

In the midst of thy camp; either because the ark was commonly present with them, or at least some of the holy instruments, which were pledges of God’s presence; or because God had promised to go forth with them when they engaged in a just and necessary war.

This is not to be understood universally, as if all servants that flee from their masters, though without any sufficient cause or colour of justice, might be detained from them by any person to whom they fled for refuge, for this is apparently contrary to all the laws of religion, and justice, and…

Taking advantage from his low and afflicted condition to be unreasonable or injurious to him.

No common prostitute, such, as were tolerated and encouraged by the Gentiles, and used even in their religious worship. Of the daughters of Israel; not that such practices were allowed to the strangers among them, as is evident from many scriptures and reasons, but that it was in a peculiar manner,…

This is opposed to the practice of the Gentiles, who allowed both such persons and their oblations they made out of their wicked and infamous gains; and some of them kept lewd women, who prostituted themselves in the temples, and to the honour of their false gods, and offered part of their profit…

i.e. So as to receive thy principal money or thing left with such increase or improvement of it, as was usual and allowed among the Gentiles. But whether all usury be unlawful to Christians is too great a question to be determined in a work of this nature. See Ex. 22:25, Deut. 15:3, Ps. 15:5, Neh.

Unto a stranger, i.e. to a person of any other nation, for so that word is generally used, and therefore they who restrain it to the cursed Canaanitish nations seem to do so without any solid or sufficient grounds.

Thou shalt not slack to pay it, to wit, if the matter of it be lawful, and in thy own power. See Num. 30:2. Not slack or delay, because delays may make thee both unable to pay it, and unwilling too, the sense of one’s obligation growing every day weaker than other, &c. It would be sin in thee, i.e.

A free-will offering; which though thou didst freely make, yet being made, thou art no longer free, but obliged to perform it.

Thou mayest eat grapes thy fill; which was allowed in those parts, because of the great plenty and fruitfulness of vines there.