Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
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What does "Deuteronomy 23:4" mean?
This verse (Deuteronomy 23:4) gives two reasons why the Ammonites and Moabites were to be excluded from the assembly of the Lord (meaning they couldn't fully integrate into the Israelite community through marriage and religious participation):
1. Lack of Hospitality: The first reason is that they failed to provide bread and water to the Israelites when they were weary and vulnerable after fleeing Egypt. This was considered a basic act of kindness and hospitality that they should have offered. The Israelites were refugees, escaping slavery, and the Ammonites and Moabites should have, according to the ancient Near Eastern standards of hospitality, helped them. By not doing so, they showed hostility or at least a lack of compassion.
2. Hiring Balaam to Curse Israel: The second reason is that they hired Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia, to curse the Israelites. This was a direct act of aggression and an attempt to spiritually harm the Israelites. The narrative of Balaam and his attempts to curse Israel (but being forced by God to bless them instead) is found in Numbers 22-24. Even though Balaam ultimately failed to curse them, the intention behind their action was viewed as a grave offense.
In Summary:
The verse explains why the Ammonites and Moabites are being excluded from the Israelite community.
It highlights their lack of basic hospitality during a time of need.
It condemns their attempt to spiritually harm the Israelites by hiring Balaam.
These actions were seen as a violation of basic human decency and a direct act of hostility against God's chosen people. This verse acts as a justification for the restrictive laws against these groups in the Israelite community. The reasons provided serve to emphasize the contrast between the expected behavior of neighbors and the hostile actions of the Ammonites and Moabites.
Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
What does "Deuteronomy 23:4" mean?
This verse (Deuteronomy 23:4) gives two reasons why the Ammonites and Moabites were to be excluded from the assembly of the Lord (meaning they couldn't fully integrate into the Israelite community through marriage and religious participation):
1. Lack of Hospitality: The first reason is that they failed to provide bread and water to the Israelites when they were weary and vulnerable after fleeing Egypt. This was considered a basic act of kindness and hospitality that they should have offered. The Israelites were refugees, escaping slavery, and the Ammonites and Moabites should have, according to the ancient Near Eastern standards of hospitality, helped them. By not doing so, they showed hostility or at least a lack of compassion.
2. Hiring Balaam to Curse Israel: The second reason is that they hired Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia, to curse the Israelites. This was a direct act of aggression and an attempt to spiritually harm the Israelites. The narrative of Balaam and his attempts to curse Israel (but being forced by God to bless them instead) is found in Numbers 22-24. Even though Balaam ultimately failed to curse them, the intention behind their action was viewed as a grave offense.
In Summary:
The verse explains why the Ammonites and Moabites are being excluded from the Israelite community.
It highlights their lack of basic hospitality during a time of need.
It condemns their attempt to spiritually harm the Israelites by hiring Balaam.
These actions were seen as a violation of basic human decency and a direct act of hostility against God's chosen people. This verse acts as a justification for the restrictive laws against these groups in the Israelite community. The reasons provided serve to emphasize the contrast between the expected behavior of neighbors and the hostile actions of the Ammonites and Moabites.