Deuteronomy 23 · a question people ask

What is "the LORD’s assembly" that some may not enter?

In the text

The chapter doesn't define it. The Hebrew word is qahal. Four of Deuteronomy's other uses are Israel gathered at Horeb: "The LORD spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire" (5:22), and "in the day of the assembly" (9:10, 10:4, 18:16). The fifth is "all the assembly of Israel" who heard Moses' song (31:30). In Numbers "the LORD’s assembly" names the whole people (Numbers 16:3, 20:4). This chapter names who may not enter it (23:1-3) and who may: "The children of the third generation" of an Edomite or an Egyptian (23:8). Later Scripture uses the word of it again. Lamentations mourns that "the nations have entered into her sanctuary, concerning whom you commanded that they should not enter into your assembly" (Lamentations 1:10). Through Isaiah the LORD says to eunuchs who "hold fast to my covenant", "I will give them in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters" (Isaiah 56:4-5). Isaiah doesn't use the word assembly or name Deuteronomy 23, and his word for eunuch, saris, isn't one of the words of 23:1. The text doesn't say how these passages fit together.

The verses

“The LORD spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.”
Deuteronomy 5:22 · World English Bible
“The LORD delivered to me the two stone tablets written with God’s finger. On them were all the words which the LORD spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly.”
Deuteronomy 9:10 · World English Bible
“He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.”
Deuteronomy 10:4 · World English Bible
“This is according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the LORD my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.””
Deuteronomy 18:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Deuteronomy 23

Deuteronomy 23: Turned into a blessing

Moab was kept out for what it did, no bread and a hired curse, yet "the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you" (23:5). Israel may not abhor an Egyptian (23:7), the LORD walks in the middle of the camp (23:14), and a servant who escaped may live "in the place which he shall choose" (23:16), in words Deuteronomy uses for the LORD's choosing.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions