Deuteronomy 23 4

Deuteronomy 23:4 kjv

Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

Deuteronomy 23:4 nkjv

because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

Deuteronomy 23:4 niv

For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you.

Deuteronomy 23:4 esv

because they did not 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.

Deuteronomy 23:4 nlt

These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in distant Aram-naharaim to curse you.

Deuteronomy 23 verses

Deuteronomy 23 4 Meaning

Deuteronomy 23:4 provides the divine rationale for the permanent exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the "assembly of the Lord." This severe consequence stems from two distinct offenses committed during Israel's exodus from Egypt: first, their failure to provide essential sustenance (food and water) to the Israelites, a fundamental act of hospitality and humanitarian aid; and second, their active hostility in attempting to hire Balaam, a pagan prophet, to curse God's chosen people.

Deuteronomy 23 4 Context

Deuteronomy 23 is part of Moses' final addresses to the Israelites before they enter the promised land. This chapter outlines specific purity and inclusion laws for "the assembly of the Lord." Verses 1-8 establish categories of people perpetually or temporarily excluded, covering matters of lineage, physical integrity, and foreign origin. Verse 4, specifically, elaborates on the precise historical reasons for the lasting prohibition against the Ammonites and Moabites. The events referenced, particularly the hiring of Balaam, are well-documented in the Book of Numbers (chapters 22-24) and occurred directly prior to Israel reaching the plains of Moab, underscoring the recency and significance of these hostile actions.

Deuteronomy 23 4 Word analysis

• because: (ki - כִּי): Introduces the reason or justification for the prohibition mentioned in Deut 23:3. It signals that the exclusion is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of past actions.
• they did not meet you: (lo qidmu - לֹא קִדְּמוּ): Signifies a deliberate failure to welcome or provide aid. The verb qidmu can mean "to meet," "to confront," but here, in the context of travel and need, it implies failure to meet with aid. It points to a passive, yet significant, omission of expected conduct.
• with food and water: (balekhem u'bamaim - בַּלֶּחֶם וּבַמַּיִם): Essential provisions for survival, especially for a vast multitude traveling through arid terrain. The lack of these basic necessities highlights their lack of compassion and humanity towards Israel in a time of great vulnerability.
• on the way: (baderekh - בַּדֶּרֶךְ): Emphasizes the difficult and perilous conditions of Israel's journey through the wilderness. This makes the Ammonites' and Moabites' inaction particularly egregious.
• when you came out of Egypt: Specifies the precise historical moment when this neglect occurred, directly following the great act of divine liberation.
• and because they hired: (ve'sakhu - וְשָׂכְרוּ): The conjunction "and" connects this second, equally serious offense. sakhu means "they hired" or "they rented." This action indicates premeditated, active malice.
• against you: ('aleikha - עָלֶיךָ): Shows the direction of their hostility – specifically targeted at Israel.
• Balaam the son of Beor: Identifies the specific individual. Balaam was a known diviner, a mercenary prophet, from Mesopotamia. His involvement highlights the pagan methods employed against God's people.
• from Pethor of Mesopotamia: Specifies Balaam's origin. Mesopotamia (Aramaic Aram Naharayim) was a distant region, indicating the effort and expense Moab and Ammon went to in order to harm Israel, demonstrating deep animosity.
• to curse you: (le'kallelka - לְקַלֶּלְךָ): States the explicit malicious intent. A curse invoked supernatural harm or disfavor, an attempt to counteract God's blessing and covenant promises to Israel.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt": This phrase describes a failure of basic humanitarian conduct, an egregious lack of hospitality towards a weary, vulnerable people directly blessed and led by God. It implies a moral deficiency and disregard for common human courtesy, especially given their ancestral relation to Israel through Lot.
• "and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you": This describes a direct act of premeditated aggression and spiritual warfare. They actively sought supernatural means to undermine God's work on behalf of Israel. This was not mere passive neglect but an overt challenge to God's blessing, demonstrating profound hostility. The geographical detail emphasizes their determination.

Deuteronomy 23 4 Bonus section

The exclusion outlined in Deut 23:4 (and 23:3) was significant, not merely prohibiting religious participation, but affecting full civic and communal integration within Israel. It barred Ammonites and Moabites from holding positions of influence, marrying into Israelite families in a way that granted full communal standing, and thereby permanently influencing the purity of the community and its worship of the Lord.

However, the Bible later demonstrates a profound principle of divine grace overriding legalistic exclusions. The story of Ruth, a Moabitess, who devoted herself to the God of Israel and became an ancestress of David and, ultimately, of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), illustrates that while national and ancestral transgressions had consequences, individual repentance and faith could lead to inclusion within God's people. This highlights that while national policies reflected God's judgment on unrighteousness and hostility, His grace could transform individuals, welcoming them into His broader redemptive plan. God remembered their actions but also showed grace through new lineage.

Deuteronomy 23 4 Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:4 articulates the comprehensive rationale for the perpetual exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the "assembly of the Lord," established in the preceding verse. The verse presents two foundational reasons for this severe decree. Firstly, it points to their egregious failure of basic human decency: during Israel's arduous wilderness journey following their exodus from Egypt, when the people were most vulnerable and in dire need of provisions, Moab and Ammon deliberately withheld food and water. This act of inhospitality was a grave omission, violating commonly understood norms of neighborly conduct in the ancient Near East and exhibiting a profound lack of compassion for a large, thirsty, and hungry multitude, especially given their shared ancestry through Lot.

Secondly, and perhaps more culpably, the verse highlights their active and malicious intent: they deliberately hired Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner from Mesopotamia, with the express purpose of cursing Israel. This act was not passive neglect but a direct, premeditated attempt to spiritually undermine God's covenant people and thwart His divine plan. Though Balaam ultimately could not curse whom God had blessed (a testament to God's sovereignty), the intent of Moab and Ammon remained profoundly hostile. God's response, through this exclusion, served as a perpetual reminder of their antagonism and a safeguarding of Israel's spiritual and social integrity, demonstrating His justice in defending His covenant nation from both passive neglect and active malevolence.