Deuteronomy 23:4
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights not just one, but two distinct acts of hostility: the refusal of basic hospitality and the active hiring of a sorcerer to curse them. This wasn't just a passive snub; it was a deliberate attempt to harm Israel, showing a profound rejection of their God-given journey and destiny.
This verse explains why certain nations, specifically the Ammonites and Moabites, are permanently excluded from Israel's community. It stems from their hostile actions and refusal of basic hospitality during Israel's difficult journey out of Egypt, especially their attempt to hire the prophet Balaam to curse God's people. This prohibition sets them apart from other nations like the Edomites and Egyptians, who receive different treatment based on their historical interactions with Israel.
Imagine journeying for days, parched and weary. What basic kindness should you expect from those you encounter?
This verse highlights a fundamental failure of hospitality by the Ammonites and Moabites. Israel, fresh from their miraculous exodus from Egypt, was a vulnerable and weary people.
What happens when your enemies don't just fight you, but actively seek to destroy you through spiritual means?
The second offense mentioned is even more sinister: hiring Balaam to curse Israel. This reveals a deep-seated hostility that went beyond political or military opposition.
Understand the original words
arar · Hebrew Verb
To speak evil against or invoke divine judgment upon someone or something. In the Old Testament, it implies an authoritative declaration intended to bring harm or failure upon others.
This passage directly describes Balak, the king of Moab, hiring Balaam to curse Israel, highlighting the specific act mentioned in Deuteronomy and showing its historical context.
Joshua 24:9-10This verse echoes the event from Israel's perspective, recounting how Balak rose against them and sent for Balaam to curse them, reinforcing the gravity of their actions.
Nehemiah 13:1-2This later passage references Deuteronomy 23:4, showing how the memory of these nations' hostility and refusal to help Israel influenced community decisions even centuries later.
Romans 11:28-29While about a different context, this New Testament passage speaks to God's enduring purposes and how His gifts and calling are irrevocable, offering a theological lens on why past actions might lead to lasting consequences for nations.
gillDeuteronomy 23:4: "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."
Because they met you not with bread and with water,.... To supply them therewith, either as a gift, which was a piece of humanity to strangers and travellers, or rather to sell unto them, for on no other terms did the Israelites desire their bread and their water: in the way when ye…
calvinDeuteronomy 23:3-8: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:"
Eo quod non exceperint vos cum pane et aqua in via, posteaquam egressi estis ex Aegypto, et quod mercede conduxerit adversum te Bileam filium Beor de Pethor e Mesopotamia Syriae, ut malediceret tibi.
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse i…
The verse highlights not just one, but two distinct acts of hostility: the refusal of basic hospitality and the active hiring of a sorcerer to curse them. This wasn't just a passive snub; it was a deliberate attempt to harm Israel, showing a profound rejection of their God-given journey and destiny.
This verse explains why certain nations, specifically the Ammonites and Moabites, are permanently excluded from Israel's community. It stems from their hostile actions and refusal of basic hospitality during Israel's difficult journey out of Egypt, especially their attempt to hire the prophet Balaam to curse God's people. This prohibition sets them apart from other nations like the Edomites and Egyptians, who receive different treatment based on their historical interactions with Israel.
This verse explains why certain nations, specifically the Ammonites and Moabites, are permanently excluded from Israel's community. It stems from their hostile actions and refusal of basic hospitality during Israel's difficult journey out of Egypt, especially their attempt to hire the prophet Balaam to curse God's people. This prohibition sets them apart from other nations like the Edomites and Egyptians, who receive different treatment based on their historical interactions with Israel.
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"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." — The verse highlights not just one, but two distinct acts of hostility: the refusal of basic hospitality and the active hiring of a sorcerer to curse them. This wasn't just a passive snub; it was a de…
