What historical context helps us understand Deuteronomy 23:7's message about Edomites and Egyptians? Setting the Scene Deuteronomy was delivered on the plains of Moab, just before Israel crossed the Jordan. Moses is preparing a new generation to live as God’s covenant people in the land of promise. In the midst of practical laws, the Lord inserts a striking directive about two neighboring peoples. “You must not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. You must not despise an Egyptian, because you resided as foreigners in his land.” (Deuteronomy 23:7) Who Were the Edomites? • Descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin (Genesis 25:24-26; 36:1) • Settled in the rugged country of Seir, south of the Dead Sea (Genesis 36:8-9) • Shared ancestry makes them literal “brothers” to Israel Israel’s Complicated History with Edom • Sibling rivalry began in the womb (Genesis 25:22-23) and continued when Esau sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34). • Centuries later, Edom denied Israel passage on the wilderness journey (Numbers 20:14-21). • Even after that slight, the Lord reminds Israel of family ties and forbids hatred. God’s covenant loyalty transcends momentary conflicts. Why God Calls Them “Brother” • Covenant faithfulness: God promised that both Jacob and Esau would father nations (Genesis 25:23). • Moral memory: Israel must remember its own shortcomings. Grudge-holding would contradict the grace they themselves had received (cf. Proverbs 17:17). Who Were the Egyptians? • The civilization along the Nile had sheltered Israel during Joseph’s famine era (Genesis 45:9-11; 47:5-6). • Later, the same land enslaved Israel for four centuries (Exodus 1:8-14). Remembering Egypt’s Hospitality – and Hardship • Earliest kindness: Pharaoh welcomed Jacob’s family, giving them Goshen. • Bitter oppression: A different Pharaoh enslaved them, yet even in slavery Egypt became the backdrop for God’s mighty deliverance. • Balanced perspective: The Lord calls Israel to acknowledge both realities—hospitality and hardship—without sliding into contempt. Why “Do Not Despise” an Egyptian? • Gratitude: Israel was “a foreigner in his land.” Hospitality, even in the distant past, still mattered to God. • Witness: Mercy reveals God’s character to the nations (Exodus 9:16). • Future inclusion: The very next verse allows third-generation Egyptians to enter the assembly (Deuteronomy 23:8), anticipating the gospel’s reach (Isaiah 19:24-25). Lessons Embedded in the Command • Kinship and covenant outlast personal offense. • Historical memory must be honest—thanking God for past good while trusting Him to judge wrongs (Romans 12:19-21). • Showing honor to former oppressors models the redemptive heart of God (Proverbs 25:21-22). How This Shapes Our Attitudes Today • We remember where God found us and extend grace to others, even those who once harmed us (Ephesians 4:32). • We resist ethnic prejudice by recognizing shared ancestry in Adam and, for believers, shared redemption in Christ (Acts 17:26; Galatians 3:28). • We practice gratitude for any kindness received, however small, trusting God’s justice for the rest. |
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