What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 23:6? You are not to seek The command is proactive: Israel must resist the impulse to initiate goodwill or favor toward the Ammonites and Moabites. • Earlier mercy shown to other relatives (Deuteronomy 2:4–5 with Edom; 2:9 with Moab) demonstrates that God distinguishes between peoples according to their past actions. • The rebuke stems from Moab’s and Ammon’s deliberate hostility—refusing bread and water and hiring Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3–5; Numbers 22–24). • Similar calls to separation appear in Exodus 34:12 and 2 Corinthians 6:17, reminding believers to guard covenant purity. peace “Peace” (shalom) speaks of relational harmony and alliance. • Israel may coexist alongside these nations geographically (Judges 3:12–14) yet must not pursue treaties that blur spiritual distinctives (Joshua 9:14–16 contrasts wrongly made peace with the Gibeonites). • Psalm 120:6–7 shows the anguish of dwelling among people who hate peace, underscoring why God protects Israel’s witness by limiting close bonds. or prosperity The word addresses economic cooperation, favor, or shared flourishing. • God promises to meet Israel’s needs directly (Deuteronomy 8:18; Philippians 4:19), removing any perceived necessity to rely on hostile neighbors. • Proverbs 3:31 warns against envying violent people; likewise, Israel must not court material advantage from those who opposed God’s purposes. from them The phrase pinpoints the Ammonites and Moabites—descendants of Lot yet persistent enemies (Genesis 19:36–38; Judges 11:4–6). • Friendship with such nations risked absorbing their idolatry (Numbers 25:1–3). • Nehemiah 13:1–2 recalls this very statute when confronting mixed marriages that threatened Israel’s spiritual identity. as long as you live The ban is enduring for the nation throughout its generations. • God’s unchanging moral standard toward unrepentant hostility is echoed in 1 Samuel 15:2–3 with Amalek and in Revelation 18:4–5 concerning Babylon’s final judgment. • While individual Moabites like Ruth could embrace Israel’s God and find welcome (Ruth 1:16; 2:11–12), the covenant community as a whole must not initiate peace on purely political terms. summary Deuteronomy 23:6 draws a firm boundary: because Ammon and Moab actively sought Israel’s harm, God forbids His people from pursuing diplomatic or economic alliances that would compromise their distinct calling. The directive guards Israel’s holiness, dependence on the Lord, and witness among the nations, showing that genuine peace and prosperity flow from covenant faithfulness, not from partnership with persistent adversaries. |
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