Deuteronomy 23:15-21

Miscellaneous Laws

15 If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master.
16 Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.
17 No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute.
18 You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute[a] into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both.
19 Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.
20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.
21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 23:15-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 23

Orders are here given to restrain certain persons from entering into the congregation of the Lord, De 23:1-8, and to take care that there be no unclean person in the camp, or any indecent thing done in it, De 23:9-14, to protect fugitive servants, and not deliver them up to their masters, De 23:15,16 not to suffer a filthy person to be among them, or any filthy thing to be brought into the house of God for a vow, De 23:17,18, then follow some laws against usury, and for the payment of vows, De 23:19-23, and the chapter is concluded with some directions how to behave in a neighbour's vineyard, or standing corn, De 23:24,25.

Cross References 11

  • 1. 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 2:12; Psalms 71:1
  • 2. 1 Samuel 30:15
  • 3. Exodus 22:21; S Exodus 23:6
  • 4. Genesis 19:25; 1 Kings 14:24; 1 Kings 15:12; 1 Kings 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7; Job 36:14
  • 5. S Genesis 38:21; Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 22:21
  • 6. S Genesis 19:5; S Leviticus 20:13; Revelation 22:15
  • 7. Exodus 22:25; S Leviticus 25:35-37; Nehemiah 5:2-7
  • 8. S Genesis 31:15; S Deuteronomy 15:3
  • 9. Deuteronomy 15:10; Deuteronomy 28:12
  • 10. S Numbers 6:21; Judges 11:35; Psalms 15:4
  • 11. Numbers 30:1-2; Job 22:27; Psalms 61:8; Psalms 65:1; Psalms 76:11; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Isaiah 19:21; S Matthew 5:33; Acts 5:3

Footnotes 1

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