Among other topics in Deuteronomy 23, Moses instructs his brethren to insulate the Hebrew nation
from undesirable outside elements. To the point, the prophet spells out which peoples may join the
Jewish ranks, and which may not. “An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of
God…” Abravanel comments on the Israelite’s distant cousins who may or may not enter the tribe, per
se.
“An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of God,
even to the tenth generation shall none of them enter into the assembly
of God forever.”
On the eve of liberating Canaan, the Hebrews messaged Ammon and Moab saying: Even though you
have not consented to sell us food and drink, do not err. We shall not retreat. Never. “I only want to pass
by your territory by foot. Just as the Children of Esau did to me, those dwelling in Seir and the Moabites
dwelling in Ar” – neither gave us a pass. Nevertheless, we marched through their territory, hence our
present position on your border. Thus, “Until we pass over the Jordan to the land that God Almighty gave
us.” In brief, Ammon and Moab did not greet the Hebrews with bread or water. Nor did they permit
passage, enabling Jews to travel through their land.
Recall, Ammon and Moab trace their lineage to Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Lot, in turn, had been the
recipient of his uncle’s beneficence. Armed and badly outnumbered, Abraham led a daring raid to free
Lot from captivity. Moreover, on Abraham’s merit, Lot escaped Sodom and Gomorrah’s fate, one that
witnessed a once-plush province turn to ash.
To say that Lot and his descendants owed a debt of gratitude to Abraham and his descendants would be
quite the understatement. Yet, at the risk of sounding anachronistic – no good deed goes unpunished.
Seemingly, Ammon and Moab lived by that creed; indeed, penned it.
Ungratefulness paved their mighty downfall. Moab slipped further. They paid Balaam to curse Israel.
Had it not been for God’s intervention, who knows what damage would have been inflicted? More than
that, the Maker’s affection for His people turned the curse into a blessing – “but God your Almighty
turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because God your Almighty loved you.”
Moving to assess other Israelite cousins, and other dubious relationships, the Torah writes: “You shall
not hate Edomites for they are your brethren. You shall not hate Egyptians for you were sojourners in
their land" This category of ill-fitting marriage partners for Jewish women are Edomites. Egyptians are
another forbidden group. While the Torah disqualifies them, Abravanel stresses something else: Jews
may not totally disengage from them or treat them with disdain. This puts Edomites and Egyptians in a
very different category than Ammonites and Moabites. See Torah Seascapes for this subject’s full
treatment (due out July 2025).
