Deu. 23 : 1 problem...

[Golfnerd]

Shalom!!

My dear wife and I were going thru the portion for this week and came upon this verse. We discussed it at length and could not reconcile the plain sense reading with other Scripture. We kept returning to what the word "assembly" meant. If you compare this verse...

(Deu 23:1 AMP) HE WHO is wounded in the testicles, or has been made a eunuch, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

(Deu 23:1 NASB+) "No3808 one6481 who is emasculated1795, 6481 or has his male8212 organ8212 cut3772 off3772 shall enter935 the assembly6951 of the LORD3068.

with this passage from Isaiah...

(Isa 56:3 RNKJV) Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to YHVH, speak, saying, YHVH hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

(Isa 56:4 RNKJV) For thus saith YHVH unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

(Isa 56:5 RNKJV) Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

(Isa 56:6 RNKJV) Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHVH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHVH, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

(Isa 56:7 RNKJV) Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

they don't agree. Is it that the eunuch's described in Deut 23:1 haven't yet joined/aren't going to join to God?

What say you?

[Nachshon]

Deuteronomy 23:1 is a kind of funky verse. Literally, it reads along these lines, "not shall enter he who is wounded by crushing of crushing and those cut off (fem. plural) of his urethra in assembly (counsel) of YHWH."
It's really odd, because it never mentions the testicles being effected. Thayer's says that "crushing of crushing" is an eastern way of making very young boys Eunuchs. The ritual sounds pagan to me, so that could have something to do with it, but then again, Thayer could be wrong, and this could referr to something entirely different.
The second part isn't actually about removing the testicles, but removing the thingy...which is also odd.

Shalom,
David

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Shalom Nachson,

Good points. It could be speaking of those whom practice a pagan practice regarding the injuring or crushing of a male's privy parts. It is a strict warning against those whom would do such things to their children, or to themselves.

In regards to the passage in Yeshayahu (Isai.)...it speaks of the future...the restoration of all things. It gives hope to those whom because of their past life had no hope. If we repent of our past and keep YHVH's we have a most blessed hope in the future when Mashiach comes and restores our sinful bodies and makes them anew and whole...

The phrase that says,

"Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people."...

...is the future of those whom are redeemed and restored because they sought Adonai with all their heart, mind, and soul. The point of the passage in Yeshayahu is that those whom take hold of the covenant of will be restored and have an honored place in Yisrael...thus, it cannot contradict what already says.

Shalom chaverim,

Reuel

[Chizuk Emunah]

Shavuah Tov!

Let me add my 2 cents....

After studying the parsha yesterday, I believe this verse is only stating that a male who has had his parts mangled (to include vasectomy) may not enter into the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). He can still participate in worship of HaShem and have sacrifices offered on his behalf, and even ascend the Temple Mount, but may not enter into the inner courts.

Again, this is only my interpretation, but perhaps it may help to shed light on things.


Shalom,
Natanel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

I think you also may be right in this sense as it is similar to the Cohen whom has had similar things happened to his privy members...


"For whatsoever man that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of YHVH made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his Elohim, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I YHVH do sanctify them. And Moshe told it unto Aharon, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Yisrael."
- Vayikra (Lev.) 21:18-24

Shalom,

Reuel