Tackling Tradition 32: Deuteronomy 24 (“Illegitimate Children”)

 “No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord.”  (Deuteronomy 23:2, ESV)

What does this mean?   Is it a general prohibition that means that children born out of wedlock (“illegitimate” children) & their progeny are cud off from the Lord’s assembly?

No, it most certainly is not.   Here’s why: 

Generally speaking, if true, then the text means that there is a sense in which such children are held morality accountable for the sins of their parents regardless of where or not they morally agree with the sins of their parents.   Ezekiel 18 is clear that each individual, while standing in covenant with their parents & children, is morally accountable for their own sins — unless courage, as it were, has skipped a generation & the individual agrees with the sins of their ancestors &/or descendants.   In addition, this text is probably a commentary on the fate of the children born in captivity as a consequence of the Northern Kingdom’s apostasy. 

More specifically, as the context in which this text appears; the forbidden union ought to be construed to refer to a cultic union in which the child is the result of a union forged unrepentant idolatry/witchcraft/sorcery.   

This part of the Deuteronomic Code is addressed to people surrounded by polytheism, witchcraft, & sorcery. The preceding text refers to those who testicles have been crushed.   In the ANE, that would be a practice in which Israel’s pagan neighbors engaged. The succeeding text addresses Ammonites & Moabites, people who had made themselves into Israel’s blood enemies via idolatry; witchcraft, war, & sorcery. 

Edom & Egypt had not historically done this.  The code provides for their acceptance in the 3rd literal or figurative generation.  

Thirdly, Ecclesiastical Tradition has, for several centuries, indoctrinated us into believing that the Bible teaches that sex is only morally & legally valid if it takes place in a marital union forged between a man & woman, as if what makes the union morally valid (and, in God’s mind, legally valid) is a marriage ceremony/cerificate.  Consequently, any child conceived outside of marriage is “illegitimate.”  That’s just plain not true. 

O LORD, Hear our prayer(s)! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 1:18 - 32 & Leviticus 18

  Paul is following the basic outline of a suzerain covenant in general     & the outline of Lev. 18 in particular.   Shema & Decalogue (Rom. 1:18 - 20)  God’s Image testifies to His attributes & Law.    God created people. His temple bears His Image & runs according to his Law & Gospel.    This corresponds to Lev. 18 : 1 & 2. A - Rom.    1:18 - 19.  God’s wrath falls on those who suppress His image.   B - Rom 1:20  - For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made so that people are without excuse.  What is the teleological intent of the created order?    To serve as an epistemic warrant on par with God Himself? No!  It’s purpose is to serve as a pointer to God who is Himself the only sufficient epistemic warrant for all faith & practice....
Read more

Covenant Theology In Outline Form (Part 11)

Isaiah 6:1- 13 Shema   In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. Historical Prologue   And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the  Lord  of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and...
Read more

Covenant Theology In Outline Form (Part 9)

Part 9 - A King To Judge The Nations Monarchial/Davidic Covenant (1 Samuel 3, 1 Samuel 16, 2 Samuel 7, & 1 Chronicles 17 I Samuel 3 Shema  Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2  At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Historical Prologue  4  Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5  and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6  And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and ...
Read more