On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
On that day they read from the book of Moses out loud to all the people. In it they found it written that the Ammonites and Moabites should never be allowed to join the assembly of God's people.
The writer is describing how the people discovered in Moses' law that certain foreign nations were permanently excluded from joining Israel's religious community.
📚 Historical Context
This event took place after the Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon and rebuilt Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership. The 'book of Moses' refers to the Torah (likely Deuteronomy 23:3-6), which contained laws given centuries earlier about which foreign nations could join Israel's covenant community. The Ammonites and Moabites were neighboring peoples who had opposed Israel during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
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