Deuteronomy uses for the first time the full expression “the congregation/assembly of the Lord.” Those who are excluded from this congregation are self-inflicted eunuchs (23:1), bastards (23:2), and Ammonites or Moabites up to the tenth generation (23:3–6); however, Edomites and Egyptians can enter that congregation after the third generation (23:7–8). Since castration was imposed on some of the personnel of the Canaanite sites of worship (23:17–18), Israel is forbidden to do the …