Why would a bastard be punished for the sins of the parents to the 10th generation Deuteronomy 23 v2?

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It makes no rational sense. And God is a reasonable being if you ask me. Therefore, the MAN that wrote that must have been WRONG. I know, it's not very popular to say such things. But neither was the whole Earth revolving around the sun or spherical Earth thing either. One commentary I just read may shed some light. First off, Deuteronomy 23:2, in the NIV, reads" No one born of a forbidden marriage [or illegitimate birth] nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation." It continues on to include various non-Israelites and other groups. One thing to note is that "the assembly of the LORD" wasn't just a church service. In that society the assembly would also include duties equivalent to a town council. God wanted ritual purity during those days. He was showing the people of Israel just how serious the consequences of sin are. Those who were impure weren't allowed to do certain things. That didn't mean they were forever condemned, with no room for grace. Rather, it meant that the whole congregation of His people needed to remain pure, so that they wouldn't fall as well. The above answer is an Excellent one and well explained. A "bastard" is a disgusting term for a child being born without married parents. The child is innocent and I love the term "God only loans us his children" meaning, when one gives birth to their children they are loaned and it's your job to look after them. On a simpler note, this would explain to me that it's the parents who have sinned if they just dump the child and the child is totally innocent. Even into adulthood a child that does not have married parents or no parents is just as important and should be as respected as any other person. One who has been called a "bastard" should smile and walk away simply because it has nothing to do with the person you are inside and you can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it. I agree with the first answer when he/she wrote "the MAN that wrote that must have been WRONG."

I also agree that G-d is a reasonable being; I therefore ignore Deuteronomy23v2 as written by man, and accept the following as coming from a reasonable G-d.

"...The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:..." Ezekiel 18:20."

every man shall be put to death for his own sin".Deuteronomy 24:16

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