I’m gonna nope right by the awkward phrasing of Deuteronomy 23:1 and move on to the broader ideas of these first nine verses (I don’t think you’ll mind).
What God does in these first few verses of Deuteronomy 23 is talk about who may enter into “the assembly of the Lord.” That phrase is mentioned several times and, at least in this section, is used to denote who is not allowed: nobody of illegitimate birth, no Ammonites or Moabites, and nobody who has had their male organ cut off (there it is).
At first glance, it may seem like this “assembly” is just another word for the nation of Israel. The truth is a little more technical than that. Technically, this “assembly” refers to the formal gathering of God’s covenant people, with an emphasis on their role in decision-making.
That’s why Deuteronomy 23:2-3 implies that some groups of people may become formalized after a certain point, unlike the Moabites or the Ammonites, whose descendants will never enter the assembly. God is not interested in those people ever having any say with His people.
He also doesn’t want His people concerned with their welfare, either. According to Deuteronomy 23:6, Israel is to repay the Ammonites and Moabites in kind.
Aside from those two groups, it’s worth noting that membership in the assembly is a totally different concept than them simply living among them. God provides ample protections for aliens that live in the land of Israel (Leviticus 19:33-34)—they just don’t have any voting or membership rights in the land, if they decide to live there.
Possibly the most interesting part of this entire section, though, is the type of groups that God wants to exclude.
As mentioned above, the Ammonites and the Moabites are not ever invited into the land, but the Edomites and Egyptians have no such restrictions (Deuteronomy 23:7). It says a lot about the treatment that Israel received from the Ammonites and Moabites that Israel’s chief rivals in Scripture are allowed in, but the Ammonites and Moabites are not.
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about this section without at least mentioning its connection to the modern-day church. There is no direct link, obviously, but the assembly can be seen as the “called out” of Egypt, just like the church is the “called out” of the world.
And just like the Assembly, the church has entry requirements. Those who are hostile to God are not allowed in, while those who cling to Him are. It’s a group within a group—which is exactly where I want to be.