165

Not to refrain from marrying a third generation Edomite convert

The Luchos - Ten Commandments

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לֹֽא־תְתַעֵ֣ב אֲדֹמִ֔י כִּ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ ה֑וּא לֹא־תְתַעֵ֣ב מִצְרִ֔י כִּי־גֵ֖ר הָיִ֥יתָ בְאַרְצֽוֹ׃ בָּנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־יִוָּלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם דּ֣וֹר שְׁלִישִׁ֑י יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֖ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תֵצֵא
Deuteronomy 23:8-9 - "You shall not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not despise an Egyptian, for you were a sojourner in his land. Children who are born to them [in] the third generation may enter the assembly of the Lord."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה

Forbidden to prevent third-generation Edomite converts from marrying into Israel.

This mitzvah prohibits excluding Edomite converts from joining the Jewish people once they reach the third generation. Although the Torah restricts the first two generations, the third is explicitly permitted, ensuring fairness and preventing permanent exclusion. The Torah reminds us that the Edomites are our kin, descendants of Esav, and therefore must not be treated as permanently alienated once they have accepted Hashem’s covenant.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 12:23): Rules that Edomite and Egyptian converts are permitted to marry into Israel beginning in the third generation.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 565): The root is to establish justice and compassion, showing that while past enmity is acknowledged, it must not extend forever to descendants.
  • Talmud (Yevamot 76a): Derives the law permitting marriage in the third generation and distinguishes it from the eternal prohibition on Ammonite and Moabite males.
(Source: Chabad.org)

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