He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
Ver. 1. Or hath his privy member cut off.] As it is a barbarous custom at this day among the Turks, to deprive various Christian children of their privities, supplying the uses of nature with a silver quill. This was first brought in among them by Selymus II, out of jealousy lest his eunuchs were not so chaste as they should have been, in keeping their ladies' beds. a Such are usually effeminate, and unfit to bear office.
Shall not enter into the congregation,] i.e., Shall not go in and out before the people as a public officer. Since such should be drained from the dregs, and sifted from the brans of the vulgar: they should be eminent and eximious persons, higher than the rest, as Saul, by the head and shoulders.
a Turk. Hist.