Matthew Poole and continuators on Deuteronomy 23:4

4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

As the manner of those times was to waite and provide for Strangers and Travellers, see Gen. 14. 18. and 18. 2, 3. and 19. 1, 2. Iudg. 19. 18, 19, 20, 21. which was the more necessary, because in those times and Countries there were no such publick houses of entertainment, as now there are among us. Their fault then was unmercifulness to Strangers and Pilgrims, and Afflicted Persons, which was aggravated both by their relation to the Israelites as being the children of Lot, and by the special kindness of God, and of the Israelites to them in not fighting against them as they had just occasion to do, and as they did by others Deut. 2. Obj. Qu. How doth this agree with Deut. 2. 28, 29. where the Moabites which dwell in Ar are said to have sold them meat and drink? Answ. 1. It is one thing voluntarily to meet them, and kindly to relieve them with bread and water, which they are here denyed to have done, and a quite differing thing to sell them bread and water when they are upon their very borders, and their own interest forced them to do so. 2. It may seem that it was onely these Moabites that dwelt in Ar did so, as is said Deut. 2. 29. and that all the rest of the people neglected or refused to do it, and therefore the sin being so general and national, no wonder if the punishment be so too. 3 These and the following words both here and Nehem. 13. 1. are to be taken distributively, and this first member of the verse belongs to the Ammonites, who did not meet them with bread, &c. and the latter part to the Moabites, who, together with the Miaianites, but not with the Ammonites, hired Balaam, &c.

Marginal references: Num. [illegible: 1 word]