Reference: Bastards
Fausets
mamzer. Forbidden to enter the Lord's congregation to the tenth generation, i.e. forever (De 23:2-3). Yet Jephthah, son of a strange woman, and therefore driven out by the legitimate children, was called to be a judge to Israel (Jg 11:1-2). The Talmud and the rabbis are probably therefore right in explaining mamzer, not illegitimate children in general, but those begotten in incest or adultery: from mazar, "to be corrupt." The only other occurrence of mamzer is Zec 9:6; "a bastard (a vile alien) shall dwell in Ashdod." Arabs about that time occupied much of S. Palestine, and the prophet foretells Ashdod will be ruled by them. Bastards were not excluded from public worship ordinarily. They had no claim to the paternal inheritance, or to the standing privileges and filial discipline of children (Heb 12:7).