Pisqa’ 1971
1
“And the officers shall continue
to speak with the people, saying:” (Dt.20:8)—
thus, we learn that
they should speak exactly those words.
“Who is the man,
fearful and faint-hearted” (Dt.20:8)—
this is one who has committed a hidden transgression.
“He shall go and return to his home”(Dt.20:8).
2
R. Akiva says:
Fearful and faint-hearted
means just that!
R. Yose the Galilean says:
Fearful and faint-hearted
implies that he suffers from an infirmity.2
“So that the hearts of his brothers not faint away like his” (Dt.20:8)—
this teaches that if only one
of them was worried about his transgressions,
they must all return home.3