Pisqa’ 2001
1
“Now, if it answers you with peace” (Dt.20:11).
Is it possible to say that
even if only part of the populace
[desires peace, peace should be negotiated]?
The Teaching states:
“And opens itself to you” (Dt.20:11)—
implying that the entire populace,
not only part of it,
[has opened the city’s gates].
“Then the entire populace found there” (Dt.20:11)—
including whatever Canaanites may be within it.
“Shall be yours for tribute and servitude” (Dt.20:11).
If they say:
We accept tribute but not servitude,
Or, we accept servitude, but not tribute,
pay no mind to them,
until they accept both conditions.
2
“But, if the city will not make peace with you, but wages war against you” (Dt.20:12)—
this verse announces to you that
if the city does not make peace with you,
it is destined to wage war against you.
“Then you shall lay siege to it” (Dt.20:12)—
including starvation, thirst, and death by disease.2
“Once HASHEM your God has given it into your hands” (Dt.20:13)—
if you have performed all that is stated here,
in the end, HASHEM your God will deliver it into your hands.
“Then you shall strike all its males with the blade of the sword” (Dt.20:13)—
shall I infer from this that
even the young boys shall be put to the sword?
The Teaching states:
“Only, the women, the babies, and the livestock . . . you may take as booty” (Dt.20:14)—
[but do not spare even the young boys].
Perhaps, the little girls as well
[shall be put to the sword]?
Take the case of the war against Midian (Nu.31:17-18):
There they killed the adult women
and permitted the young girls to live,
whereas here (Dt.20:14),
where they let the adult women live—
isn’t it logical that
they should let the young girls live?
I conclude, therefore, that
here, when babies are mentioned,
the reference is to male babies as well!
How do I know that any male combatant
[of whatever age must be put to the sword]?
The Teaching states:
“Only the women, the babies, and the livestock, whatever is in the city, all its spoils,
you may take as booty” (Dt.20:14)—
[but male combatants must be put to the sword].
Is it possible to say that
their booty should be forbidden to you?
The Teaching states [to the contrary]:
“You may take as booty, and consume the spoils of your enemy
that HASHEM your God has given you” (Dt.20:14)