Pisqa’ 194303H:214-215; JN2:82-83. 1. “Who is the man who has built a new house” (Dt.20:5)? I might infer only that [this exemption applies to] one who built a house!
On what basis do I know to include one who inherited a house, one who purchased a house, or one who received it as a gift? The Teaching states: “Who is the man who has built” (Dt.20:5)— [building includes any mode of acquisition]. “A house” (Dt.20:5)— I might infer only that [this exemption] applies to a house (bayit)! On what basis do I know to include a storage shed for straw (beit304Beit is the construct state of bayit (Heb: “house”). The point of the exegesis is to include in the rule items designated for shelter of any kind.hateven), a cattle-barn (beit habaqar), a wood-shed (beit ha`eitzim), or a silo (beit ha-‘otzarot)? The Teaching states: “Who has built” (Dt.20:5)— [a house includes any form of permanent shelter].305//M. Sotah 8:2. If so, is it possible to say that [this exemption] applies even to the builder of a gate-house (beit sha`ar), a portico, or a balcony? The Teaching states: “A house” (Dt.20:5)— Since a house is distinctive in serving as a dwelling-place (beit dirah), these structures, which do not primarily serve as a dwelling-place, must be excluded from the exemption.306Cf. M. Sotah 8:3.
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וְלֹא חֲנָכוֹ – פְּרָט לְגַזְלָן.
“And who hasn’t yet dedicated it” (Dt.20:5)— this prevents a robber [from claiming an exemption].
“And another man will consecrate it” (Dt.20:5)— is it possible to say that his uncle or cousin might take the house? Here it is stated: “Another man will consecrate it” (Dt.20:5), and elsewhere it is stated: “Another man will take her” (Dt.20:7; cf. Dt.28:30)— just as the other man discussed elsewhere implies a stranger,308Heb: nochri; commonly denotes a gentile. Here, it refers to an Israelite who has no kinship ties to a particular Israelite family. so, too, the other man discussed here implies a stranger.309//T. Sotah 7:22.
(דברים כ ה) מִי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בָּנָה. יָרַשׁ, לָקַח, נִתַּן לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: מִי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה.
Pisqa’ 194303H:214-215; JN2:82-83.
1. “Who is the man who has built a new house” (Dt.20:5)?
I might infer only that
[this exemption applies to]
one who built a house!
בַּיִת, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּיִת. מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת בּוֹנֶה בֵּית הַתֶּבֶן, וּבֵית הַבָּקָר, וּבֵית הָעֵצִים, וּבֵית הָאוֹצָרוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה. יָכוֹל אַף הַבּוֹנֶה בֵּית שַׁעַר, אַכְסַדְרָה וּמִרְפֶּסֶת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בַּיִת – מָה בַּיִת מְיֻחָד, שֶׁהוּא בֵּית דִּירָה – יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ, שֶׁאֵינָם בֵּית דִּירָה.
On what basis do I know to include
one who inherited a house,
one who purchased a house,
or one who received it as a gift?
The Teaching states:
“Who is the man who has built” (Dt.20:5)—
[building includes any mode of acquisition].
“A house” (Dt.20:5)—
I might infer only that
[this exemption] applies to a house (bayit)!
On what basis do I know to include
a storage shed for straw (beit304Beit is the construct state of bayit (Heb: “house”). The point of the exegesis is to include in the rule items designated for shelter of any kind. hateven),
a cattle-barn (beit habaqar),
a wood-shed (beit ha`eitzim),
or a silo (beit ha-‘otzarot)?
The Teaching states:
“Who has built” (Dt.20:5)—
[a house includes any form of permanent shelter].305//M. Sotah 8:2.
If so, is it possible to say that
[this exemption] applies even to
the builder of a gate-house (beit sha`ar),
a portico, or a balcony?
The Teaching states:
“A house” (Dt.20:5)—
Since a house is distinctive
in serving as a dwelling-place (beit dirah),
these structures,
which do not primarily serve as a dwelling-place,
must be excluded from the exemption.306Cf. M. Sotah 8:3.
וְלֹא חֲנָכוֹ – פְּרָט לְגַזְלָן.
“And who hasn’t yet dedicated it” (Dt.20:5)—
this prevents a robber [from claiming an exemption].
יֵלֵךְ וְיָשֹׁב לְבֵיתוֹ – יֵלֵךְ וְיִשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי כֹהֵן מֵעֶרְכֵי מִלְחָמָה וְיַחֲזֹר.
2. “He shall go and return to his home” (Dt.20:5)—
that is, he shall go and heed
the instructions of the Warrior Priest to return.
פֶּן יָמוּת בַּמִּלְחָמָה, אִם אֵינוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ לְדִבְרֵי כֹהֵן – לְסוֹף הוּא מֵת בַּמִּלְחָמָה.
“Lest he die in battle” (Dt.20:5)—
failing to heed the instructions of the Warrior Priest,
he will eventually die in battle.307Cf. Pisqa’ 195.2.
וְאִישׁ אַחֵר יַחְנְכֶנּוּ, יָכוֹל דּוֹדוֹ וּבֶן דּוֹדוֹ? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן ״אַחֵר״ וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (דברים כ ז) ״אַחֵר״, מָה אַחֵר הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן נָכְרִי, אַף אַחֵר הָאָמוּר כָּאן נָכְרִי.
“And another man will consecrate it” (Dt.20:5)—
is it possible to say that
his uncle or cousin might take the house? Here it is stated:
“Another man will consecrate it” (Dt.20:5),
and elsewhere it is stated:
“Another man will take her” (Dt.20:7; cf. Dt.28:30)—
just as the other man discussed elsewhere
implies a stranger,308Heb: nochri; commonly denotes a gentile. Here, it refers to an Israelite who has no kinship ties to a particular Israelite family.
so, too, the other man discussed here
implies a stranger.309//T. Sotah 7:22.