Pisqa’ 200333H:217-218; JN2:91:92 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].
“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.
“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)
(דברים כ יא) וְהָיָה אִם שָׁלוֹם תַּעַנְךָ, יָכוֹל אַף מִקְצָתָהּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וּפָתְחָה לָךְ, כֻּלָּהּ וְלֹא מִקְצָתָהּ.
Pisqa’ 200333H:217-218; JN2:91:92
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].
וְהָיָה כָּל הָעָם הַנִּמְצָא בָהּ – לְרַבּוֹת כְּנַעֲנִים שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ.
“Then the entire populace found there” (Dt.20:11)—
including whatever Canaanites may be within it.
יִהְיוּ לְךָ לָמַס וַעֲבָדוּךָ, אָמְרוּ: ״מְקַבְּלִים אָנוּ עָלֵינוּ מִסִּים וְלֹא שִׁעְבּוּד״, ״שִׁעְבּוּד וְלֹא מִסִּים״ – אֵין שׁוֹמְעִים לָהֶם, עַד שֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם זוֹ וָזוֹ.
“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.
(דברים כ יב) וְאִם לֹא תַשְׁלִים עִמָּךְ וְעָשְׂתָה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה, הַכָּתוּב מְבַשֶּׂרְךָ שֶׁאִם אֵינָהּ מַשְׁלֶמֶת עִמְּךָ – לְסוֹף שֶׁהִיא עוֹשָׂה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה.
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.
וְצַרְתָּ עָלֶיהָ, אַף לְהַרְעִיבָהּ, אַף לְהַצְמִיאָהּ, אַף לַהֲמִיתָהּ בְּמִיתַת תַּחֲלוּאִים!
“Then you shall lay siege to it” (Dt.20:12)—
including starvation, thirst, and death by disease.334Cf. Pisqa’ 199.1.
(דברים כ יג) וּנְתָנָהּ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ, אִם עָשִׂיתָ אֶת כָּל הָאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן – לְסוֹף שֶׁה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ נוֹתְנָהּ בְּיָדֶךָ.
“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.
וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת כָּל זְכוּרָהּ לְפִי חָרֶב, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אַף הַקְּטַנִּים שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים כ יד): רַק הַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְהַבְּהֵמָה. אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא טַף שֶׁל נְקֵבוֹת? אָמַרְתָּ: וּמָה מִדְיָן, שֶׁהֵמִית אֶת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, הֶחֱיָה אֶת הַקְּטַנּוֹת, כָּאן שֶׁהֶחֱיָה אֶת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּחַיֶּה אֶת הַקְּטַנּוֹת? הָא אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּאן טַף – אֶלָּא טַף שֶׁל זְכָרִים, מִנַּיִן שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: רַק הַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בָעִיר כָּל שְׁלָלָהּ תָּבֹז לָךְ, יָכוֹל תְּהֵא בִזָּתָם אֲסוּרָה לָךְ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: תָּבֹז לָךְ וְאָכַלְתָּ אֶת שְׁלַל אוֹיְבֶיךָ.
“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)