ספרי דברים 251

(דברים כג ז) לֹא תִדְרוֹשׁ שְׁלֹמָם וְטֹבָתָם, מִכְּלַל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כ י): ״כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם״, יָכוֹל אַף כָּאן כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִדְרוֹשׁ שְׁלֹמָם.

Pisqa’ 251²⁴⁹H:254; JN2:177.
1. “Don’t inquire after their comfort²⁵⁰Heb: shlomam; literally, “their peace.” From the root, sh-l-m.or well-being”²⁵¹Heb: tovatam; literally, “their good.” (Dt.23:7).
Inferring from what is stated:
“When you approach a city to wage war against it, and you sue it for peace” (Dt.20:10)—
is it possible to say that, here too,
[the duty to make peace suspends the mandate for war]?
The Teaching states:
“Don’t inquire after their comfort or well-being” (Dt.23:7)—
[rather, wage war without mercy].

וְטוֹבָתָם, מִכְּלַל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג יז): ״בַּטּוֹב לוֹ לֹא תוֹנֶנּוּ״, יָכוֹל אַף כָּאן כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְטוֹבָתָם.

2. “Or well-being” (Dt.23:7)—
inferring from what is stated
[about the escaped gentile slave]:
“If he is doing well,²⁵²Heb: betov lo. do not oppress him” (Dt.23:17)—
is it possible to say that, here too,
the same rule applies [to the case of waging war]?
The Teaching states:
“Or well-being” (Dt.23:7).

כָּל יָמֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם, וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים.

“All your days, forever” (Dt.23:7)—
[your enmity against him must last]
an eternity of eternities.