Devarim
Shoftim, Aliyah 7 שופטים, שביעי
Part of: ShoftimShoftim, Aliyah 7Chapter 20Chapter 21Petuchah, Deuteronomy 21:1Setumah, Deuteronomy 20:10Setumah, Deuteronomy 20:19
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Devarim 20
כִּֽי־תִקְרַב אֶל־עִיר לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
When you near a city to do battle against it, you are to offer it peace.
When you near a city to do battle against it, you are to offer it peace.
Rashi
וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁלוֹם תַּֽעַנְךָ וּפָתְחָה לָךְ וְהָיָה כׇּל־הָעָם הַנִּמְצָא־בָהּ יִהְיוּ לְךָ לָמַס וַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃
Should it respond, ‘‘Peace!’’ and open for you, then all the people found in it will become your payers of tribute, and your servants.
Should it respond, ‘‘Peace!’’ and open for you, then all the people found in it will become your payers of tribute, and your servants.
Rashi
כל העם הנמצא בה. אֲפִלּוּ אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בָהּ מִשִּׁבְעָה אֻמּוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוִּיתָ לְהַחֲרִימָם, אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לְקַיְּמָם (שם):
All the people found in it. Even if you should find in it members of the seven nations you are required to annihilate, you may allow them to survive.
למס ועבדוך. עַד שֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם מִסִּים וְשִׁעְבּוּד (שם):
Payers of tribute and your servants. Provided they accept the tribute payment and the servitude.
וְאִם־לֹא תַשְׁלִים עִמָּךְ וְעָשְׂתָה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה וְצַרְתָּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
And if it does not settle for peace with you but engages in war against you, you shall lay siege to it.
And if it does not settle for peace with you but engages in war against you, you shall lay siege to it.
Rashi
ואם לא תשלים עמך ועשתה עמך מלחמה. הַכָּתוּב מְבַשֶּׂרְךָ שֶׁאִם לֹא תַשְׁלִים עִמְּךָ סוֹפָהּ לְהִלָּחֵם בְּךָ אִם תַּנִּיחֶנָּה וְתֵלֵךְ (שם):
If it does not settle for peace with you, but engages in war against you. Scripture informs you that if it does not make peace with you, it will ultimately engage in war against you if you withdraw and depart.
וצרת עליה. אַף לְהַרְעִיבָהּ וּלְהַצְמִיאָהּ וְלַהֲמִיתָהּ מִיתַת תַּחֲלוּאִים (שם):
You shall lay siege to it. Even if this causes famine and thirst, and death from pestilence.
וּנְתָנָהּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת־כׇּל־זְכוּרָהּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃
Adonoy, your God, will deliver it into your hand, and you will smite all its males by the sword.
Adonoy, your God, will deliver it into your hand, and you will smite all its males by the sword.
Rashi
ונתנה ה' אלהיך בידך. אִם עָשִׂיתָ כָּל הָאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן, סוֹף שֶׁה' נוֹתְנָהּ בְּיָדֶךָ (שם):
Adonoy your God will deliver it into your hand. If you fulfill everything mentioned here, God will ultimately deliver it into your hand.
רַק הַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בָעִיר כׇּל־שְׁלָלָהּ תָּבֹז לָךְ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ אֶת־שְׁלַל אֹיְבֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָֽךְ׃
However, the women and the children, and the animals, and everything that will be in the city—all its booty—are you to plunder for yourself; you will eat the booty of your enemies that Adonoy, your God, gave you.
However, the women and the children, and the animals, and everything that will be in the city—all its booty—are you to plunder for yourself; you will eat the booty of your enemies that Adonoy, your God, gave you.
Rashi
והטף. אַף טַף שֶׁל זְכָרִים, וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם "וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת כָל זְכוּרָהּ"? בַּגְּדוֹלִים (שם):
And children. Even the male children. How, then, is “Strike down all its males” fulfilled? With the adults.
כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה לְכׇל־הֶעָרִים הָרְחֹקֹת מִמְּךָ מְאֹד אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מֵעָרֵי הַגּֽוֹיִם־הָאֵלֶּה הֵֽנָּה׃
So will you do to all the cities, that are very distant from you, that are not among the cities of these nations.
So will you do to all the cities, that are very distant from you, that are not among the cities of these nations.
רַק מֵעָרֵי הָֽעַמִּים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לֹא תְחַיֶּה כׇּל־נְשָׁמָֽה׃
However, from the cities of these peoples that Adonoy, your God, is giving you as inheritance, you are not to leave any person alive.
However, from the cities of these peoples that Adonoy, your God, is giving you as inheritance, you are not to leave any person alive.
כִּֽי־הַחֲרֵם תַּחֲרִימֵם הַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי הַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
Rather annihilate are you to annihilate them: the Chittites and the Emorites, the Canaanites and the Perizites, the Chivites and the Yevusites; as Adonoy, your God, commanded you.
Rather annihilate are you to annihilate them: the Chittites and the Emorites, the Canaanites and the Perizites, the Chivites and the Yevusites; as Adonoy, your God, commanded you.
Rashi
כאשר צוך. לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַגִּרְגָּשִׁי (שם):
As [God] commanded you. This adds the Girgashites.
לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יְלַמְּדוּ אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכֹל תּֽוֹעֲבֹתָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם וַחֲטָאתֶם לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ {ס}
In order that they do not teach you to do any of their abominations that they did for their gods, and you will sin to Adonoy, your God.
In order that they do not teach you to do any of their abominations that they did for their gods, and you will sin to Adonoy, your God.
Rashi
למען אשר לא ילמדו. הָא אִם עָשׂוּ תְשׁוּבָה וּמִתְגַיְּרִין אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לְקַבְּלָם (שם):
In order that they do not teach you. This infers that if they repent and convert, you may accept them.
כִּֽי־תָצוּר אֶל־עִיר יָמִים רַבִּים לְֽהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתׇפְשָׂהּ לֹֽא־תַשְׁחִית אֶת־עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת כִּי הָֽאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה לָבֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃
If you besiege a city many days to wage war against it, to capture it, do not harm [any of] its trees by chopping it with an ax, because you eat from it you are not to cut it down; For, is the tree in the field a man to join the besieged to escape you?
If you besiege a city many days to wage war against it, to capture it, do not harm [any of] its trees by chopping it with an ax, because you eat from it you are not to cut it down; For, is the tree in the field a man to join the besieged to escape you?
Rashi
ימים. שְׁנַיִם:
Days. Two.
רבים. שְׁלוֹשָׁה, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין צָרִין עַל עַיָּרוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִם פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים קֹדֶם לַשַּׁבָּת, וְלִמֵּד שֶׁפּוֹתֵחַ בְּשָׁלוֹם שְׁנַיִם אוֹ שְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב א') וַיֵּשֶׁב דָּוִד בְּצִקְלָג יָמִים שְׁנָיִם (ספרי); וּבְמִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
Many. Three. From here it is derived that we do not lay siege to the Gentile cities fewer than three days before Shabbos. And it teaches that the peace overture is tendered for two or three days. Similarly, it is said, “David remained in Ziklag for two days.” Scripture refers to discretionary warfare.
כי האדם עץ השדה. הֲרֵי כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן דִּלְמָא, שֶׁמָּא הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה לְהִכָּנֵס בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּצוֹר מִפָּנֶיךָ לְהִתְיַסֵּר בְּיִסּוּרֵי רָעָב וְצָמָא כְּאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר? לָמָּה תַּשְׁחִיתֶנּוּ?:
For, is the tree in the field a man? Here, כִּי is understood as “perhaps.” ‘Perhaps the tree in the field is a man, to be included in your siege, and suffer famine and thirst along with the city’s inhabitants? Why must you destroy it?’
רַק עֵץ אֲשֶׁר־תֵּדַע כִּֽי־לֹא־עֵץ מַאֲכָל הוּא אֹתוֹ תַשְׁחִית וְכָרָתָּ וּבָנִיתָ מָצוֹר עַל־הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר־הִוא עֹשָׂה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה עַד רִדְתָּֽהּ׃ {פ}
Only a tree that you know that it is not a fruit tree may you harm or cut down; and you will build battlements against the city that is waging war against you until it is conquered.
Only a tree that you know that it is not a fruit tree may you harm or cut down; and you will build battlements against the city that is waging war against you until it is conquered.
Rashi
עד רדתה. לְשׁוֹן רִדּוּי, שֶׁתְּהֵא כְּפוּפָה לְךָ:
Until it is conquered. The meaning is “conquest.” Until it is subjugated to you.
Devarim 21
כִּי־יִמָּצֵא חָלָל בָּאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ נֹפֵל בַּשָּׂדֶה לֹא נוֹדַע מִי הִכָּֽהוּ׃
If a corpse is found in the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you to inherit, fallen in the field, it is not known who smote him.
If a corpse is found in the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you to inherit, fallen in the field, it is not known who smote him.
וְיָצְאוּ זְקֵנֶיךָ וְשֹׁפְטֶיךָ וּמָדְדוּ אֶל־הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹת הֶחָלָֽל׃
Your elders shall go out—and your judges—and measure in the direction of the cities around the corpse.
Your elders shall go out—and your judges—and measure in the direction of the cities around the corpse.
Rashi
ויצאו זקניך. מְיֻחָדִים שֶׁבִּזְקֵנֶיךָ, אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְדוֹלָה (סוטה מ"ד):
Your elders shall go out. The most distinguished of your elders. This refers to the supreme Sanhedrin.
ומדדו. מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהֶחָלָל שׁוֹכֵב:
And measure. From the spot where the corpse is lying.
אל הערים אשר סביבת החלל. לְכָל צַד וְצַד לֵידַע אֵי זוֹ קְרוֹבָה:
In the direction of the cities around the corpse. In every direction, in order to determine which is closest.
וְהָיָה הָעִיר הַקְּרֹבָה אֶל־הֶחָלָל וְלָֽקְחוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא עֶגְלַת בָּקָר אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־עֻבַּד בָּהּ אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מָשְׁכָה בְּעֹֽל׃
Now, the city nearest the corpse—the elders of that city are to take a calf-heifer that has not been worked, that has not drawn [with] a yoke.
Now, the city nearest the corpse—the elders of that city are to take a calf-heifer that has not been worked, that has not drawn [with] a yoke.
וְהוֹרִדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא אֶת־הָֽעֶגְלָה אֶל־נַחַל אֵיתָן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֵעָבֵד בּוֹ וְלֹא יִזָּרֵעַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁם אֶת־הָעֶגְלָה בַּנָּֽחַל׃
The elders of that city will take down the calf to a stony valley that is not to be tilled and not to be seeded, and they shall decapitate the calf in that valley.
The elders of that city will take down the calf to a stony valley that is not to be tilled and not to be seeded, and they shall decapitate the calf in that valley.
Rashi
אל נחל איתן. קָשֶׁה, שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֱבַד:
To a stony valley. Hard, which cannot be cultivated.
וערפו. קוֹצֵץ עָרְפָּהּ בְּקוֹפִיץ; אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה תָּבֹא עֶגְלָה בַת שְׁנָתָהּ שֶׁלֹּא עָשְׂתָה פֵרוֹת וְתֵעָרֵף בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה פֵרוֹת, לְכַפֵּר עַל הֲרִיגָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הִנִּיחוּהוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת פֵּרוֹת (סוטה מ"ו):
They shall decapitate. By severing the nape with an axe. The Holy One, may He be blessed, said, ‘Let a yearling calf, which never bore fruit, come and be decapitated in a place which cannot bear fruit, as atonement for the murder of the one who was not permitted to bear fruit.
וְנִגְּשׁוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי כִּי בָם בָּחַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשָׁרְתוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה וְעַל־פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כׇּל־רִיב וְכׇל־נָֽגַע׃
The kohanim, descendants of Levi, will approach; because them did Adonoy, your God, choose to serve Him and to bless in Adonoy’s Name; and they will decide every dispute and every nega.
The kohanim, descendants of Levi, will approach; because them did Adonoy, your God, choose to serve Him and to bless in Adonoy’s Name; and they will decide every dispute and every nega.
וְכֹל זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא הַקְּרֹבִים אֶל־הֶחָלָל יִרְחֲצוּ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם עַל־הָעֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה בַנָּֽחַל׃
And all the elders of that city, those near the corpse, will wash their hands over the calf beheaded in that valley.
And all the elders of that city, those near the corpse, will wash their hands over the calf beheaded in that valley.
וְעָנוּ וְאָמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ לֹא (שפכה) [שָֽׁפְכוּ] אֶת־הַדָּם הַזֶּה וְעֵינֵינוּ לֹא רָאֽוּ׃
They will loudly declare, ‘‘Our hands have not spilled this blood and our eyes did not see.’’
They will loudly declare, ‘‘Our hands have not spilled this blood and our eyes did not see.’’
Rashi
ידינו לא שפכה. וְכִי עָלְתָה עַל לֵב שֶׁזִּקְנֵי בֵית דִּין שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים הֵם? אֶלָּא לֹא רְאִינוּהוּ וּפְטַרְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא מְזוֹנוֹת וּבְלֹא לְוָיָה (סוטה מ"ה). הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמְרִים כפר לעמך ישראל:
Our hands have not spilled. Is it possible to imagine that the elders of the court committed murder? Rather, ‘We did not observe him and dismiss him without food and escort.’ The kohanim then say:
כַּפֵּר לְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִיתָ יְהֹוָה וְאַל־תִּתֵּן דָּם נָקִי בְּקֶרֶב עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִכַּפֵּר לָהֶם הַדָּֽם׃
[The kohanim will say,] ‘‘Forgive Your people Yisroel, whom You, Adonoy, have redeemed; and do not allow innocent blood [liability] within Your people Yisroel.’’ The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf.
[The kohanim will say,] ‘‘Forgive Your people Yisroel, whom You, Adonoy, have redeemed; and do not allow innocent blood [liability] within Your people Yisroel.’’ The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf.
Rashi
ונכפר להם הדם. הַכָּתוּב מְבַשְּׂרָם, שֶׁמִּשֶּׁעָשׂוּ כֵן יְכֻפַּר לָהֶם הֶעָוֹן (שם):
Forgive your people Yisroel: The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf. Scripture informs them that once they have fulfilled this, the sin will be absolved.
וְאַתָּה תְּבַעֵר הַדָּם הַנָּקִי מִקִּרְבֶּךָ כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂה הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
Still, you must eradicate the [liability for] innocent blood from within you, when you do what is upright in Adonoy’s eyes.
Still, you must eradicate the [liability for] innocent blood from within you, when you do what is upright in Adonoy’s eyes.
Rashi
ואתה תבער. מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם נִמְצָא הַהוֹרֵג אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְעָרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה הֲרֵי זֶה יֵהָרֵג וְהוּא הישר בעיני ה' (סוטה מ"ז; כתובות ל"ז):
Still, you must eradicate. This teaches that if the murderer is apprehended after the decapitation of the heifer, he must be executed. This is righteous in the eyes of God.
כי תקרב אל עיר. בְּמִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בָּעִנְיָן "כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה לְכָל הֶעָרִים הָרְחֹקֹת וְגוֹ'" (ספרי):
When you near a city. Scripture refers to a discretionary war, as stated explicitly below, “You shall deal this way with all the distant cities, etc.”