Pisqa’ 191293H:212; JN2: 78. 1. “When you draw close to battle” (Dt.20:2). Is it possible to say that [the Priest offers his words] on the very day they join battle? When Scripture states: “Then the Priest shall approach and say: Listen, Israel! This day you are joining the battle” (Dt.20:3)— it certainly suggests that [the Priest charges the troops] on the very day they join battle. So, what does the Teaching mean by “When you draw close to battle” (Dt.20:2)? When they reach the perimeter [of enemy territory, but before reaching the front lines,] the Priest expounds for them all these exemptions, saying to them: “Listen Israel!” (Dt.20:2).294Cf. T. Sotah 7:18.
(דברים כ ב) וְהָיָה כְּקָרָבְכֶם אֶל הַמִּלְחָמָה, יָכוֹל זֶה יוֹם הַקְרִיבָם בּוֹ לַמִּלְחָמָה? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים כ ג) ״וְאָמַר אֲלֵיהֶם שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתֶּם קְרֵבִים הַיּוֹם לַמִּלְחָמָה״ הֲרֵי יוֹם הַקְרִיבָם בּוֹ לַמִּלְחָמָה אָמוּר! וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְהָיָה כְּקָרָבְכֶם אֶל הַמִּלְחָמָה? כֵּיוָן שֶׁמַּגִּיעִים לַסְּפָר – כֹּהֵן מַתְנֶה עִמָּהֶם כָּל הַתְּנָאִים הָאֵלּוּ וְאוֹמֵר אֲלֵיהֶם ״שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל״.
Pisqa’ 191293H:212; JN2: 78.
1. “When you draw close to battle” (Dt.20:2).
Is it possible to say that
[the Priest offers his words]
on the very day they join battle?
When Scripture states:
“Then the Priest shall approach and say: Listen, Israel!
This day you are joining the battle” (Dt.20:3)—
it certainly suggests that
[the Priest charges the troops]
on the very day they join battle.
So, what does the Teaching mean by
“When you draw close to battle” (Dt.20:2)?
When they reach the perimeter
[of enemy territory, but before reaching the front lines,]
the Priest expounds for them
all these exemptions,
saying to them: “Listen Israel!” (Dt.20:2).294Cf. T. Sotah 7:18.