Parashat Shoftim / פרשת שופטים
- Sat, 18 August 2018 = 7th of Elul, 5778
- ז׳ בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח
Rambam's Mishneh Torah, Composed in Middle-Age Egypt (c.1176 - c.1178 CE) elaborates on these pesukim and gives us more of a detailed perspective of this commandment to always offer peace...
"A war is never waged against anyone before peace is offered. This applies both to an obligatory war and to a permitted war, as it is written “when you get near a city to wage war against it, you must offer peace” (Deut. 20:10). If they agree and accept upon themselves the seven mitzvot given to the children of Noah, not a single soul is to be harmed, and they are to pay taxes , as it is written “they will pay taxes and serve you” (Deut. 20:11). If they accepted taxes but not servitude, or servitude and not taxes, we don’t listen to them, until they accepted both. …And if they did not make peace or they did make peace but did not accept the seven commandments, we make war with them and kill all of the adult males and loot all of their money and children. But we do not kill women and not children, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 20:14), "[and] the women and children" - this is [referring to] the male children. What are these words referring to? To an optional war, which is with the other nations. But if the seven nations or Amalek did not make peace, we do not leave one soul [alive], as it states (Deuteronomy 20:15-16), "Do this to all, etc. However, from the cities of [these] nations, [...] do not leave a soul alive." And so [too], regarding Amalek, it states (Deuteronomy 25:19), "obliterate the memory of Amalek." And from where [do we know] that it is only speaking about those that did not make peace? Since it states (Joshua 11:19-20), "There was no city that made peace with the Children of Israel, except for the Hivite, that dwelled in Giveon; everything they took in war. As it was from the Lord to strengthen their hearts to meet Israel in war, in order that they be destroyed." It is implied that they sent them [terms of] peace and they did not accept. When a city is sieged to be conquered, we do not surround the four sides of it , rather, only three, and a place is selected as a place where whoever wants to flee and save their lives can, as it is written: And they warred against Midian, as Hashem commanded Moshe (Num. 31:7) from the wording we understand that he was commanded."
It may seem "harsh" from the perspective of a 21st century believer that even the nations who accept peace from Israel become subjected to Israel in servitude and/or tribute. However, one who reads and understands this Torah with a spiritual heart that is soft and open to the Ruach; then it is easy to see and understand that subjection and servitude and tribute is what a believer is already under in terms of the Malchut Hashamayim (Kingdom of Heaven), to the God of Israel, specifically the King, the Son of God Yeshua. We are all His subjects are we not? We all serve Him, do we not? And when we accept the peace offer that the Messiah gives us we become not only His servants, but He calls us His "friends". In this light, it is easy to see that this Torah is the same and applies to all nations even to this very day. Compare this to what Yeshua did when He sent out the 70 Jewish Shaliachim...
Luke 10:Luke 10 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
Now after these things, the Lord assigned seventy others and sent them out by twos before Him into every town and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 And He was telling them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
3 “Go forth! Look, I am sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Do not be burdened with a money belt, travel bag, or shoes; and do not greet anyone along the way. 5 Whatever home you enter, first say, “Shalom be on this home.” 6 If a son of shalom is there, your shalom will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in this same home, eating and drinking the things they offer, for the worker is deserving of his wage. Do not keep moving from house to house.
8 “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what they set before you. 9 Then heal the sick in that town, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, then go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town sticking to our feet, we wipe off as a witness to you. But know this! The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.
Just as in the Torah, Adonai has sent His Shaliachim (sent ones/messengers) from Israel offering Peace to the Nations, if they accept it, God's peace stays there. If not - then they have a fate worse than Sodom and Gomorrah!
Nothing has really changed. Same God, Same Israel, Same Torah.
Shabbat Shalom,
R' Eric
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