Parshat Shofetim; Deuteronomy18:18 – 21:9 by Rabbi Denise L.Eger
As the United States continues to be at war in Iraq, with more of our troops dying daily, we read Parshat Shofetim’s rules about warfare with interest. While the United States army is an all-volunteer one, the army of the Israelites was not. All men from the age of 20 and up served as part of the army that would eventually conquer the Promised Land of Israel under Joshua’s leadership. In various times in U.S. history we had a draft and various exemptions from that draft including the exemption for being a conscientious objector. But beginning in chapter 20, verse 5 - 8 of Deuteronomy there is a curious list of those who would be exempt from warfare.
“The officials shall address the troop, as follows, “Is there anyone who has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it?” (Deut. 20:5) The officials then are to ask about those who planted a vineyard but never harvested it or the one who is engaged to be married but not married yet, and finally those who are afraid and disheartened
Any soldier in these categories is exempt from participating in battle. Tradition teaches us several reasons for these exemptions. Concerning the first three cases, that the soldier whose home is dedicated or vineyard not harvested or not married yet but engaged, in each case the individual soldier would be so pre-occupied and anxious with his situation that they would hardly be able to concentrate on their military tasks.
A new home that is not dedicated to God (today we hang a mezuzah on the doorpost) is incomplete and does not have God’s protection over it. One would hardly want to engage in warfare unprotected. Remember God is Magen Avraham—the Shield of Abraham and presumably the shield of the people of Israel, Abraham’s children.
A vineyard takes time until it is ready to harvest. It takes several seasons to prepare the vines and the land for a proper harvest. And grapes were such an essential in the ancient economy—those dedicated to growing grapes and making wine were important economic contributors.
Of course the newly engaged who cannot marry his bride would clearly be distracted. Jewish tradition most clearly emphasizes the importance of family. Thus by exempting the engaged soldier to return home and marry his bride our tradition reinforces the importance of the value of family and indeed children.
We can cross reference these three situation to Parshat Ki Tavo—a few chapters later in Deuteronomy 28. In a list of curses that God will bring upon those who do not observe the covenant—are exactly these three. In Deuteronomy 28:30 it states, “ If you pay the bride –price for a wife, another man shall enjoy her. If you build a house, you shall not live in it. If you plant a vineyard, you shall not harvest it.” So the officials before the start of war call out these three reasons –lest the soldier die in battle and then others come to believe he was cursed by God! How demoralizing this would be for the entire army. This is the explanation given by the great Torah commentator Sforno.
The fourth exemption is for those who are afraid. It is the coward’s exemption. The fear in war is palpable. The Israelites don’t need deserters or those who doubt God’s ability. They have a huge task before them—to bring God’s covenant to fruition. Thus those who were at all going to detract from their mission should not participate. In truth those who were faint-hearted were really those who lacked faith; faith that God would deliver the Children of Israel from all harm.
Our torah consistently admonishes us to have faith. It teaches us not to be distracted by other gods and goddesses. Even in this parasha we are warned about setting up false worship sites or being distracted from our covenant by local gods and goddesses. The soldier who was faint of heart—could also be in this category merely by his lack of faith in unifying force of Adonai.
These exemptions remind us too, that our own faith must be strong and strengthened in whatever we do. There are distractions that sometimes divert our energies from our chosen tasks. Our Torah offers sage advice in instructing us to take care of those details before we can focus our minds and our faith. And this we should do.
Posted by Lee at August 21, 2006 09:30 AM
