Last time, we talked about Davidโs reaction to being told he would not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. The text tells us what David did next:
ื ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืคืืฉืชืื ืืืื ืืขื; ืืืงื ืืื ืืช ืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืคืืฉืชืืื
โฆืื ืื ืืชื ืืงืืืฉ ืืืื ืืื ืืืณ ืขื ืืืกืฃ ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืงืืืฉ ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืฉื
ืื ืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืื ื ืขืืื ืืืคืืฉืชืื ืืืขืืืง ืืืฉืื ืืืืขืืจ ืื ืจืื ืืื ืฆืืืื
And the ืืืจื ืื implies this was a reaction to what came before:
ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืืื: ืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืืดื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืชืื ื ืืชื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืื ืื ื, ืขืชื ืืืื ื ืืืกืืจ ืื ืืื ืึดืึผึฐืฉืึถืึธืึนื ืื ื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืขืชื ืื ืื ืืื. ืืืืื ืืืกืคืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืืงืืืฉ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืช.
So David goes to war to make money. The money may be intended for worthwhile spiritual things, but is it right? It certainly offends our modern moral sensibilities, but itโs hard to judge characters in the past on modern standards. Iโd like to focus on the question, is it halachically acceptable?
At first glance, it would seem to violate the law against murder, which applies to all human beings:
ื ืืื ืืช ืืืื ืื ืคืฉืชืืื ืืืจืฉ ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืฉื ื; ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉ ืืืื ืืืจืฉ ืืช ื ืคืฉ ืืืืื
ื ืฉืคื ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืคื; ืื ืืฆืื ืืืงืื ืขืฉื ืืช ืืืืื
โViolence,โ came the retort, โis the last refuge of the incompetent.โ
But there is a concept of a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, a war of aggression, for profit or aggrandizement:
ื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืชืืืื ืืื ืขื ืืืืืช ืืฆืื. ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืฆืื ืื ืืืืืช ืฉืืขื ืขืืืื ืืืืืืช ืขืืืง ืืขืืจืช ืืฉืจืื ืืฆืจ ืฉืื ืขืืืื. ืืืืจ ืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืืื ืืืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืขื ืฉืืจ ืืขืืื ืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืืืช ืืืืืืชื ืืฉืืขื.
ื ืืืืืช ืืฆืื ืืื ื ืฆืจืื ืืืืื ืื ืจืฉืืช ืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืฆื ืืขืฆืื ืืื ืขืช ืืืืคื ืืขื ืืฆืืช. ืืื ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืื ื ืืืฆืื ืืขื ืื ืืื ืขื ืคื ืืืช ืืื ืฉื ืฉืืขืื ืืืื.
Much of this discussion comes from an article by Professor David Henshke of Bar Ilan.
Letโs go back to the sources in the Torah. The Torah clearly talks about two kinds of war:
ื ืื ืชืงืจื ืื ืขืืจ ืืืืื ืขืืื ืืงืจืืช ืืืื ืืฉืืืื
ืื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืชืขื ื ืืคืชืื ืื; ืืืื ืื ืืขื ืื ืืฆื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืืก ืืขืืืืื
ืื ืืื ืื ืชืฉืืื ืขืื ืืขืฉืชื ืขืื ืืืืื ืืฆืจืช ืขืืืื
ืื ืื ืชื ื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืื; ืืืืืช ืืช ืื ืืืืจื ืืคื ืืจืื
ืื ืจืง ืื ืฉืื ืืืืฃ ืืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืขืืจ ืื ืฉืืื ืชืื ืื; ืืืืืช ืืช ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ื ืชื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืื
ืื ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืื ืืขืจืื ืืจืืงืช ืืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืขืจื ืืืืื ืืืื ืื ืื
ืื ืจืง ืืขืจื ืืขืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืณ ืืืงืื ื ืชื ืื ื ืืื ืื ืชืืื ืื ื ืฉืืื
ืื ืื ืืืจื ืชืืจืืื ืืืชื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืขื ื ืืืคืจืื ืืืื ืืืืืืกื ืืืฉืจ ืฆืื ืืณ ืืืงืืื
ืื ืืืขื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืืืื ืืชืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืื ืชืืขืืชื ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืืืืืืื; ืืืืืชื ืืืณ ืืืงืืืื
The Rambam defined two classes of ืืืืืช ืืฆืื, one the war against the Canaanites (Iโm including Amalek in that category). Much ink has been spilled over the morality of that concept and I will not go into it further. The second is a defensive war, which the Torah clearly allows:
ืืื ืชืืื ืืืืื ืืืจืฆืื ืขื ืืฆืจ ืืฆืจืจ ืืชืื ืืืจืขืชื ืืืฆืฆืจืช; ืื ืืืจืชื ืืคื ื ืืณ ืืืงืืื ืื ืืฉืขืชื ืืืืืืืื
And even mandates:
(ืืืืืจ ืื:ืื) โืฆืจืืจ ืืช ืืืืื ืืโ ืืื โืื ืฆืืจืจืื ืื ืืืโ; ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืื.
But a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช? An optional war? What is that and where does it come from? I could have read the above psukim about ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืื ืืขืจืื ืืจืืงืช as being part of the defensive ืืืืืช ืืฆืื, and the ืขืจื ืืขืืื ืืืื part as ืืืืืช ืฉืืขื ืขืืืื ืืืืืืช ืขืืืง. Thereโs no need to posit a war that does not warrant the term ืืฆืื.
The beginning of the discussion of war starts with the mustering:
ื ืื ืชืฆื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืจืืืช ืกืืก ืืจืื ืขื ืจื ืืื ืื ืชืืจื ืืื; ืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืขืื ืืืขืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืืื
ื ืืืื ืืงืจืืื ืื ืืืืืื; ืื ืืฉ ืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืขืื
ื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืฉืืข ืืฉืจืื ืืชื ืงืจืืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืืืื; ืื ืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชืืคืื ืืื ืชืขืจืฆื ืืคื ืืืื
ื ืื ืืณ ืืืงืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืืืฉืืข ืืชืืื
ื ืืืืจื ืืฉืืจืื ืื ืืขื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืฉ ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืืืช ืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืชื; ืคื ืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืื
ื ืืื ืืืืฉ ืืฉืจ ื ืืข ืืจื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืชื; ืคื ืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืืจ ืืืืื ืื
ื ืืื ืืืืฉ ืืฉืจ ืืจืฉ ืืฉื ืืื ืืงืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืชื; ืคื ืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืืจ ืืงืื ืื
ื ืืืกืคื ืืฉืืจืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืขื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืืฉ ืืืจื ืืจื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืชื; ืืื ืืืก ืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืฉืืจืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืขื; ืืคืงืื ืฉืจื ืฆืืืืช ืืจืืฉ ืืขืื
The Torah uses the word ืืืื, which would seem to rule out a war of aggression:
"'ืื ืชืฆื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืืืื: ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืื ืื ืขืืื ืฉืืชื ืืฉืืื ืขืืื, ืจืง ื ืื ืืืืืื.
And the Mechilta (as cited in Midrash Tannaim; Professor Henshke points out that this is attributed to ืจืื ืืฉืืขืื and may well disagree with the Sifrei of ืจืื ืขืงืืื) says:
ืื ืชืืจื ืืื ืืฉื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฉื (ืืืืืจ ืื:ืื) โืืืืืจ ืืณ ืื ืืฉื ืื ืชืืจื ืืชืโ ืืืฉื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืืืฉืข (ืืืืฉืข ื:ื) โืืืืืจ ืืณ ืื ืืืืฉืข ืื ืชืืจื ืืื ืชืืชโ.
The examples are of ืืืืืืช ืืฆืื. But the Sifrei says this law applies to a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, and ืืืื is part of the commandment:
ืื ืชืฆื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืืืื, ืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืืชืื ืืืืจ. ืขื ืืืืืื, ืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืชื ื ืืื.
As Rashi explains:
ืขื ืืืื: ืืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืืืืื, ืื ืชืจืื ืขืืืื ืื ืื ืืจืืื ืขืืื.
The Tannaim assume these psukim are talking about a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, since they allow for soldiers to defer their service. This isnโt the case for a ืืืืืช ืืฆืื:
ื ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืืจ ืื ืืขื ืืืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืื ืืืืจ; ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืจืื ื:ื) โืืืื ืืงืืจืืื ืื ืืืืืื; ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืืโ.
โฆ
ื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื? ืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช. ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืฆืืโืืืื ืืืฆื, ืืคืืื (ืืืื ื:ืื) โืืชื ืืืืจื, ืืืื ืืืืคืชืโ . ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื, ืืืืืืช ืืฆืื; ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืืื, ืืืื ืืืฆืืื, ืืคืืื (ืืืื ื:ืื) โืืชื ืืืืจื, ืืืื ืืืืคืชืโ .
The argument between ืจืื ืืืืื and ืืืืื is completely unclear, and the gemara isnโt much help:
ืืืดื? ืืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืืณ:ืืดืจ ืืืื ื: ืจืฉืืช ืืจืื ื ืื ืืื ืืฆืื ืืจืื ืืืืื, ืืฆืื ืืจืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืืืื. ืืืจ ืจืื: ืืืืืืช ืืืืฉืข ืืืืฉโืืืจื ืืื ืืืื, ืืืืืืช ืืืช ืืื ืืจืืืืโืืืจื ืืื ืจืฉืืช, ืื ืคืืืื - ืืืขืืื ืขืืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืืชื ืขืืืืื, ืืจ ืงืจื ืื ืืฆืื, ืืืจ ืงืจื ืจืฉืืช; ื ืคืงื ืืื ื? ืืขืืกืง ืืืฆืื ืฉืคืืืจ ืื ืืืฆืื.
ืจืื ืืืื ื says ืจืื ืืืืื and ืืืืื are not arguing about the halacha, just about terminology. The wars mandated by the Torah, to conquer and defend Israel, ืจืื ืืืืื would call ืืืื rather than ืืฆืื, since he would call a war of aggression (as Rambam says, ืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืืืช ืืืืืืชื ืืฉืืขื) a ืืฆืื. In the words of Professor Henshke (p. 96), ืจืื ืืืืืโฆืฉืืื ืืช ืืืืกื โืืืืืช ืจืฉืืชโโฆืืืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืคืจ ืืชืืขืืื ืืื ืืขืืื, ืื ืกืืฃ ืืืจ ืฉืจืฉืืช ืืืโืืื ืืฆืื ืืฉ ืื! Rav Lichtenstein, in an article that is cited below, says the โืืฆืืโ here is not the war, but the obligation to obey the king.
ืจืื says they are actually arguing, and finally introduces the source of the concept of a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช: the wars of our perek, the wars of David. In that kind of war, the deferments of the Torah apply. In wars mandated by the Torah, there are no deferments (there is a ืืืืงืช ืจืืฉืื ืื whether the deferment of ืืืจื ืืจื ืืืื applied). But according to ืืืืื, both are halachic wars and have their place. ืจืื ืืืืื would call the wars of conquest of ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื,โ ืืืืืช ืืืื and allows for the existence of a new class: ืืืืืช ืืฆืื which is a war of deterrence, a ืืืืืช ืืชืจืขื as Rav Amital calls it (ืชืืืืื ื, ืขืืณ 455). That is a ืืฆืื, but isnโt a ืืืื and requires a decision of both the king and the Sanhedrin. ืืืืื would include such a war in the category of ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช.โ ืจืื ืืืืื, on the other hand, doesnโt seem to acknowledge a halachic category of ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช at all.
ืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืืช ืฉืืขื ืขืืืื ืืืืืืช ืขืืืง ืืืื. ืืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืืช ืฉืืจ ืืืจืฆืืช ืฉื ืฉืืจ ืืืืืืช ืจืฉืืช. ืื ื ืืืงื ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืืืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืืฉื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืชื ืคืื ืขื ืืจืฆื, ืชื ื ืงืื ืงืืจื ืืช ืื ืจืฉืืช. ืืจืณ ืืืืื ืงืืจื ืืืืืื ืื ืืฆืื. ืืืืขืช ืจืณ ืืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืขืืกืง ืืืืืื ืื ืื ืืฆืจืืื ืคืืืจ ืื ืืืฆืืช ืืคื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืฆืืื ื ืืื ืฉืืืขืช ืืขืืกืง ืืืฆืื ืคืืืจ ืื ืืืฆืื. ืืืืขืช ืชื ื ืงืื ืืื ื ืขืืกืง ืืืฆืื. ืืืื ืืืื ืืจืณ ืืืืื.
It may be that ืจืื ืืืืื allows for the existence of a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, a war that is not a ืืฆืื but is still halachically and morally acceptable. However, it may be that he doesnโt allow for wars of aggression, war for plunder or aggrandizement, at all. Based on a suggestion by Professor Henshke, he may punctuate ืืืืืช ืจืฉืืช not as ืึดืึฐืึถืึถืช ืจึฐืฉืืึผืช, a permissible war, but ืึดืึฐืึถืึถืช ืจึธืฉืืึผืช, a war of the government. He doesnโt deny the reality of such a war, but would say it has no place in a Torah society.
ืฉึฐืืึทืขึฐืึธื ืึฐืึทืึฐืึทืึฐืืึนื ืงึดืึฐึผืืึผ ืึตืึถื. ืฉึฐืืึทืขึฐืึธื ืืึนืึตืจ, ืึฑืืึนื ืึถืช ืึทืึฐึผืึธืืึธื, ืึผืฉึฐืื ึธื ืึถืช ืึธืจึทืึธึผื ืึผืช, ืึฐืึทื ืชึดึผืชึฐืึทืึทึผืข ืึธืจึธืฉืืึผืช.
This is consistent with ืจืื ืืืืื's opinion elsewhere, about the powers of a king:
ืื ืืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืฉืคื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืขืืืื; ืืช ืื ืืื ืืงื ืืฉื ืื ืืืจืืืชื ืืืคืจืฉืื ืืจืฆื ืืคื ื ืืจืืืชืื
ืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืฉืจื ืืืคืื ืืฉืจื ืืืฉืื; ืืืืจืฉ ืืจืืฉื ืืืงืฆืจ ืงืฆืืจื ืืืขืฉืืช ืืื ืืืืืชื ืืืื ืจืืืื
ืื ืืืช ืื ืืชืืื ืืงื ืืจืงืืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืืืคืืชื
ืื ืืืช ืฉืืืชืืื ืืืช ืืจืืืื ืืืืชืืื ืืืืืื ืืงื; ืื ืชื ืืขืืืืื
ืื ืืืจืขืืื ืืืจืืืื ืืขืฉืจ; ืื ืชื ืืกืจืืกืื ืืืขืืืืื
ืื ืืืช ืขืืืืื ืืืช ืฉืคืืืชืืื ืืืช ืืืืจืืื ืืืืืื ืืืช ืืืืจืืื ืืงื; ืืขืฉื ืืืืืืชืื
ืื ืฆืื ืื ืืขืฉืจ; ืืืชื ืชืืื ืื ืืขืืืืื
ืื ืืืขืงืชื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืคื ื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืชื ืืื; ืืื ืืขื ื ืืณ ืืชืื ืืืื ืืืืื
ืจืณ ืืืกื ืืืืจ: ืื ืืืืืจ ืืคืจืฉืช ืืื ืืื ืืืชืจ ืื. ืจืณ ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ื ืืืจื ืคืจืฉื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืขืืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ โืฉืื ืชืฉืื ืขืืื ืืืโ ืฉืชืื ืืืืชื ืขืืื.
Similarly, there is an argument between the Sifrei (ืจืื ืขืงืืื) and the Mechilta (ืจืื ืืฉืืขืื) whether a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช is permissible:
โืืื ืื ืชืฉืืื ืขืื ืืขืฉืชื ืขืื ืืืืืโ, ืืืชืื ืืืฉืจื ืฉืื ืืื ื ืืฉืืืช ืขืื ืืกืืฃ ืฉืืื ืขืืฉื ืขืื ืืืืื.
โืืื ืื ืชืฉืืื ืขืืโ ืฉืืืข ืื ื ืืชืืื ืืืืื ืื; ืชืดื โืืขืฉืชื ืขืื ืืืืืโ ืืฉืชืชืืื ืืืืื ืื.
So we end up that there is a ืืืืืงืช ืชื ืืื whether ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช is halachically acceptable. This affects how we read the story of Davidโs wars of aggression and conquest:
ืืื ืจืื ืืฉืืขืื ืงืืืื ืืช ืคืฉืืื ืฉื ืืงืจื ืืืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืืืืืืชืื ืืจืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ื ืฉืื ืื, ืืืฃ ืงืืขื ืื โืฉืื ืืชืืจื ืขืฉืโ ืืืงืฆืช ืืืืืืชืื. ืืื ืืคืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืืจืฉ ืื ืืืงืืจ ืืืืืื ืืช ืืืืืืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, ืฉืืกืืื ืืืงืจืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืื ืืจืืืื. ืคืชืืื ืืคืื ืืื ืจืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืืข ืืื ืืช ืขืืืชื ืฉืืื: ืืืืืืช ืืืืืืช ืื ืชืืคืขื ืื ืืฉืืช ืจืืืืช ืืื ืืืขืืืโืื ืืื ืคืืจืืฉ ืืืืจ ืฉืืชืืจื ืืฉืืืื ืขืื.
We wanted to use the halachot of war to understand Davidโs wars. In the end, it is Davidโs wars as described in our perek that are the source for the halachot. These are the only examples in ืชื ืดื of ืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, and we will have to look at the text to see how the ื ืืื views them.
The opinion that ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช is not halachic appeals to our contemporary sense of morals, that war is inherently unjust and only in limited cases is it justifiable. But that is clearly not the halacha. We hold like the Sifrei, and like ืืืืื in the Mishna, that there is a halachic concept of ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช. It may be more limited than a ืืืืืช ืืฆืื, but it is still valid. What David did in raiding his neighbors was halachically appropriate. What do we, todayโs readers, do with that?
Rav Amital tries to limit the scope of a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช. He notes the ืืืื ืืืฉ holds that we can never engage in a ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช with a nation that keeps the ืฉืืข ืืฆืืืช ืื ื ื ื:
ืืืฃ ืืืขืช ืจืื ื [ืืจืืืดื] ืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืืืช ืฆืจืื ืืงืืืช ืืณ ืืฆืืืช ืืืฉืืข ืืื ืงืืืื ืืณ ืืฆืืืช ืืื ืืก ืืขืืืืช ืจืฉืืื ืืืืืื ืืื, ืืจืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืงื ืืืืื ืืงืื ืืฉืชื [ืืชืื ืืืืืื] ืืณ ืืฆืืืช, ืืื ืืืชื ืฉืืงืืืืื ืืณ ืืฆืืืช ืืงืืื ืืื ืจืฉืืื ืืืื ืขืืืื ืืืืืื.
ืืืืื ืืืื ืืขืฉืื ืืฉื ืฉืืืื ืืชืืื ืืืฉืืชื ืืืืืชื ืืืจืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืฆืืง ืืืฉืืืจ ืืจืืข ืืจืฉืขืื ืืืืืืื ืืืืืืช ืืณ ืฉืืื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืชืืืื ืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืฉืคื ืืืืืื; ืฉื ืืืจ (ืฉืืืื ื ื:ื) โืืฉืคืื ื ืืืื ื ืืืฆื ืืคื ืื ื ืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืืืชืื ืโ.
ืืืฆื, ืืืคืื, ืฉืื ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืืืช ืืืืืชื ืืฉืืขื ืืืชืจื ืจืง ืืืกืืจืช ืืืืจื ืืืืืืช ืฉื ืืจืืช ืืช ืืืืช. ืจืง ืืืฉืจ ืืชืงืืืืืช ืฉืชื ืืืืจืืชโืืืืจื ืืืืืืช ืืืืฃ ืืช ืืืืื ืืขืืื ืืช ืืืืืืื ืืืงืื ืฉืืข ืืฆืืืช ืื ื ื ื, ืืืืืจื ืืืืื ืืช ืืืืืืื ืืช ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืืืช ืืืืืชื ืืฉืืขืโ ืจืง ืื ืืืชืจื ืืืฆืืื ืืืืืื.
Rav Amital seems to feel that a war of aggression is morally better if there is a religious goal, to bring the nations to obey the Noachite laws. I donโt think that helpsโconversion by the sword doesnโt seem any more moral to me than plunder for money; David was doing it ืืฉื ืฉืืื, to build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. I still look in horror at the story of our perek.
We are left with the uncomfortable reality that war for land and profit is permitted by the Torah. However, it is not arbitrary, on the whim of the king. There is a deliberative process that involves the representative body of the people, the Sanhedrin:
ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืืื ื, ืืก ืืฉืืื, ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืฆืืช ืืืืจื ืฉืจืืจืืชื ืื ืขื ืคื ื ืืืืงืื ืคืจืืืืืื ืืจืืื. ืืืฆืืื ืืืื ืืขืื ื ืฉืืงืื ืืขืชโืฉืืงืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืกืจื ืื ืคืืืช ืืืฉืจ ืืืื ืโฆืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืขื ืคื ืืืืช ืืืื ืขืจืืืืช ืฉืืื ื ืืขืืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืคืืจืฉืืช, ืื ืืืืืืืืช ืืืืง ืืืฆืคืื.
ืืืืฆืื ืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช, ืขื ืคื ืืืช ืืื ืฉื ืฉืืขืื ืืืื.
We see this from the first military leader, Joshua:
ืื ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืื ืืฉื ืงื ืื ืืช ืืืืฉืข ืื ื ืื ืืืฉ ืืฉืจ ืจืื ืื; ืืกืืืช ืืช ืืื ืขืืืื
ืื ืืืขืืืช ืืชื ืืคื ื ืืืขืืจ ืืืื ืืืคื ื ืื ืืขืื; ืืฆืืืชื ืืชื ืืขืื ืืืื
ื ืื ืชืชื ืืืืื ืขืืื ืืืขื ืืฉืืขื ืื ืขืืช ืื ื ืืฉืจืืื
ืื ืืืคื ื ืืืขืืจ ืืืื ืืขืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืืฉืคื ืืืืจืื ืืคื ื ืืณ; ืขื ืคืื ืืฆืื ืืขื ืคืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืชื ืืื ืืขืืื
ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืคื ืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืืคื ืืื: ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืคื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืืคื ืืื ืืืืืื. ืื ืืืจื ืฉืืืจืื ืขืืฉืื ืฉืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืืกืืฃ ืืืโฆืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืคื ืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืคื ืืื ืืจืืฉ.
ืืืจ ืจืณ ืืืื ืืืืจ ืงืจื (ืืืืืจ ืื) โืืืคื ื ืืืขืืจ ืืืื ืืขืืืโ. โืืืโ ืื ืืื, โืืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืชืโ ืื ืืฉืื ืืืืื, โืืื ืืขืืโ ืื ืกื ืืืจื.
And the gemara learns that Davidโs war were also started deliberately, with the involvement of Sanhedrin and ืืณ:
ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืคืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืขืฆืื ืืืืืชืืคื ืื ืืืืื ืืกื ืืืจืื ืืฉืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืืชืืืื.
ืื ืืืืืชืคื ืืืขืฅ ืืืื; ืืืืฉื ืืืจืื ืจืข ืืืืื
ืื ืืืืจื ืืืืชืคื ืืืืืืข ืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืชืจ ืืฉืจ ืฆืื ืืืื ืืืืื
ืื ืืฆืืืง ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืื ืืืืชืจ ืืื ืื; ืืฉืืฉื ืกืืคืจื
ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืืข ืขื ืืืจืชื ืืืคืืชื; ืืื ื ืืืื ืืจืืฉื ืื ืืื ืืืืื
ืืืืชืืคื ืื ืืืขืฅ ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ (ืฉืืืื ื ืื) ืืขืฆืช ืืืืชืืคื ืืฉืจ ืืขืฅ ืืืืณ. ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืืข ืื ืกื ืืืจืื. ืืืืชืจ ืืื ืืืจืื ืืชืืืื. ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื) ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืืข ืขื ืืืจืชื ืืขื ืืคืืชื ืืืื ื ืงืจื ืฉืื ืืจืชื ืืคืืชื ืืจืชื ืฉืืืจืชืื ืืืจืืื ืืคืืชื ืฉืืืคืืืื ืืขืฉืืื.
Note that this includes the involvement of ืืณ's agreement, in the message of the ืืืจืื ืืชืืืื. After the end of the period of ื ืืืื, in the second Temple, there were no ืืืจืื ืืชืืืื and the Mishna only requires the Sanhedrinโs acquiescence.
Rav Amital concludes:
ืืื ืกืคืง ืฉืืชืคืืกื ืื ืืฉืืืืช ืืชืืื ืืืืฉืื ืืืืืืืช, ืืืืืดื.
And the moral question? A ืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช may be permissible, but is it good? I would conclude with Rav Kookโs thoughts:
Another interesting statement from R. Kook on developing morality is found in Pinkesei ha-Reiyah, also published in 2008โฆIn discussing how terrible war is, and the concept of a โpermissible war,โ which is recognized as a halakhic category, he notes that the latter is only suitable for a world which hasnโt developed properly, one which still sees war as a means to achieve things. This proper development can only come when all peoples have reached an elevated stage, since, pace Gandhi, you canโt have one nation practice the higher morality of no war while other nations are still using force. R. Kook describes โpermissible warโ as follows (p. 29):
ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืืช ืฉื ืืืืืช ืจืฉืืช ืื ื ืืืจื ืืดื ืืื ืืฉืืืช ืฉืื ื ืืืจื ืืืื ืื.
The way the Torah shows this is by the law of yefat toar, concerning which R. Kook writes:
ืื ืื ืืืื ืขื ื ืงืื ืื ืจืง ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืชืืืืช ืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉื, ืื ืืืืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืฆืจ ืืจืข ืขืดื ืืงืืืช ืืคืช ืชืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืืืืคื ืืืืืืจ. ืืืื ื ืืื ืฉืืฉื ืฉืขืืื ื ืืืชืจืืื ืืืื ืืคืช ืชืืืจ, ืื ื ืืื ืืืชืจืืื ืืขืืงืจ ืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืืืช ืจืฉืืช, ืื ืืืจ ืฉืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืื.
โฆ
On the very next page of Pinkesei ha-Reiyah, R. Kook applies the same insight to the issue of slavery, seeing it as only a temporary phenomenon, one that the Torah wishes to see done away with.
I donโt have a good answer beyond โwe canโt judge the past by the standards of the presentโ, but we would like to believe in an absolute standard of morality and justice. We have to admit that we donโt have a good answer today either, and that well-meaning people can argue about what is โmoral and justโ. ืื ืืฉืืื ืืื, and we have to look at the halacha as it exists and how ืืืดื and the text present Davidโs actions.