Questions tagged [army-military-war]
Questions about armed conflict and armed services.
5
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When did a Jew last marry a woman captured in war?
What is the last recorded case of a Jew marrying a woman captured in war, as allowed by the Torah [Deut. 21:10-14]? Anybody more recent than King David, as mentioned in Sanhedrin 21a and Kiddushin ...
3
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0answers
37 views
What is the Halacha on collateral damage in a time of war?
Hypothetically, if the IDF was a “halachically run” military force; what would be the Halacha against killing innocents?
For example, there is a famous case of the ל"ה troops during the Israeli war ...
7
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3answers
148 views
Did any rabbis address the theological possibility/implications of nuclear extinction?
During the Cold War, plenty of people were aware (I think?) that detonating enough nuclear bombs could lead to human extinction. Did any rabbis address whether the belief that Moshiach will come mean ...
0
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1answer
115 views
Pretty woman - is it a test or a Mitzvah
The sources talk a lot about the procedure of "אשת יפת תואר" (like Rambam Melachim 8,2 and on).
So for the soldiers, is the Pretty Woman allowed but "bad" (like "Patur but Ossur", see Rashi's ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
Roles of the Cohen and Judges involved in speaking to the people prior to war
In Devarim 20:2-4, the Cohen speaks to the people and gives an general comment not to fear the enemy.
Then, in verse 5, the judges speak to the people and exempt 4 groups of people from the army, and ...
4
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2answers
33 views
Apparent wrong arrangement of war instructions in Devarim 20:1-9
While reviewing the instructions that the Cohen tells people prior to going to war, as shown in Devarim 20:1-9, there seems to be an incorrect order of statements. In particular:
Verse 3 - The Cohen ...
5
votes
5answers
146 views
What is the connection between “sword and … bow” (Genesis 48:22) with “prayer and … supplication” (as rendered by Onkelos)?
What is the connection between "sword and ... bow" (Genesis 48:22) with "prayer and ... supplication" (as rendered by Onkelos)?
Verse:
וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר ...
2
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0answers
58 views
Jew Vs Jew in non-Jewish war
We know that throughout recent history, Jews were conscripted into non-Jewish armies. Are Jews allowed to join those armies or at the very least are they allowed to fight in those armies battles - ...
4
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0answers
39 views
How did the Shofar announcements work?
In this week's Parsha - יִתְרוֹ - we have the first occurrence (AFAIK) of the Shofar blast announcing something. בִּמְשֹׁךְ הַיֹּבֵל הֵמָּה יַעֲלוּ בָהָר. When you hear the long shofar sound, you may ...
4
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1answer
54 views
Why were the Jews commanded to destroy fruit trees when attacking Moav?
In 2 Melachim 3:24-25 it says
They entered the Israelite camp, and the Israelites arose and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them. They advanced, constantly attacking the Moabites,
and they ...
0
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1answer
34 views
Explanation of Gemara on why the Jews were only commanded to attack Midian and not Moav
In Bamidbar 25:16-18, Hashem commands Moshe to take revenge on Midian for having caused the Jews to sin at Shittim, discussed at the beginning of the chapter. Yet v. 1 seems to indicate that the Jews ...
0
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1answer
44 views
Explanation of Kli Yakar on why the Jews were only commanded to attack Midian and not Moav
In Bamidbar 25:16-18, Hashem commands Moshe to take revenge on Midian for having caused the Jews to sin at Shittim, discussed at the beginning of the chapter. Yet v. 1 seems to indicate that the Jews ...
9
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1answer
336 views
The Halachic Reasoning Behind the Neturei Karta
The Neturei Karta is a group of Haredim who believe that the creation of the State of Israel is against Torah, claiming that Jews are forbidden to have their own country until Moshiach comes.
They ...
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2answers
98 views
Was there ever a prophet in Tanach that was both a prophet and a military commander
Was there ever a prophet in Tanach that was both a prophet and a military commander?
4
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0answers
75 views
How is yefas to'ar fair to the woman?
At the beginning of Ki Seitzei (Devarim 21:10-14), the Torah permits a soldier at war to take a woman from the captives as a wife, but only after he shaves her head, grows out her nails, removes her ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Why do we fast on Taanis Esther in particular?
I am aware that according to the Avudraham, the fast commemorates the war in the Purim story.
According to this answer, why is Taanis Esther unique that we fast in memory of the war, when there are ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
The Great War in Contemporary Acharonic Thought
I've recently acquired a book (rather a large pamphlet) about the Great War (1914-18) entitled "The War and the Bible" by HG. Enelow (then head of the Reform Temple Emanu-el in NYC). However, this ...
16
votes
1answer
293 views
Tisha b'Av and the First World War
There is a curious idea floating around, that World War One commenced on the 9th day of the month of Av. (For example, here, and here, and here.)
I call it curious, since it takes a fairly creative ...
0
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0answers
48 views
If don't aspire to be a general cannot be a simple soldier
I believe I read this saying (originally said by Napoleon) by one of the Gedolim (torah leaders) with respect to one's religious service. Could be it was the Chafetz Chaim. Looking for a source.
the ...
9
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2answers
103 views
Did the Jewish soldiers fast before war?
The Mishna Berura in תרפו, ב talks about how in the days of Mordechai and Esther the Jews must have fasted because it was a time when they needed mercy just like when the Jews went to war against ...
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0answers
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Numbers 31 - questions
I originally posted this question in hermeneutics and it was suggested to ask it here:
Numbers 31 is a hard chapter to process, for a number of reasons, so please feel free to offer any support. God ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
Why will Moshiach fight in wars?
According to Prophet Isaiah of blessed memory when Moshiach comes there will be no more wars but according to the Rambam of blessed memory one of the ways to know if somebody is Moshiach is if he ...
5
votes
1answer
122 views
Question on Magog son of Yefes and Gog uMagog
Is the nation of Magog(who descend from Yefes) the same Magog as the Magog in Gog uMagog? I know that sound complicated, but read that again 2-3 times and you'll get it.
3
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0answers
32 views
David's Amalekites [duplicate]
In I Samuel 15, it records that King Saul wiped out all of Amalek, besides the king who was killed after a short period of time.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and ...
1
vote
1answer
646 views
Nebuchadnezzar II failure to conquer Egypt
Ezekiel 29:19 states the G-d will give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar II.
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Shaved or Trimmed
וַהֲבֵאתָהּ, אֶל-תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ; וְגִלְּחָה, אֶת-רֹאשָׁהּ, וְעָשְׂתָה, אֶת-צִפָּרְנֶיהָ.
In Deuteronmy 21:12, the JPS translates גלחה as “she shall trim her hair”. The entire verse translated in the JPS ...
3
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0answers
77 views
Why is there a Sephardic belief that eating seuda shelishit would in part protect you from the goings on at Gog and Magog?
I read this in a siddur at a Sephardic Shul yesterday. The women around me agreed wholeheartedly with the statement, stating that it's Halacha.
I don't see the connection, other than the idea that ...
0
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1answer
40 views
where do we learn about the importance of Ahavat Yisrael?
I'm looking for two specific sources related to this topic.
where is it written that when the Jews were all "keeping TORAH" but didn't have Ahavat Yisrael, they lost all battles.
where is it ...
1
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2answers
115 views
אשה יפת תואר- BiZman HaZeh?
In The beginning of Parshas Ki Seitzei we learn about the topic of אשה יפת תואר (Deutoronomy 21:10-15) My question is , Does this passage apply ,in any way , to us nowadays ?
4
votes
1answer
106 views
Source for story about the Maskilim's play mocking what the “orchei hamilchama” would look like according to chazal
Does anyone know of a reliable source for the story about how the Maskilim made a play to mock what a milchama would look like according to the torah/chazal, in which they depicted only the Chofetz ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
Does the book of Daniel accurately date the war with Babylon?
According to Wikipedia:
The introductory verses tell how, in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (606 BCE), Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the young Jewish ...
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0answers
27 views
Why does Avraham's Torah protect before battle reaches him more than Yaakov's g'milas chasadim?
In the Haamek Davar on Lech L'cha 12:17, the author tells us
a rule you should understand for all the subsequent sections of Genesis, the "book of the upright", Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: that it ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
What do our Rabbis say about wearing a poppy in the button-hole on Armistice Day?
The British Legion appeals for funds (called the Poppy Appeal) around Armistice Day (11 November) each year. People donate to the activities of the Legion and are given a paper/plastic poppy to wear.
...
0
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1answer
65 views
What did King David do to the people of Ammon after he captures the city in Shmuel 2 at the end of Chapter 12
What does this actually mean?
Was it that King David put them to work or he literally tortured them?
where it says:
31.
And the people that were therein he brought forth and he put them under saws, ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Milchemet mitzvah b'yameinu
I heard recently a certain rabbi say that "nobody disagrees that [our "war" to conquer Israel] is a milchemet mitzvah."
What sources are there, either way, for conquering Israel today being milchemet ...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
How far out will Israel's borders reach at the time of Mashiach?
In Genesis 15:18, God promises Avram (Abraham) that his offspring will be given the land from the river of Egypt (it is disputed which body of water this refers to) all the way until the great river ...
2
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1answer
765 views
Vilna Gaon, Gog and Magog war and Hoshana Rabba
1) I read on Soul Mazal, the following:
"...The Vilna Gaon on the Mechilta (Shmos 14:20) says that the Gog U'Magog war shall begin three hours before "Hanetz Hachama" (crack of dawn) on Hoshana ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Can a person break an oath to G-d to save a life?
Can a person break an oath to G-d to save a life?
For example, if someone in the army made an official oath to serve the army and obey the commands always, but one day the person saw his commander ...
5
votes
2answers
330 views
Why was Joshua allowed to break the Shabot in attacking Yericho?
In Joshua 6, the Jews marched around Jericho, thereby attacking it. Why was Joshua allowed to break the Shabot in attacking Yericho? Did not this march around Yericho begin on Rosh Chodesh and last ...
1
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1answer
67 views
Where did the king's horses come from?
It's written in this Torah portion that a king isn't allowed to acquire any horses for himself, because it will cause people to go to Egypt and buy them, and it is forbidden to return to Egypt.
...
3
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1answer
144 views
What is the modern Jewish attitude towards the Zealots and Sicarii?
One of the leading factions in the Jewish Revolt of 66-70 was the Zealot movement, and its splinter group, the Sicarii. I would imagine that the attitude towards them is somewhat complicated, or at ...
8
votes
3answers
449 views
How did the Jewish people understand and make sense of the destruction of the Second Temple?
Since I began studying the history of the Christian faith, and the relation between Judaism and Christianity, I have been struck by the idea of the Second Temple's destruction. I simply can't imagine ...
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0answers
52 views
Hand-Held Electronic Body Scanners on Shabbat
Can hand held electronic body scanners be used by synagogue volunteers on Shabbat for security purposes? This is in response to terrorist threats against American (specifically American-Jewish) ...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
The Chofeitz Chayim on World War Three
I read the following:
בְּשֵׁם הֶ'חָפֵץ חַיִּים' כָּךְ בִּשְׁנַת תשע"ה 75 שָׁנָה אַחֲרֵי פְּרוֹץ הַשְּׁנִיָּה צְפוּיָה לִפְרֹץ הַמִּלְחָמָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁית
שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵהגה"צ ר' צְבִי מֵאִיר ...
3
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1answer
97 views
Is there any tradition in Rabbinical sources regarding the conquering of Jerusalem by Pompey?
In Josephus and other sources, around 120 years before the destruction of the Second Temple, Pompey, a Roman leader, conquered Jerusalem and exiled Aristobulus the 2nd, the son of King Yannai and ...
2
votes
2answers
74 views
List of books (sforim) and articles about Jewish war in halacha
What are good books or articles (either for free online or for sale anywhere) on the laws of war, particularly how it should be done today and how it will be done when Moshiach comes?
1
vote
1answer
73 views
King David conquering bandits/troops (literally, גדוד) to get money for Jews in need
The Talmud Bavli Brachot (3b) says that when Jews needed financial assistance and the economy did not have enough money to go around, King David would advise the sages of Israel to confiscate money ...
0
votes
3answers
99 views
Why didn't Joshua take Prisoners When conquering Israel?
Why didn't Joshua take prisoners when conquering Israel? In Joshua chapter 10 it lists a number of nations that they conquer and kill. In verse 35 it states:
[they] destroyed every soul that was in ...
2
votes
3answers
148 views
What was the Plague of the Sword?
In the Haggadah you will find the following exegesis of part of Deuteronomy 26:8:
וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה. זוֹ הַחֶרֶב, כְּמָה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ, נְטוּיָה עַל-יְרוּשָלָיִם..&...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
When was the war with Amalek?
It seems from its placement in Chumash that the (first) war with Amalek occurred between the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah at Sinai. (Is that the case, or did it occur at another time?)...
