Tosefta untuk Ulangan 20:7

(Deut. 20:7) "And who is the man who has betrothed a woman?" It is the same whether one betroths or whether one performs yibbum, even one there is a widow waiting for a yavam among five brothers, and even if there are five brothers who heard that their brother died are at war, all of them return and come. § [Thus far,] I have only derived that one who built his house and did not inaugurate it, planted a vineyard and did not deconsecrate it, betrothed a woman but did not take her [as a wife]. [If one] built a house and inaugurated it but twelve months did not pass, planted a vineyard and deconsecrated it but twelve months did not pass, [or] betrothed a woman and took her [as a wife] twelve months did not pass, from where is it derived that they do not move from their place? The verse states (Deut. 24:5), "When a man takes a new wife." This matter was included in the general rule, so why was it specifically mentioned here? In order to make a comparison with it: Just as this betokens that [as to] one who betrothed a woman and took her and twelve months did not pass, that he does not move from his place, so too that is the case with all of them.

For thus the Torah teaches the way of the world: When a man is given a livelihood, he acquires for himself a house. If he is again given [means], he acquires for himself a field. If he is yet again given [means], he acquires for himself a wife, as it is said (Deut. 20:5-7), "Who is the man who has built ... and who is the man who has planted ... and who is the man who has betrothed a wife." And so too Solomon said with his wisdom (Prov. 24:27), "Prepare your work outside, [Get ready what you have in the field, Then build yourself a home]." "Prepare your work outside" -- that is a house. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is a field. "Then build yourself a home" -- that is a wife. Another version: "Prepare your work outside" -- that is Scripture. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is Mishnah. "Then build yourself a home" -- that is Midrash. Another version: "Prepare your work outside" -- that is Mishnah. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is Midrash. "Then build yourself a home" -- that is Halachot. Another version: "Prepare your work outside" -- that is Midrash. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is Halachot. "Then build yourself a home" -- that is Aggadot. Another version: "Prepare your work outside" -- that is Halachot. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is Aggadot. "Then build yourself a home" -- that is Talmud. Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yosei HaGalili says, "Prepare your work outside" -- that is Talmud. "Get ready what you have in the field" -- that is good deeds. "Then build yourself a home" -- come and expound it, and receive your reward.

(Deut. 20:8) "And the officers shall gather, etc." "He who is afraid and soft of heart" -- that he is afraid because of the transgressions he has committed, as it is said (Ps. 49:6), "Why should I fear in times of evil," the words of Rabbi Yosei HaGalili. Rabbi Akiva says, "Who is the man who is afraid" -- [this means] afraid literally. Why does the verse mention that "the soft of heart" return as well? For even the bravest of the brave and the strongest of the strong, [if] he was merciful, he would return, as it is said (Deut. 20:8), "So he does not melt his brothers' hearts, like his own heart." Rabbi Shimon says, anyone who hears the words of the priest concerning the regulations of war and does not return, at the end he falls by the sword and brings down [the rest of] Israel by the sword, and causes them to be exiled from their land, and others come and settle in their land, as it is said (Deut. 20:7) "[Lest he die in battle] and another man take her." "Another" -- you might think his uncle or the son of his uncle (cf. San. 3:4). Rather, it says here "another," and it says later on (Deut. 28:32) "another." Just as the "another" that is spoken of later on is an idolater, so too the "another" that is spoken of here is an idolater. § If he heard that his brother died in battle before he sallied forth [to battle], he returns; once he sallied forth, he does not return.