Halakhah sa Deuteronomio 20:3: Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars

The Anointed for War addresses the people twice. First, at the border⁵⁴When leaving the country. just before going out to wage the battle, he says to them, “Is there man here who has planted a vineyard, and has not redeemed it?” (Deut. 20:6). When they hear him, those people will return from the front. And then again at the front he (addresses them and) says, “do not fear and do not run away” (Deut. 20:3).

At the time they are organizing to deploy in their battle array and are ready to do battle, the Anointed for War stands on a high place with the entire army before him and says to them in the Holy Tongue, “Shema Yisroel, you are about to do battle today with your enemies. Have no fear in your hearts, do not be frightened, do not scurry about and do not flee from before them. HaShem, your G-d, goes with you to fight with your enemies and save you” (Deut. 20:3-4). Until here does the Anointed for War speak. A subordinate Kohen now broadcasts this message to the people in a loud voice. The Anointed for War again speaks and says, “Is there a man here who has built a new home and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house lest he die in battle and another man dedicate it. Is there a man here who has planted a vineyard and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house lest he die in battle and another man use its fruit. Is there a man here who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house lest he die in the battle and another man take her” (Deut. 20:5-7). Until here does the Anointed for War speak. Then a⁵⁵Lit., the. marshal broadcasts this message to the people in a loud voice. The marshal himself then speaks and says, “Is there a man here who is afraid and weak of heart?” (Deut. 20:8). Another officer then broadcasts this to the people.

"What man is there who is fearful and is faint-hearted" (Deut. 20:8)? Exactly so. This is one whose heart has no strength to withstand the strains of war⁶⁸He is afraid he’ll be killed in battle due to his sins.. Now, once one becomes entangled with the perplexities of war, he should trust the Hope of Israel, and He will save him in times of trouble. He should know he is doing battle for the unity of the Name. He should place his life in His Hands and neither be afraid nor alarmed. He should not think about his wife or his children. Rather, he should wipe away thoughts of them from his heart, and clear himself of everything for the war. Anyone who thinks about or contemplates (matters) during the battle and frightens himself violates a Negative Commandment, as it says, “do not be faint of heart, nor be alarmed, do not flee, and be not frightened before them” (Deut. 20:3). And not only that, but all the blood of Israel hangs around his neck. If he did not win and did not fight the battle with all his heart and soul, he is like one who spills everyone’s blood, as it says, “lest he not melt his brothers’ hearts as has his” (Deut. 20:8). It is explicitly stated in the Tradition that, “Cursed be he who does the work of G-d sluggishly, and cursed be he who keeps back his sword from blood” (Jeremiah 48:10). However, anyone who does fight with all his heart without fear, and his intentions are only to Sanctify the Name, is promised that he will not be harmed and nothing bad will happen to him. He will build an upright home in Israel, and he and his children will earn merit forever, and merit The World To Come, as it says, “certainly, G-d shall make for my master a faithful house, for the wars of G-d does my master fight and no evil will be found with you all your days…And the soul of my master will be bound with the living, with the Lord your G-d…” (I Samuel 25:28-29).