תּוספֿתּא אויף דברים 28:32

(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.