Negative Commandment 46 (Digest)
Settling in Egypt
"You shall never again return that way"—Deuteronomy 17:16.
We are forbidden from dwelling in the land of Egypt, so that we do not learn their heretical ways nor their depraved lifestyle that the Torah decries. Alexandria, too, is part of the boundaries of Egypt that we may not live in. From the Sea of Alexandria we measure 400 parsah [a parsah is approximately four kilometers] to the length and breadth—and that is the boundary of the Land of Egypt that we may not dwell in.
The prohibition only applies to settling in Egypt. It is, however, permitted to travel to Egypt for business purposes, or to annex [parts of it to Israel].
The 46th prohibition is that we are forever forbidden from living in the land of Egypt. [The purpose of this prohibition is] so that we should not learn from their heresy and not come to imitate their behavior, which the Torah considers wicked.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "[The king must not accumulate many horses, so as not to bring the people back to Egypt to get more horses, and G‑d told you] you must never again return on that path."
This prohibition is repeated three times in the Torah, as our Sages said, "The Torah repeats the prohibition against returning to Egypt three times; on three occasions they returned; and three times they were punished." Of the three times mentioned in the Torah, the first is the verse mentioned above. The second is G‑d's statement, "[G‑d will bring you back to Egypt in ships,] along the way that I told you not to ever see again." And the third is G‑d's statement, "You are seeing the Egyptians today, but you shall not see them again." Although the plain meaning of Scripture is that it is notification, the Oral Tradition tells us that it is actually a prohibition.
It is explained in the end of tractate Sukkah that Alexandria is included in the area in which it is forbidden to settle. From the Sea of Alexandria one measures 400 parsah in length and 400 parsah in width, and that area constitutes the "land of Egypt" in which it is forbidden to settle.
However, one may go there in order to do business or to pass through to another land. The Jerusalem Talmud says clearly, "You may not return there to live, but may return there to do business and trade or to conquer [another] land."
Positive Commandment 190 (Digest)
Proposing Peace before Waging War
"They shall be your subjects and shall serve you"—Deuteronomy 20:11.
When embarking upon an "optional war" [for the sake of expanding the borders of Israel, as opposed to the "mitzvah wars" waged against Amalek and the Seven Canaanite Nations], we are commanded to first offer the opponent a peace settlement. If the opponent accepts the terms of the peace proposal – i.e., the nation accepts upon itself Jewish sovereignty and agrees to pay an annual tax to the Jewish monarch – then we do not wage battle against them.
If they do not accept the terms of the peace proposal, then we go to battle and kill the male population, and the women and property are taken as spoils.
[With regard to "mitzvah wars," we also first offer a peace proposal, but in the event that the enemy doesn't accept the terms, then the entire population – male and female – are not allowed to live.]
The 190th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the way to wage war against other nations [besides Amalek and the seven nations]. Such a war is called a milchemes reshus [optional war]. We are commanded that in the event of war, we should offer to make peace with them only as far as not killing them. If they surrender and give us the land, we then place upon them duty and servitude.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "[When you approach a city to wage war against it, you must propose a peaceful settlement. If the city responds peacefully and opens its gates to you,] all the people inside shall pay you duty and serve you."
The Sifri says, "If they [the enemy] say, 'We accept duty but not servitude,' or 'servitude but not duty,' we do not accept; only when they accept both." [The "duty" is] to pay a fixed amount every year, as set by the king of that time, and the "servitude" is to obey all commands and to be constantly in fear and humbled.
But if they do not surrender, we are commanded to kill all male inhabitants of the city, both high and low in status, and to capture all the booty and the women. This is commanded in G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "If they reject your peace offer [...you shall strike down its males by the sword. However, the women, children, animals and all the goods in the city, you shall take as your spoils]." All these laws are included under the commandment of milchemes reshus.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Sanhedrin and the eighth chapter of tractate Sotah.
Negative Commandment 56 (Digest)
Offering Peace to Amon or Moab
"You must not seek their peace or prosperity"—Deuteronomy 23:7.
Normally, when embarking upon a battle, we are commanded to first offer the enemy terms for a peace proposal (see Positive Commandment 190). Not so with the nations of Amon and Moab, whom we may not offer a peace proposal. [Though if they, of their own volition, offer to make peace, we do accept their proposal—provided it meets the conditions outlined in the positive commandment referenced above.]
The 56th prohibition is that we are forbidden from ever offering peace to the nations of Ammon or Moav. This ["offering peace"] refers to G‑d's command that before attacking any cities, we should first offer its inhabitants to give in and surrender to us. If they surrender the city, we are prohibited from attacking and killing them, as explained in Positive Commandment 190. The exceptions are Ammon and Moav, to whom we may not make this offer. G‑d prohibited us from offering the option of surrender and asking them to give in.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "You must never seek peace with them nor their well-being [as long as you exist]."
The Sifri says, "From the verse, 'When you approach a city to wage war against it, you must propose a peaceful settlement,' one could think the same applies here [to Ammon and Moav]. The Torah therefore says, 'You must never seek peace with them nor their well-being.' But from the phrase, '[He must be allowed to live alongside you wherever he chooses in your settlements,] be good to him,' one could think the same applies here. The Torah therefore says, '[nor their well-being] as long as you exist.' "
Negative Commandment 57 (Digest)
Wanton Destruction
"You shall not destroy its trees"—Deuteronomy 20:19.
In the course of battle, while besieging an enemy city, it is forbidden to cut down fruit-bearing trees in order to cause distress and pain to the city's inhabitants.
Included in this mitzvah is the prohibition against any wanton destruction; for example, cutting down a fruit-bearing tree [even not in time of battle], or needlessly burning a garment or breaking a utensil.
The 57th prohibition is that when besieging a city, we are forbidden from cutting down fruit trees in order to cause distress and pain to its inhabitants.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "[When you lay siege to a city...,] you must not wield an ax and destroy its trees, for they eat from them. Do not cut them down."
All forms of destruction are included in this prohibition. One who needlessly burns a garment or breaks an object, for example, transgresses this prohibition and is punished by lashing.
It is explained in the end of tractate Makkos that one who cuts down useful trees is punished by lashes. Our Sages say, "The prohibition is from this verse: 'For they eat from them. Do not cut them down.' "
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Bava Basra.
Positive Commandment 192 (Digest)
Hygiene in the Army Camp
"You shall have a designated place outside the camp"—Deuteronomy 23:13.
When going out to war, we are commanded to designate a place outside the army encampment where the soldiers can relieve themselves; so that they do not relieve themselves wherever they wish or between the tents, as is the practice amongst the nations.
The 192nd mitzvah is that we are commanded that when our camps go out to war, we must prepare a place outside the camp for people to relieve themselves. People should not relieve themselves just anywhere among the tents as other nations do.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "You must have a designated place outside the camp...."
The Sifra says, "The word yad means a designated place, as it is written, 'He set up for him a designated place (yad).' "
Positive Commandment 193 (Digest)
Hygiene Equipment for Soldiers
"And you shall have a spade among your weapons"—Deuteronomy 23:14.
Together with all the other weaponry each soldier carries around, he should also be equipped with a spade, so that when he needs to relieve himself he can dig a small hole, relieve himself there, and then cover up his defecation—so that there remains no exposed excrement on the grounds of the battle camp.
The 193rd mitzvah is that we are commanded that everyone in the camp must have a digging implement hanging with their weapons. It is used to dig a hole in the designated area, into which one excretes, and to cover the excrement afterwards so that it not be visible on the ground. This applies specifically in a war camp, as it is written at the beginning of the section, "When you go out as a camp against your enemies."
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement, "You must keep a spade with your weapons (azeinecha)."
The Sifri says, "The word azeinecha refers to the place of the weapons (ziyunecha)."
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