Sotah 090
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BET MIDRASH VIRTUALI
of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
RABIN MISHNAH STUDY GROUP
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Today's shiur is dedicated by Andrew Hoffman in memory of his father, Reuven Haim ben Yaakov, Ronald Hoffman, whose yahrzeit falls on Wednesday, 15th Adar, Shushan Purim.
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And when the officers have finished speaking to the people they shall appoint captains of armies as the vanguard of the people – and [also] as a rearguard: they appoint some guards before them and others after them; these hold iron axes, and they have permission to hamstring anyone who tries to retreat. For the start of flight is [the start of] defeat, as it says, "Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has been a great slaughter among the people"; and elsewhere it says, "and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain."
EXPLANATIONS:
1:
This mishnah presents little difficulty. It brings to a conclusion the amplification of the verses of the Torah that deal with 'the designated priest' and the officers. The Torah [Deuteronomy 20:9] says that "when the officers have finished speaking to the people," inviting all those who have reason to leave the field of battle to do so, "they shall appoint captains of armies as the vanguard of the people." Our present mishnah adds that officers were also appointed at the rear of the massed soldiery. They have given permission to those who have just built a home, just planted an orchard or vineyard, just got married, or are simply afraid to fight; now, after this incredible generosity, officers are appointed to foil any possible retreat of those brave enough to stay in the most cruel manner. 2: 3:
Sensible people first find themselves gainful employment to have an income, then they buy somewhere to live, and then they get married; as it says [Deuteronomy 20:5-7], "Whichever man has planted a vineyard and not desanctified it … who has built a house and not dedicated it … who has betrothed a woman and not married her". But the foolish start by getting married, then if he can find the money he buys a house, and then at the very end he looks for a trade or subsists on charity. Thus the curses [Deuteronomy 28:30] say, "You will betroth a woman [but another shall bed her]… you shall build a house [but another shall live in it]… you shall plant a vineyard …" – meaning that all your actions will be the opposite [of what they should be]…
Are we any more sensible today that we were 800 years ago?
DISCUSSION:
On several occasions I have written that the Samaritans hold as sacred only the first six books of the bible… Each time Meir Noach has written to correct me: The Samaritans only hold the 5 books of Moses as holy. I respond: Today this is true. However, scholars know that as late as the middle ages the Samaritans had a book which is a kind of midrash on the book of Joshua. It seems that it is only latterly that they have 'downgraded' the book of Joshua (perhaps under pervasive Jewish influence), but the fact of the existence of "The Book of Joshua, son of Nun" (also known as the "Samaritan Chronicle") indicates an early veneration of the book of Joshua. An English translation of this work is available via the Internet (http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/sam/chron1.htm), and in the preface [Morristown, N. J., December 1889] the editor gives an indication of how the work was preserved for posterity.
The Samaritan Book of Joshua was first brought to the notice of European scholars by the eminent Orientalist, Joseph J. Scaliger, who obtained a manuscript of it from the Samaritans of Cairo, in the year 1584. This MS. was deposited by him in the library of the University of Leyden, and for a long period remained the only copy of the work in Europe; in fact, it is only within the last half of the present century [i.e. 19th – SR] that other MSS. have been obtained; one of these is now in the possession of the British Museum, and another is said to be in the library of trinity College, Cambridge. To the celebrated Swiss theologian and scholar, Johann Heinrich Hottinger, is due the credit of making the contents of this work fully known to scholars… Hottinger's works remained the principle source from which scholars drew their information of the character and contents of this chronicle of the Samaritans, until in the year 1848, T.W.J. Juynboll edited the Arabic text of the Leyden MS. with a complete Latin translation to which were added elaborate dissertations and copious critical notes. This translation of Juynboll's at once superseded all that had preceded it, and has ever since remained the standard.
The translation now offered – the first that has ever been attempted in English – is made directly from the Arabic text as printed by Juynboll… Among the Samaritans themselves this book is not held to be of Divine inspiration – for they believe that only the five books of Moses are inspired – nevertheless, they greatly revere it and hold it in the highest estimation, and believe it to contain a true and authentic history of the period of which it treats. As to when it was composed and who was its author we have no positive knowledge. A marked feature of the book is the number of legends and traditions it contains, some of which – so far as we are aware – are to be met with nowhere else. Most of them, however, are intimately connected with similar legends current in the East, and show a common origin with those of the Jews, and frequently with those of the Mohammedans… NOTICES:
Due to the incidence of Purim the next shiur will be on Thursday, March 20th. (The next shiur of the Halakhah Study Group will be on Tuesday, March 25th for the same reason.)
The shiurim of Sotah 7 and Rosh ha-Shanah 2 have been archived – see below the ruled line for the link to the archives. Purim Same'ach to everybody. |
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