[64] Chavel 1967, v.I, 200f. The Bible references are Deuteronomy 20:17 and 25:19.
This obligation is commented by Rabbi Chavel:
"This Commandment ... will be better understood in the light of the following passage from the 'Mishneh Torah': 'We are not to engage in war with anyone whatever unless we [first] proclaim peace to him; [this is applicable to both] an optional and an obligatory war; for it is said, When thou drawest nigh a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it (Deut XX, 10). If [the inhabitants] accept the offer of peace... we are not to slay a soul among them, and they merely become tributary, for it is said, [All the people ... therein] shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee'." (Ibid.)
****** OLD TESTAMENT COMMAND BY THE LORD OF ABRHAM : ***********
1) Give them the option of peace (to become believers)
2) If they want to keep their religion, they must pay the Tribute (Head Tax)
3) If they deny the above two options then fight them.
In other words, if the city's inhabitants object to being subdued/enslaved, they have to be slain nevertheless. Also sparing their life directly contradicts Negative Commandment 49 (see note [65]).
"We must not make a covenant with idolaters, to agree on keeping peace with them or accept them practising idolatry, because it says (Deut 7:2) Thou shalt not make a covenant with them. Either they give up idolatry or they are killed. And it is forbidden to pity them, since it says (ibid.): Nor shalt thou shew mercy unto them.
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/guido_deimel/judaism.html#46
Words from the OLD TESTAMENT.
If Christians believe Jesus is God then he is the God of the Old Testament and therefore they cannot deny that GOD commanded this for the believers.
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2007-05-03
03:42:20
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