Kings and Wars Chapter 8

חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא כְּשֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ בִּגְבוּל הָעַכּוּ"ם וְיִכְבְּשׁוּם וְיִשְׁבּוּ מֵהֶן. מֻתָּר לָהֶן לֶאֱכל נְבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת וּבְשַׂר חֲזִיר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ אִם יִרְעַב וְלֹא מָצָא מַה יֹּאכַל אֶלָּא מַאֲכָלוֹת אֵלּוּ הָאֲסוּרִים. וְכֵן שׁוֹתֶה יֵין נֶסֶךְ. מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ וּבָתִּים מְלֵאִים כָּל טוּב עָרְפֵּי חֲזִירִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן:

When the army's troops enter the territory of gentiles, conquering them and taking them captive, they are permitted to eat meat from animals that died without being ritually slaughtered or which were trefe, and the flesh of pigs and similar animals, if they become hungry and can only find these forbidden foods. Similarly, they may drink wine used in the worship of idols. This license is derived by the Oral Tradition which interprets Deuteronomy 6:10-11: 'G-d... will give you... houses filled with all the good things' as 'pigs' necks and the like.'

וְכֵן בּוֹעֵל אִשָּׁה בְּגֵיוּתָהּ אִם תְּקָפוֹ יִצְרוֹ. אֲבָל לֹא יִבְעָלֶנָּה וְיֵלֵךְ לוֹ. אֶלָּא מַכְנִיסָהּ לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יא) "וְרָאִיתָ בַּשִּׁבְיָה אֵשֶׁת יְפַת תֹּאַר". וְאָסוּר לִבְעל אוֹתָהּ בִּיאָה שְׁנִיָּה עַד שֶׁיִּשָּׂאֶנָּה:

Similarly, a soldier may engage in sexual relations with a woman while she is still a gentile if his natural inclination overcomes him. However, he may not engage in sexual relations with her and then, go on his way. Rather, he must bring her into his home as Deuteronomy 21:11 states 'If you see a beautiful woman among the prisoners...You shall bring her into the midst of your home...' It is forbidden for him to engage in sexual relations with her a second time until he marries her.

אֵין אֵשֶׁת יְפַת תֹּאַר מֻתֶּרֶת אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת הַשִּׁבְיָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יא) "וְרָאִיתָ בַּשִּׁבְיָה". בֵּין בְּתוּלָה בֵּין בְּעוּלָה בֵּין אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ. שֶׁאֵין אִישׁוּת לְעַכּוּ"ם. וְחָשַׁקְתָּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ יָפָה. בָהּ וְלֹא בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ שֶׁלֹּא יִבְעל שְׁתַּיִם. וְלָקַחְתָּ לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה שֶׁלֹּא יִקַּח שְׁתַּיִם וְיִבְעל אַחַת וְיַנִּיחַ אַחַת לְאָבִיו אוֹ לְאָחִיו. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יִלְחָצֶנָּה בַּמִּלְחָמָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יב) "וַהֲבֵאתָהּ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ". יַכְנִיסָהּ לְמָקוֹם וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִבְעל:

Relations with a yefat toar are only permitted while she is in captivity as the verse states ' If you see... among the prisoners.' This license is permitted whether the woman is a virgin or not, even if she is married, for the gentiles' marriages are not recognized. A number of laws are derived from the exegesis of the verse from Deuteronomy quoted above: 'And you desire' - even though she is not beautiful. 'Her' - and not another. He may not engage in sexual relations with two women. 'You may take her as a wife' - He may not take two women as captives with the intention of engaging in relations with one and saving the other for his father or brother. What is the source which teaches that he may not pressure her in the midst of the war? Deuteronomy 21:12 states: 'You shall bring her into the midst of your home...' Thus, he must bring her into an (vacant) place and then, engage in relations with her.

הַכֹּהֵן מֻתָּר בִּיפַת תֹּאַר בְּבִיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה. שֶׁלֹּא דִּבְּרָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד הַיֵּצֶר. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִשָּׂאֶנָּה אַחַר כָּךְ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא גִּיֹּרֶת:

A priest is also allowed relations with a yefat toar initially. For the Torah only permitted relations as a concession to man's natural inclination. However, he is not permitted to marry her afterwards, for she is a convert.

וְכֵיצַד דִּין יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּיפַת תֹּאַר. אַחֲרֵי שֶׁיִּבְעָלֶנָּה בִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה וְהִיא בְּגֵיוּתָהּ אִם קִבְּלָה עָלֶיהָ לְהִכָּנֵס תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה מַטְבִּילָהּ לְשֵׁם גֵּרוּת מִיָּד. וְאִם לֹא קִבְּלָה תֵּשֵׁב בְּבֵיתוֹ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יג) "וּבָכְתָה אֶת אָבִיהָ וְאֶת אִמָּהּ יֶרַח יָמִים". וְכֵן בּוֹכָה עַל דָּתָהּ וְאֵינוֹ מוֹנְעָהּ. וּמְגַדֶּלֶת אֶת צִפָּרְנֶיהָ. וּמְגַלַּחַת אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְגַּנֶּה בְּעֵינָיו. וְתִהְיֶה עִמּוֹ בַּבַּיִת. נִכְנָס וְרוֹאֶה אוֹתָהּ. יוֹצֵא וְרוֹאֶה אוֹתָהּ. כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּקוּץ בָּהּ. וּמְגַלְגֵּל עִמָּהּ כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּקַבֵּל. אִם קִבְּלָה וְרָצָה בָּהּ. הֲרֵי זוֹ מִתְגַיֶּרֶת וְטוֹבֶלֶת כְּכָל הַגֵּרִים:

What is the procedure which a Jew must follow regarding a yefat toar after he had relations with her once while she is still a gentile? If she desires to enter under the wings of the Shechinah, he may have her immersed in a mikveh for the purpose of conversion immediately. If she does not accept the Jewish faith, she should dwell in his house for thirty days, as ibid. 21:13 states: 'She shall mourn her father and mother for thirty days.' Similarly, she should mourn the abandonment of her faith. Her captor should not prevent her from crying. She must let her nails grow and shave her head so that she will not appear attractive to him. She must be together with him at home. Thus, when he enters, he sees her; when he leaves; he sees her, so that he becomes disgusted with her. He must be patient with her so that she will accept the Jewish faith. If she accepts Judaism and he desires her, she may convert and immerse herself in the mikveh for that purpose, like other converts.

וּצְרִיכָה לְהַמְתִּין שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים. חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁל בְּכִיָּה וּשְׁנֵי חֳדָשִׁים אַחֲרָיו. וְנוֹשְׂאָהּ בִּכְתֻבָּה וְקִדּוּשִׁין. אִם לֹא חָפֵץ בָּהּ מְשַׁלְּחָהּ לְנַפְשָׁהּ. וְאִם מְכָרָהּ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יד) "וּמָכֹר לֹא תִמְכְּרֶנָּה בַּכָּסֶף". [וְאִם מְכָרָהּ] אֵינָהּ מְכוּרָה וּמַחֲזִיר הַדָּמִים. וְכֵן אִם כְּבָשָׁהּ אַחַר שֶׁנִּבְעֲלָה לְשֵׁם שִׁפְחָה מִשֶּׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא, יד) "לֹא תִתְעַמֵּר בָּהּ" שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ:

A captor must wait three months before marrying his captive: the month of mourning and two months following it. When he marries her, he must give her Kiddushin and a Ketubah. If he does not desire her, he must set her free. If he sells her, he violates a negative commandment, as Deuteronomy 21:14 states: 'You may not sell her for money.' Should a captor sell his captive, the sale is invalidated and he must return the money. Similarly, if after having relations with her, he forces her to become a servant, he violates a negative commandment from the time he makes use of her as ibid. states: lo titamar boh. That phrase means 'he should not make use of her.'

לֹא רָצְתָה לְהִתְגַּיֵּר מְגַלְגְּלִין עִמָּהּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. לֹא רָצְתָה מְקַבֶּלֶת שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ וּמְשַׁלְּחָהּ לְנַפְשָׁהּ. וַהֲרֵי הִיא כְּכָל הַגֵּרִים הַתּוֹשָׁבִים. וְאֵינוֹ נוֹשְׂאָהּ שֶׁאָסוּר לִשָּׂא אִשָּׁה שֶׁלֹּא נִתְגַּיְּרָה:

Her captor must be patient with her for twelve months if she refuses to convert. If she still refuses after this interval has passed, she must agree to accept the seven universal laws commanded to Noah's descendants and then, she is set free. Her status is the same as all other resident aliens. Her captor may not marry her, for it is forbidden to marry a woman who has not converted.

נִתְעַבְּרָה מִבִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה הֲרֵי הַוָּלָד גֵּר. וְאֵינוֹ בְּנוֹ לְדָבָר מִן הַדְּבָרִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מִן הָעַכּוּ"ם. אֶלָּא בֵּית דִּין מַטְבִּילִין אוֹתוֹ עַל דַּעְתָּם. וְתָמָר מִבִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל יְפַת תֹּאַר הָיְתָה. אֲבָל אַבְשָׁלוֹם נוֹלַד מֵאַחַר הַנִּשּׂוּאִין. נִמְצֵאת תָּמָר אֲחוֹת אַבְשָׁלוֹם מֵאִמּוֹ וּמֻתֶּרֶת לְהִנָּשֵׂא לְאַמְנוֹן. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב יג, יג) "דַּבֶּר נָא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי לֹא יִמְנָעֵנִי מִמֶּךָּ":

If she conceives after the initial relations with her captor, the child has the status of a convert. In no regard is he considered as the captor's son, for his mother is a gentile. Rather, the court immerses him in the mikveh and takes responsibility for him. Tamar was conceived from King David's initial relations with a yefat toar, but Avshalom was conceived after marriage. Thus, Tamar was only Avshalom's maternal sister and thus, would have been permitted to Amnon. This can be inferred from the statement II Samuel 13:13: 'Speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.'

יְפַת תֹּאַר שֶׁלֹּא רָצְתָה לְהָנִיחַ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אַחַר הַשְּׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. הוֹרְגִין אוֹתָהּ. וְכֵן עִיר שֶׁהִשְׁלִימָה אֵין כּוֹרְתִין לָהֶן בְּרִית עַד שֶׁיִּכְפְּרוּ בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וִיאַבְּדוּ אֶת כָּל מְקוֹמוֹתֶיהָ וִיקַבְּלוּ שְׁאָר הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ. שֶׁכָּל עַכּוּ"ם שֶׁלֹּא קִבֵּל מִצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ הוֹרְגִין אוֹתוֹ אִם יֶשְׁנוֹ תַּחַת יָדֵינוּ:

A yefat toar who does not desire to abandon idol worship after twelve months should be executed. Similarly, a treaty cannot be made with a city which desires to accept a peaceful settlement until they deny idol worship, destroy their places of worship, and accept the seven universal laws commanded Noah's descendants. For every gentile who does not accept these commandments must be executed if he is under our undisputed authority.

משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ לֹא הִנְחִיל הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוֹת אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לג, ד) "מוֹרָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב". וּלְכָל הָרוֹצֶה לְהִתְגַּיֵּר מִשְּׁאָר הָאֻמּוֹת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו, טו) "כָּכֶם כַּגֵּר". אֲבָל מִי שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה אֵין כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לְקַבֵּל תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת. וְכֵן צִוָּה משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה לָכֹף אֶת כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם לְקַבֵּל מִצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ. וְכָל מִי שֶׁלֹּא יְקַבֵּל יֵהָרֵג. וְהַמְקַבֵּל אוֹתָם הוּא הַנִּקְרָא גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב בְּכָל מָקוֹם. וְצָרִיךְ לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו בִּפְנֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲבֵרִים. וְכָל הַמְקַבֵּל עָלָיו לָמוּל וְעָבְרוּ עָלָיו שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְלֹא מָל הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמִן הָאֻמּוֹת:

Moses only gave the Torah and mitzvot as an inheritance to Israel, as Deuteronomy 33:4 states: 'The Torah... is the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob,' and to all those who desire to convert from among the other nations, as Numbers 15:15 states 'the convert shall be the same as you.' However, someone who does not desire to accept Torah and mitzvot, should not be forced to. By the same regard, Moses was commanded by the Almighty to compel all the inhabitants of the world to accept the commandments given to Noah's descendants. If one does not accept these commands, he should be executed. A person who formally accepts these commands is called a resident alien. This applies in any place. This acceptance must be made in the presence of three Torah scholars. Anyone who agrees to circumcise himself and allows twelve months to pass without circumcising himself is considered as one of the nations.

כָּל הַמְקַבֵּל שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת וְנִזְהָר לַעֲשׂוֹתָן הֲרֵי זֶה מֵחֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְהוּא שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל אוֹתָן וְיַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצִּוָּה בָּהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתּוֹרָה וְהוֹדִיעָנוּ עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ שֶׁבְּנֵי נֹחַ מִקֹּדֶם נִצְטַוּוּ בָּהֶן. אֲבָל אִם עֲשָׂאָן מִפְּנֵי הֶכְרֵעַ הַדַּעַת אֵין זֶה גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב וְאֵינוֹ מֵחֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם וְלֹא מֵחַכְמֵיהֶם:

Anyone who accepts upon himself and carefully observes the Seven Commandments is of the Righteous of the Nations of the World and has a portion in the World to Come. This is as long as he accepts and performs them because (he truly believes that) it was the Holy One, Blessed Be He, Who commanded them in the Torah, and that is was through Moses our Teacher we were informed that the Sons of Noah had already been commanded to observe them. But if he observes them because he convinced himself logically, then he is not considered a Resident Convert and is not of the Righteous of the Nations of the World, and not even one of their wise.