Shoftim 20:03 · unit 1

TT #278 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 20:03

The Complete Passuk

וְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֛וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֖וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֥וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

And he shall say to them: Hear, Yisrael, you are drawing near today to battle against your enemies; let your heart not be faint, do not fear, do not panic, and do not be terrified before them.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 42a–b.

TT lemma: אַל יֵרַךְ לְבַבְכֶם.

Sefaria — Sotah 42a–b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַל יֵרַךְ לְבַבְכֶם – מִפְּנֵי צֶהֳלַת סוּסִים וְהֶרֶגֶת חֲרָבוֹת.

English: ‘Let your heart not be faint’ – because of the neighing of horses and the flash of swords.

On the daf / in context: The four expressions address different forms of battlefield fear.

Type of Learning

Derash unpacking the four prohibitions of fear (Bavli) — each phrase targets a distinct terror of war.

What Is Learned

The kohen forbids four forms of fear: a faint heart, terror, panic, and dread before the enemy.