Shoftim 20:10 · unit 1

TT #310 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 20:10

The Complete Passuk

כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

When you draw near to a city to fight against it, you shall call out to it for peace.

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 199 / Sotah.

TT lemma: וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם.

Core Text

וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם – מִצְוָה לִקְרֹא לְשָׁלוֹם.

English: ‘You shall call out to it for peace’ – it is a mitzvah to call for peace.

On the daf / in context: Before any siege, an offer of peace is required.

Derash establishing the obligation of a peace offer (Sifrei) — the verse creates a positive duty to offer terms before fighting.

Before attacking a city, Yisrael must first call out to it with an offer of peace.