Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 251/ספרי דברים רנ״א
א(דברים כג ז) לֹא תִדְרוֹשׁ שְׁלֹמָם וְטֹבָתָם, מִכְּלַל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כ י): ״כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם״, יָכוֹל אַף כָּאן כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִדְרוֹשׁ שְׁלֹמָם.
1Pisqa’ 2512491. “Don’t inquire after their comfort250 literally, “their peace.” From the root, sh-l-m.or well-being”251 literally, “their good.” (Dt. 23:7).Inferring from what is stated:“When you approach a city to wage war against it, and you sue it for peace” (Dt. 20:10)—is it possible to say that, here too,[the duty to make peace suspends the mandate for war]?The Teaching states:“Don’t inquire after their comfort or well-being” (Dt. 23:7)—[rather, wage war without mercy].
בוְטוֹבָתָם, מִכְּלַל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג יז): ״בַּטּוֹב לוֹ לֹא תוֹנֶנּוּ״, יָכוֹל אַף כָּאן כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְטוֹבָתָם.
22. “Or well-being” (Dt. 23:7)—inferring from what is stated[about the escaped gentile slave]:“If he is doing well,252. do not oppress him” (Dt. 23:17)—is it possible to say that, here too,the same rule applies [to the case of waging war]?The Teaching states:“Or well-being” (Dt. 23:7).
גכָּל יָמֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם, וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים.
3“All your days, forever” (Dt. 23:7)—[your enmity against him must last]an eternity of eternities.