Dann werden die Offiziere das Volk ansprechen und sagen: 'Gibt es jemanden, der ein neues Haus gebaut hat, es aber nicht eingeweiht hat? Lass ihn zurück zu seinem Haus gehen'”(5. Mose 20: 5). Es ist dasselbe, ob er ein Haus für Stroh, ein Haus für Vieh, ein Haus für Holz oder ein Lagerhaus baute; Es ist dasselbe, ob er es gebaut, gekauft, geerbt oder jemand hat es ihm geschenkt. „'Gibt es jemanden, der einen Weinberg gepflanzt hat, ihn aber nie geerntet hat?'”(5. Mose 20: 6). Es ist dasselbe, ob er einen Weinberg pflanzte oder fünf Obstbäume und sogar fünf verschiedene Arten pflanzte; Es ist dasselbe, ob er es gepflanzt, gebogen oder gepfropft hat oder ob er es gekauft, geerbt oder ihm von jemandem geschenkt hat. „'Gibt es jemanden, der eine Frau verlobt hat [der sie aber noch nicht geheiratet hat]?'”(5. Mose 20: 7) Es ist dasselbe, ob er eine Jungfrau oder eine Witwe verlobt hat oder sogar eine Frau, die auf eine Levirate-Ehe wartet, oder ob ein Mann gehört hat, dass sein Bruder im Kampf gestorben ist, er kehrt nach Hause zurück. Alle diese hören den Priester's Worte über die Kriegsschlachten und die Rückkehr nach Hause, und sie liefern Wasser und Nahrung und reparieren die Straßen.
Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
אחד הבונה ואחד הלוקח – a house built which for him was new.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
Introduction
The mishnah continues to expound upon Deuteronomy 20. Our mishnah deals with three exemptions which given to soldiers which allow them to return from war: to one who has built a house but not dedicated it; to one who has planted a vineyard but not harvested it; to one who has betrothed a woman but not married her. Our mishnah defines these three exemptions broadly, as we shall see.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
ואחד הנוטע חמשה אילני מאכל – and in this, it is a vineyard, two against two, and one goes out with a tail, and even from five types they combine.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
“Then the officers shall address the people saying: ‘Is there anyone who has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his home’” (Deuteronomy 20:5). It is the same whether he built a house for straw, a house for cattle, a house for wood, or a storehouse; It is the same whether he built, purchased, inherited or somebody gave it to him as a present. The first exemption is given to the person who built a house. The mishnah expands this to include any kind of house, even one not intended as living quarters. In tomorrow’s mishnah we shall see some exemptions to this category. It also expands the category to include those who acquired a house by a means other than building it themselves.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
“‘Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard but has never harvested it?’” (vs. 6). It is the same whether he planted a vineyard or planted five fruit-trees and even of five different species; It is the same whether he planted, bent or grafted it, or whether he purchased, inherited or somebody gave it to him as a present. The second exemption is given to the one who planted a vineyard. Again, the mishnah expands the category to include planting an orchard, which is considered five or more trees, even if they are of different species. He need not plant it himself. Even if he bends a vine (this refers to bending a vine underground and starting a new vineyard elsewhere), or grafts a branch of one tree onto another, he is considered as having started a new vineyard. Similarly, he need not do the work himself, but may even buy the vineyard/orchard or receive it as a present.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
“‘Is there anyone who has betrothed a woman [but who has not yet married her]?’” (vs. 7) It is the same whether he had betrothed a virgin or a widow, or even a shomeret yavam, or even if a man heard that his brother had died in battle, he returns home. The final category is betrothal. This includes one who betroths not only a virgin, but also a widow/divorcee or even one who betroths his dead brother’s widow who is awaiting levirate marriage (a shomeret yavam). Even if he has heard that his brother died in battle and left a childless widow, he may return from battle in order to marry her.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
All these hear the priest’s words concerning the battles of war and return home, and they supply water and food and repair the roads. The above list of people return from battle. However, they must offer support to the war effort, by supplying the soldiers with food and water and by repairing the roads which the soldiers will use to go out into battle.
