„Und wenn die Offiziere mit dem Volk fertig sind, werden sie Hauptleute der Heerscharen an der Spitze des Volkes ernennen“ (5. Mose 20: 9). Und im hinteren Teil der Menschen stationieren sie Wachen vor ihnen und andere hinter ihnen, mit eisernen Äxten in den Händen, und sollte jemand fliehen wollen, haben sie die Erlaubnis, seine Schenkel zu schlagen, weil der Beginn des Fallens [im Kampf] flieht, wie es heißt: „Israel ist vor den Philistern geflohen, und das Volk hat auch ein großes Gemetzel erlitten“ (1. Samuel 4,17), und anderswo heißt es: „Und die Männer Israels sind vor den Philistern geflohen und erschlagen gefallen ”(1. Samuel 31: 1).
Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
ובעקבו של עם – at the rear of the people who guard that the last ones who are behind them should not flee.
זקפים – warriors appointed to this, for if one of the fighters falls, he will restore him and raise him up.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
“And it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people” (Deuteronomy 20:9). And at the rear of the people they station guards in front of them and others behind them, with iron axes in their hands, and should anyone wish to flee, they have permission to strike his thighs, because the beginning of falling [in battle] is fleeing, as it is said, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the people also suffered a great slaughter” (I Samuel 4:17) and elsewhere it states, “And the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell down slain” (ibid 31:1). The verse states that “captains of hosts” shall be placed “at the head of the people”. Our mishnah interprets “at the head of the people” to mean not just in front of them, leading them into battle, but behind them making sure they do not flee in the face of the enemy. If a soldier tries to flee, the guards may strike him with iron axes in his legs. This would assumedly deter people from fleeing. The mishnah uses two texts to prove that fleeing from the enemy is the beginning of outright defeat.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
ואחרים מאחוריהם וכשילין של ברזל – to guard that they will not flee.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
כשילים – iron hatchets–spades.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
לקפח את שוקיו – to sever his foreleg.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
שתחלת ניסה נפילה – it is transposed language for the beginning of falling (i.e., in slaughter) is the rout (see Talmud Sotah 44b).
