Thus, for example, prior to laying siege to a city, it must be determined that it can be captured without destroying it. There is no warrant for destroying a town "in order to save it." -sifra devarim section 203, Finkelstein p.239 The other rules of sieges follow similar lines of thought. Indefensible villages may not be subject to siege. Negotiations with the enemy must precede subjecting a city to hunger, thirst, or disease for the purpose of exacting a settlement. Messengers of peace must be sent to a hostile city for three days. If the terms are accepted, no harm may befall any of the inhabitants of the city. If the terms are not accepted, the siege is not to begin until the enemy has opened hostilities. Even after the siege is laid, a side must be left open as an escape route. see Leo Jung, "Jewish Attitude Toward Peace and War." Philo warns that national vendettas are not justifications for wars. If a city under sieg...
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