Babylonian Talmud, Baba Kama 60:1

מסכת בבא קמא ס,א

Original Text:

תאני רב יוסף מאי דכתיב (שמות יב) ואתם לא תצאו איש מפתח ביתו עד בקר כיון שניתן רשות למשחית אינו מבחין בין צדיקים לרשעים

Translation:

Rav Yosef taught: "What is the meaning of the verse: 'None of you shall go outside the door of your house until morning' [Exodus 12:22]? Once permission has been given to the Destroyer, it does not differentiate between righteous and wicked. [Soncino translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What does this text teach us about war and conflict?
2. Based on this text, is war ever just?

Time Period:	Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)
Type:	Commentary
Categories:	Governance & Leadership, Conflict & Emergency
Keywords:	wicked, weapons, war, righteous, peace, destroyer
Related Texts:	Babylonian Talmud, Baba Kama 60:1
Related Sourcesheets:	Jewish Perspective on Nuclear Disarmament

Submitted By

rpicker

Comments on this Text

Must we accept that in war innocents will inevitably be killed?

By RuthBalinsky at 02/02/2011 - 14:48
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