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Rabbi Enkin takes a fascinating look at the Jewish perspective on warfare, captives, spoils, torture and more.

The Torah portion of “Matot-Maasei” (Numbers 30:2-36:13) includes the story of the Jews’ “revenge attack” on the Midianites.

After the Midianite women successfully enticed Jewish men into idolatry and immorality, God told Moses to take revenge: Kill them all. Men and women. Plunder their possessions. Take the spoils!

What’s going on here? A revenge war? Extermination of a nation? Free license for unlimited looting? Is this the Jewish way?

Rabbi Enkin takes a fascinating look at what the Torah says about warfare, captives, spoils, torture and more!