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Perek 8 is connected to the previous perek by the thread of "things that needed to be recited in Hebrew", but for all intents and purposes it is a self-standing unit. The primary subject of the perek is the mitzvah that commands the officers of the army to declare the "categories of exemption" before the army engages in battle. As you'll see, soldiers who have all-but-finished a significant life project are commanded to return home so that they may complete the project, and form home they will serve in support capacities for the war effort. The Mishna wrangles with the exact parameters of the exemptions, clearly expanding them beyond the narrowest reading of the Torah's text, while also delineating the boundaries of those expansions.
The traditional commentators on the Torah have debated the exact reasons that the Torah grants these exemptions. Among the ideas proposed are: (1) in order to prevent the human tragedy of unfulfilled aspirations, and (2) in order to weed out solders whose minds might be elsewhere. Mishna 6 of our perek implies another rationale, namely the fear of desertion. The idea here is to pro-actively send home those considered most likely to desert, so that the chances of soldiers seeing their fellows deserting mid-battle is minimized.
Of special interest in this perek is Mishna 4, which infers an even more absolute category of military exemption, i.e. one in which a person is even exempt from the responsibility to play a supporting role. This is the category of someone who has fully completed the project, but has not has an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Such a person is given a year's absolute exemption. It is interesting how much value the Torah (as understood by the Mishna) places upon the joy and satisfaction of deriving happiness from one's labor.
By the way, I'm curious how many of us are still reading these Mishna Yomit dispatches. If you don't mind, please send me a quick email at ravyosef@bnaidavid.com to let me know, and/or share any other feedback!
Thanks.
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