Calling for Peace in the Conquest of Canaan/2

Calling for Peace

Exegetical Approaches

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No Call for Peace to Seven Nations

There is only an obligation to try and negotiate peace before voluntary wars (מלחמת רשות).  No such commandment exists with regards to fighting the seven nations of Canaan.

Canaanite Peace Gestures Rejected

Sources:RashiBemidbar 21:22Devarim 20:10-18Sotah 35bAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,¹ perhaps Rambam Sefer MitzvotPositive Commandments 190About Rambam Sefer HaMitzvot,²  Rabbi Yosef Bekhor ShorDevarim 20:16About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Pesikta DeRav Kahana13:5About Pesikta DeRav Kahana,

Canaanite Peace Gestures Accepted

Call for Peace Also to Seven Nations

There is an obligation to seek peace both before embarking on a voluntary war (מלחמת רשות) and an obligatory war (מלחמת מצוה), such as the conquest of the Seven Nations of Canaan.

¹ This is Rashi's opinion in his comments on Bavli Sotah 35b.  However, he contradicts himself in his commentary to Devarim 20:18 where he says that Canaanites who repent and convert will be accepted.

² In his Sefer HaMitzvot, Rambam only speaks of calling for peace in battles waged voluntarily, suggesting that he believes that there was no such requirement before the Wars of Conquest in Canaan.  However, he does not say anything about whether there would be any conditions under which the Israelites would forego the command to obliterate the Seven Nations. Moreover, in his Mishne Torah the Rambam explicitly