Rewarding the Non-combatants

The only exception is what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them take their share.                     Genesis 14:24 “The men who went with me”: My servants who accompanied me, and Aner Eshkol and Mamre (let them take their share). Even though my servants took part in the battle, as the verse [15] states: “he and his servants smote them,” while Aner and his friends remained with the baggage to guard it (i.e., they were non-combatants) even so they are entitled to their share. It was from Abraham that David learned, when he said [I Samuel 30:24] “But as the portion of those who go to battle, so shall be the portion of those who remain to guard the baggage; they shall be equal.”                      Rashi, based upon Breishit Rabba

            The question which begs asking is: why are the non combatants entitled to a share equal to the soldiers who actually entered the battle and risked their lives?

            Based upon the traditional commentaries on the verse in First Samuel, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe answers that were the battles of Israel fought on a natural level, indeed it would be appropriate to have differential rewards for combatants and non-combatants, however, since the battles are in the hands of Heaven, and it is the Holy One, blessed be He who is the “Master of War” it is He who fights Israel’s battles and He who brings the nation victory. Therefore, it matters not whether one has risked his life or not, each soldier has done his part, and there is no distinction between combatants and non-combatants.

            Thus, the approach of King David, which he learned from our first father, provides practical expression of Israel’s belief that it is not our power and personal might which have brought us victory. [cf. Deuteronomy 8:17]