The Jewish Army

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The Jewish army was mobilized. Moshe gave the directive and the Jews prepared to wage war against Midian. “For they have harassed you with conspiracy…” It was a time for action.

The strategy was simple. Each tribe would contribute three thousand soldiers. The medrash explains: One thousand would wage war, one thousand would guard the army camp, and one thousand would remain in the Jewish encampment to pray for their brothers in battle.

I believe that this third group, the prayer group, can be a source of great inspiration to us.

Let us question the function of this third group. Certainly all the Jews were involved in prayer. “There are no atheists in a foxhole.” How much more so among this righteous generation who had the Sanctuary and witnessed miracles on a daily basis. Certainly the Jews who went into battle recited prayer. Certainly the Jews guarding the army camp devoted themselves to prayer. Why was it necessary to appoint a special prayer division of a thousand people to remain in the Jewish encampment and pray for their brothers in battle?

It seems to me that there are different types of prayer. Each one makes a different type of impact. The prayer of the person who physically enters the battle is short and to the point, as he receives his orders and moves into position. The prayer of the Jews in the army camp is also somewhat abbreviated. They are close enough to hear the cries of battle and they may have to shield themselves from projectiles of the enemy.

The prayers of the Jews in the Jewish encampment, however, are truly unique. Far enough from the battle that they don’t feel the need for shortened prayer, yet close enough to appreciate the seriousness of the situation, these Jews can concentrate on prayer without any distractions.

In our time as well, the Jewish people divides responsibility in times of crisis. Easily recognizable is the battle division, the group of Jews who go into battle and experience confrontation. We can also identify the division that guards the camp. These are the people near the place of confrontation. They sense the threat, but not in the sense of those in active battle.

But there is a third group: The Prayer Division of the Jewish Army. Although all Jews are undoubtedly involved in prayer, G-d in His kindness provided a group which can be totally steeped in prayer without distraction. The Jews of the Diaspora have this responsibility. Far enough away from the danger that there are no distractions, yet close enough to take the crisis seriously, we are at liberty to devote ourselves to lengthy and concentrated prayer.

Recently, we have watched closely the developments in the Land of Israel, and we have mobilized our divisions. Each division knows its role and will perform valiantly and in sync with the other divisions.

One of the misconceptions about prayer is that people think either a prayer if effective or it isn’t. Actually when we pray in a unified way, day after day, our prayers have a cumulative effect. Each prayer is treasured by G-d.

He will ask, “What are the voices that I hear?”

We will answer, “They are the voices of Your children pleading with You in their time of need.”

Who are we to anticipate G-d’s response? Yet, the prophet Yirmiya, in the reading of Haftorah, has already articulated the response for which we yearn.

“And the Word of G-d was upon me saying. Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem saying: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of marriage that was between us… They shall wage war against you, but they will not prevail over you, because I am with you to rescue you in your time of need.” Amen.

© 2014 by TEACH613™