Chukath: Hostages

In the middle of this week's parsha, between the red hefer, the death Miriam and Aaron, the mortal sin of  striking  the rock ,  failed negotiations with Edom and Moab, the conquest of Sichon and Og - there is a brief passage about the Canaanite(?) king of Arad taking (a) captive from Israel.  This event is followed by a war that vanquishes the offending nation and leaves their cities sanctified (pursuant to Israel's vow).

Rashi quotes the Yalkut  Shemoni, saying that the captive was a servant girl. Perhaps this measn that no matter how low the societal status of the hostage, her capture justifies all means, including war, for their release. 

But then the Ramban (and Sifthei Chachamim) turn defensive.  They say that Arad's captive had to be a servant girl  because an Israelite is rescued only if there is impending harm. ( the nature of this impending harm, whether to the individual or the nation is not clear to me).  In this less heroic approach ( Jews are not ransomed) I hear a defensive tone of their times.  It is a disincentive to the  Jew kidnapping business. It says that there is no profit in it. 

I think that the modern state of Israel has changed the way people feel about war and soldiers.  It has made the loss of every individual, civilian or soldier, a tragedy that extends form the family to the nation.  I think that this approach helped end the Viet Nam war and limited the US  operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It brought back Bergdahl.  In Israel, it freed Gilad Shalit.  It will free the three captured teenagers (soon).

הִנֵּה לֹא-יָנוּם, וְלֹא יִישָׁן--    שׁוֹמֵר, יִשְׂרָאֵל.	4 Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.