In what manner were the blessings of the Kohen Gadol [recited]? The attendant of the synagogue takes a Torah scroll and gives it to the head of the synagogue, the head of the synagogue gives it to the Deputy [Kohen Gadol], and the Deputy gives it to the Kohen Gadol. The Kohen Gadol stands up and accepts [the scroll] and reads while standing.  He reads [from the passage that begins,] After the death (Leviticus 16:1) and [the passage that begins,] But on the tenth (Leviticus 23:26-32). Then he rolls up the Torah [scroll], puts it in his bosom, and says, “There is more than I have read to you written here;” and he recites by heart from the Book of Numbers, beginning, On the tenth (Numbers 29:7-11).  Then he recites over it eight benedictions: for the Torah; for the [sacrificial] service; for the thanksgiving; for the forgiveness of sin; for the Temple; for Is-rael; for the Kohanim; and for the rest of the prayer.

In what manner was the [Torah] passage of the king [read]? At the conclusion of the first Yom Tov day of the [Succos] Festi-val, in the eighth [year] at the conclusion of the seventh [year], they make a wooden bimah for him in the Temple Courtyard, and he sits upon it; as it is stated: At the end of seven years, on the occasion of etc. (Deuteronomy 31:10).  The at-tendant of the synagogue takes a Torah scroll and gives it to the head of the synagogue; the head of the synagogue gives it to the Deputy [Kohen Gadol]; the Deputy gives it to the Kohen Gadol; and the Kohen Gadol gives it to the king. The king stands up to accept [the scroll] but reads [it] seated.  King Agrippa stood up, accepted [the scroll], and read while standing, and the Sages praised him. When he reached [the verse], You may not install a foreigner [as king] over you [Deuteronomy 17:15], his eyes flowed with tears. They said to him, “Do not fear, Agrippa. You are our brother, you are our brother, you are our brother!”  He reads from the beginning [of Deuteronomy,] These are the words, until [the verse beginning,] Hear (6:4); then [the passages beginning,] Hear (6:4-9); And it will come to pass if you will hearken (11:13-21); You shall surely tithe (14:22-29); when you have finished tithing (26:12-15); the Biblical passage concerning the king (17:14-20); and the Blessings and Curses (Chs. 27-28), until he concludes that entire passage.  Those blessings that the Kohen Gadol recites, the king recites, except that he inserts [a blessing regarding] the Festivals in place of [the blessing regarding] the forgiveness of sin.

The [Kohen] Anointed for Battle, when he addresses the people, speaks in the Holy Tongue, as it is said (Deut. 20:2): And it shall be when you draw near the battle, that the Kohen shall approach —- this refers to the Kohen Anointed for Battle; and shall address the people —- in the Holy Tongue. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel, you draw near to battle this day against your enemies” —- [it is] not against your brothers [that you go]. [This will] not [be like] Judah against Simeon, nor [like] Simeon against Benjamin, who, if you fall into their hands, will have mercy upon you, as it is said (II Chronicles 28:15): And the men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and clothed all that were naked among them out of the spoil; and they dressed them and shod them and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them and transported all the feeble among them on donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the city of palms, to their brothers; and they returned to Samaria. [Rather,] it is against your enemies that you go, who, if you fall into their hands, will have no mer-cy upon you. Let not your heart become faint, do not fear, nor become terrified, etc.” (Deut. 20:3): Let not your heart be-come faint —- from the neighing of the horses and the flashing of the swords; do not fear —- at the clanging of the shields and [at the sight of] the multitude of soldiers; nor become terrified —- at the sound of trumpets; nor broken —- from the sound of shouting. For HASHEM your God is He Who goes with you (Deut. 20:4) —- they come [trusting] in the victory of flesh and blood, but you come [trust- ing] in the victory of the Almighty. The Philistines came [trusting] in the victory of Goli-ath. What was his end? In the end, he fell by the sword and they fell with him. The Ammonites came [trusting] in the victory of Shovach. What was his end? In the end he fell by the sword and they fell with him. But not so are you. For HASHEM your God is He Who goes with you, to fight for you, etc. (ibid.) —- this refers to the camp with the Ark [in its midst].

And the officers shall speak to the people saying: “Who is the man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, etc.” (Deut. 20:5) —- it is all the same whether he builds a barn, stable, woodshed, or store-house; it is all the same whether he builds, buys, inherits, or [has] it given to him as a gift.  And who is the man who has planted a vineyard and not yet redeemed its [fruit], etc. (Deut. 20:6) —- it is all the same whether one plants a vineyard or plants five fruit trees, even if they are of five species; it is all the same whether he plants, layers, or grafts; and it is all the same whether he buys, inherits, or [has] it given to him as a gift.  And who is the man who has betrothed a woman, etc. (Deut. 20:7) —- it is all the same whether he betroths a virgin, or a widow, or [has] a sister-in-law who awaits [his] yibum; and even if he heard in battle that his brother died, he returns home.  All these in the battle ranks hear the words of the Kohen and return home to supply water and food, and to repair the roads.