And the officers shall continue to address the people, and they shall say, “Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house.” (Deut. 20:8). R’ Akiva says: fearful and fainthearted is meant literally —- that he has not the courage to stand in the battle formations and face a drawn sword. R’ Yose HaGlili says: fearful and fainthearted —- this [refers to] one who is afraid because of the transgressions he has committed; for this reason, the Torah excused him for all these, so that he may return because of them. R’ Yose says: A widow to a Kohen Gadol, [or] a divorced woman or chalutzah to an ordinary Kohen, [or] a mamzeress or a Nesinite to an Israelite, [or] the daughter of an Israelite to a mamzer or Nesinite —- such a person is [classified as] one who is fearful and fainthearted.

And it shall be, when the officers have finished addressing the people, that they shall appoint captains of the host at the head of the people (Deut. 20:9) —- and at the rear of the people. They stationed guards in front of them, and others behind them with axes of iron in their hands; and if anyone tries to turn back, he has the authority to break his legs —- for flight is the beginning of slaughter, as it is said (I Samuel 4:17): Israel has fled from before the Philistines and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. And below it states (I Samuel 31:1): And Israel fled before the Philistines and they fell slain, etc.