[Avodah] What was AA's Hetter to endanger his people

[Meir Rabi]

R Zev S suggests that we are permitted to go to war even if there is no
danger to life, just for economic gain.  Kal vachomer to save somebody.

I imagine R Zev is alluding to the Gem, that Dovid HaMelech directed his
army to extend their hand to the booty of war when the ministers complained
that there was not adequate means to feed the people.

I believe the Peshat is that these were nations or clans that were already
worthy of being the objects of attack due to safety concerns, but were not
urgently so and thus were on the back burner so to speak.

We are not permitted to send a dozen people into a stormy sea to rescue one
individual when the risks of losing the saviours is unreasonable, so it is
difficult to see how we can permit initiating a war just to earn a few
dollars.

So the question remains: What was AA's Hetter to endanger his people to
save Lot?

-- 

Best,

Meir G. Rabi
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