Another explanation: What is the meaning of, "Seek peace and pursue it? Once R. Meir was sitting and expounding etc., that a woman went home, it being Shabbat evening, and found that her Shabbat light had gone out. Her husband asked her: "Where have you been so late? She replied: "I have been listening to R. Meir's discourse. Now that man, being a fool, said to her: You will not enter my house, whatever happens, until you have gone and spat in the face of Rabbi Meir. she left the house. Whereupon Elijah, of blessed memory, appeared to Rabbi Meir and said to him: "It is because of you that the woman has left her house." Elijah, of blessed memory then acquainted R. Meir of the episode. What did R. Meir do? He want and sat down at the great Beit Hamidrash. Now that woman came in to pray, and on seeing her. R Meir pretended to be blinking. He asked": "Who knows how to cure a sore eye by a charm? Whereupon the woman replied: " I have come to cure it by a charm and she spat into his face. Thereupon he said to her: "Tell your husband: "Lo, I have spat into the face of R. Meir" He further said to her: "Go and become reconciled with your husband. See how great is the power of peace.

(10) When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

Another explanation: He makes peace in the high places. Michael is made up entirely of snow, and Gabriel of fire, and though they stand near one another yet they do not injure each other. Bar Kappara said: If the heavenly beings who are free from envy and hatred, rivalry and envy, are in need of peace, how much more so are the lower beings who are subject to hatred, rivalry and envy. The rabbis say: The greatness of peace can be gauged from the fact that even when dealing with war upon which one enters with swords and spears, God said: When you go to war begin with proclaiming peace. From where is this? From what we have read in the context. When you approach a city to attack it, proclaim peace unto it.

(5) And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying: ‘What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. (6) And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof. (7) And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.’ (8) And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say: ‘What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart melt as his heart.’