@SHopping613: Actually, since the 6 day war, Israel has not won any real wars. It technically LOST the Yom Kippir war. If it wasn’t for a seize fire with Egypt, Israel would not be able to concentrate it’s forces against Syria in the Golan. Egypt recaptured the Suez which was a big win for them. Almost half of Israel’s air-force was destroyed and approximately 2,700 Jewish soldiers were killed. I don’t know how you can consider that a win! Eben in Lebanon, Israel paid too high of a price against Hezbollah. I’m sorry, but since the 6 day war, Israel did not win any wars. There were always seize fires to save face.
In the time of the Tanach, learning had NOTHING to do with who goes to war. That was never the question that was asked by the Cohen. Those questions were also only asked for a milhemet reshut. A milhemet mitzvah everyone needed to fight. I would think Pikuach nefesh is a mitzvah.