ABSTRACT
The doctrine of the just war begins from the premise that the state’s use of violence in war is similar to its exercise of force in internal jurisdiction. The traditional theory of the just war contains inter alia certain doctrines as to who may and who may not bear arms in war; otherwise its three main theses are as follows: a war to be just must be initiated and led by a proper authority, must be fought for a just cause with right intentions, and must not use illicit means. The rules of war given by Jahweh to the children of Israel, as reported in Deuteronomy 20, enjoined on them the extermination of the inhabitants of the land which he had promised to his Chosen People. Concerning deception in war Aquinas argues that ambushes, though deceptive, are not lies nor breaches of faith and are therefore all right.
