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“Sanctity of the camp” is a special mitzva for soldiers to maintain their moral standards during their service. As it says, “When you go out as a troop against your enemies, be on your guard against anything untoward. . . Since the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you, let your camp be holy; let Him not find anything unseemly among you and turn away from you” (Deuteronomy 23:10-15).
This mitzva includes avoiding gossip and anything else that might damage morale. It also includes maintaining standards of modesty (described above in 10:5-7). It is common knowledge that soldiers, under psychological pressure, often seek relief through cursing, speaking vulgarly, and acting crudely. To combat these tendencies, the Torah commands soldiers not to relax their moral standards. By preserving the holiness of the camp, they will accrue merit which will help them succeed in wartime and bring blessing in peacetime. It should be noted that maintaining modesty is not only an excuse given by the Ĥaredim for not serving in the army but also the primary challenge faced by halakhically observant soldiers during their service.
