@brother i don't get the reduction of norse mythology to "recruiting combatants". https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/864330.Gods_and_Myths_of_Northern_Europe
@brother thanks for the huge reply :) my disagreement was concerning the shortened version that norse paganism has an inherent judgement, but as you've said, this seems to be a late addition of the viking era.
@brother no harm done :)
Also regard the burial barrow: Initially left to enshrine the bodies of the dead, and for them to take their "odal" ("inherited, birthright, blood right") objects to their graves with them. These barrows were build large enough so that when you "come again in the kin" (a common European pagan idea), you can re-enter your barrow and retrieve your objects.
But by the Viking era, Odin was the definitive head of the pantheon, and there was suddenly posthumous judgement - posthumous judgement that strongly incentivised dying in battle (to go to Valhalla, which does not appear in earlier Norse lore.) In short, as Norse culture adapted to seafaring technologies and poorer land yields by focusing more on raiding other peoples (for wealth, goods, slaves etc.,) dying in battle became the "only" way to achieve an honourable death (at least for men.)
It got to the point where old Viking warriors sought out tougher and tougher opponents, so that they could die in battle and join Odin's feast and death-games in Valhalla, awaiting the day when Odin would call them up to fight once more as revenants. (As opposed to the "shame" of dying in your bed.)
Voila: Universal morality in Norse religion is the result of the very real need to staff a fighting force.