Keraia
Deuteronomy 20

Deuteronomy 20:19

Laws of Warfare · Deuteronomy 20:1–20
Read Deuteronomy 20

Translations

Modern
When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?
Traditional
When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege:
Literal
When you lay siege to a city many days while making war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. And if you can eat of them, then do not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a man, coming from your face to besiege?
Latin
Quando obsederis civitatem multo tempore, et munitionibus circumdederis ut expugnes eam, non succides arbores, de quibus vesci potest, nec securibus per circuitum debes vastare regionem: quoniam lignum est, et non homo, nec potest bellantium contra te augere numerum.

Original

Hebrew
English
When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?

Notes

Deuteronomy 20:19

You must not cut them down: In war, armies often cut down trees. They do this so their enemies cannot use the trees for food or wood.

However, this situation was different. The Israelites were not simply attacking and leaving. They were going to live in that land.

Because they would settle there, the trees would be useful to them. The trees could provide food, shade, and building materials in the future.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of Holy War Holy War

Topics

Fort: Field Fortifications Fruit Trees: Care For Horticulture: Encouraged Siege: Conducted by Erecting Embankments Parallel to the Walls of the Besieged City Sieges: The Jews Forbidden to Cut Down Fruit Trees for the Purpose of Taking Care of the Earth Trees: Given As Food to the Animal Creation Trees: The Jews: Prohibited from Cutting Down Fruit Bearing, for Sieges