When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down, for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you?
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Not a man. Hebrew “the tree of the field, man.” Which the Protestants supply, “is man’s life to employ them in the siege.” Septuagint “is the tree … a man?” Bible.—We might render the Hebrew “as for the tree of the field, it shall come to thy assistance in the siege.” verse 20. Bible.—They are “like men,” and may be of great service in making warlike engines. They are here contrasted with fruit-trees, which must not be cut down, unless they be in the way, or of service to the enemy. All other things of the same nature, as houses, corn, water, and so forth must be spared, as well as those who do not bear arms. Yet God ordered the houses to be demolished in the war with the Moabites, 4 Kennicott. 3:19. Calmet.—Pythagoras enjoins his disciples not to spoil a fruit tree. Jamblic and the greatest generals have complied with this advice. Calmet.