"Only the trees which thou knowest that they {be} not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shal…" — Deuteronomy 20:20

Deuteronomy 20:20 · KJV

“Only the trees which thou knowest that they {be} not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued. {it...: Heb. it come down}”

— Deuteronomy 20:20

Verse 19

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: {for the...: or, for, O man, the tree of the field is to be employed in the siege} {to employ...: Heb. to go from before thee}

Deuteronomy 20 — Context

That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

Only the trees which thou knowest that they {be} not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued. {it...: Heb. it come down}

Cross References

Jeremiah 33:4

For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

Jeremiah 6:6

For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this {is} the city to be visited; she {is} wholly oppression in the midst of her. {cast...: or, pour out the engine of shot}

Ecclesiastes 9:14

{There was} a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

2 Chronicles 26:15

And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. {spread: Heb. went forth}

Ezekiel 17:17

Neither shall Pharaoh with {his} mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

Isaiah 37:33

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.

Deuteronomy 1:28

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people {is} greater and taller than we; the cities {are} great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. {discouraged: Heb. melted}