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When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city? Only trees that you know do not yield food may be destroyed; you may cut them down for constructing siegeworks against the city that is waging war on you, until it has been reduced.
Deuteronomy 20:19-20
We should not cut down fruit trees outside a city nor prevent an irrigation ditch from bringing water to them so that they dry up, as Deuteronomy 20:19 states: 'Do not destroy its trees.' Anyone who cuts down such a tree should be lashed.
This does not apply only in a siege, but in all situations. Anyone who cuts down a fruit tree with a destructive intent, should be lashed.
Nevertheless, a fruit tree may be cut down if it causes damage to other trees or to fields belonging to others, or if a high price could be received for its wood…
Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 6:8-10
כי האדם עץ השדה FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD A MAN [THAT IT SHOULD BE BESIEGED BY THEE]? — כי has here the meaning of “possibly”, “perhaps” (cf. Rashi on Exodus 23:5) — is the tree of the field perhaps a man who is able to withdraw within the besieged city from before you, that it should be chastised by the suffering of famine and thirst like the inhabitants of the city? Why should you destroy it?
Rashi on Deuteronomy 20:19:3
FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD MAN. I have previously explained in the
Sefer Ha-Yesod
that it is possible in all languages to be brief and to apply an abbreviated style, as in “an ass bread” (I Sam. 16:20). However, it is impossible to leave out the word
lo
(no, not), for in this case the meaning would be reversed. A great Spanish grammarian said that a
heh
has been omitted. Our clause should be interpreted as if written,
hakhi adam etz ha-sadeh
(for is the tree of the field man). Now this interpretation does not appear correct to me…
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 20:19:1
To not destroy fruit trees:
That we have been prevented from chopping down trees when we besiege a city to distress the people of the city and to sadden their hearts. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 20:19), “you may not destroy its tree, etc. and you shall not chop it down.” And likewise not to do any damage — such as burning or ripping a garment or breaking a vessel for no reason — entered under this negative commandment And in all of these matters and in all that is similar to them, they, may their memory be blessed, would always say in the Gemara (Kiddushin 32a), “But behold…
Sefer HaChinukh 529:1-4
And Rav Ḥisda
also
said: One who is able to eat barley bread and
nevertheless
eats wheat
bread
violates the prohibition against
wanton
destruction.
One who wastes resources is comparable to one who destroys items of value.
And Rav Pappa said: One who is able to drink beer and
nevertheless
drinks wine violates the prohibition against
wanton
destruction.
The Gemara comments:
And this is not
a correct
matter,
as
the prohibition against destruction of one’s body takes precedence…
Shabbat 140b:9
“See the work of God, for who can mend what He has warped?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
“See the work of God, for who can mend what He has warped?” When the Holy One blessed be He created Adam the first man, He took him and showed him all the trees in the Garden of Eden, and He said to him: ‘See My creations, how beautiful and exemplary they are. Everything I created, I created for you. Make certain that you do not ruin and destroy My world, as if you destroy it, there will be no one to mend it after you. Moreover, you will cause death to that righteous one…
Kohelet Rabbah 7:13:1
באספך [THOU SHALT KEEP THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES …] AFTER THAT THOU HAST GATHERED IN THE PRODUCE — i.e. at the usual harvest time, when thou bringest into the house the summer fruits. Another explanation is: באספך מגרנך ומיקבך teaches that one should cover the Succah only with the פסולת (lit., the chips, — that which falls off) of the barn and the wine-press [i.e. with vegetable matter] (Rosh Hashanah 13a; Sukkah 12a).
Rashi on Deuteronomy 16:13:1
One day, he was walking along the road
when
he saw a certain man planting a carob tree.
Ḥoni
said to him: This
tree,
after how many years
will it
bear
fruit? The man
said to him:
It will not produce fruit
until seventy years
have passed. Ḥoni
said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years,
that you expect to benefit from this tree?
He said to him: That man
himself
found a world
full
of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.
Taanit 23a:15
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