Pisqa’ 203338H:219; JN2:95-96 1. “If you lay siege to a city” (Dt.20:19)— This verse concerns an optional war [of territorial expansion].339Cf. Pisqa’ 190.8
“For many days” (Dt.20:19): Days—this implies at least two days, Many—adds a third. On this basis they taught: They do not lay siege to a gentile city, Fewer than three days before the Sabbath.340Cf. T. Eruv.3:7.
2. “You may not destroy a tree, wielding an ax against it” (Dt.20:19)— I infer only that one may not wield an ax. How do I know that one may not even divert its irrigation channel? The Teaching states: “You may not destroy a tree” (Dt.20:19)— by any means.
Another word: “If you lay siege to a city” (Dt.20:19)— this explains that you may sue for peace two or three days before waging war against it. And, similarly, He says: “And David stayed at Tziqlag for two days” (2Sam.1:1). They may not initiate a siege against a city on the Sabbath; rather, at least three days before the Sabbath. But if they surround it, and the Sabbath intervenes, Sabbath-observance does not interfere with the war341//T.Eruv.3:7.. This is one of three teachings expounded by Shammai the Elder: A ship does not embark on the Great Sea unless there are three days left till the Sabbath.342//T.Eruv.3:8. Under what circumstances? If it’s sailing to a distant port. But if it’s sailing a short distance, They permit the ship to embark.343This material is lacking in many mss copies. See F:239, n.3,
“Now, is a tree of the field like a man” (Dt.20:19)— this teaches that human life is sustained only by trees. R. Ishmael says: On this basis we reason that since the All-Present notes the importance of the fruit of trees, it stands to reason that He cares for the tree itself. For just as the verse warns you about the tree, which yields the fruit, all the more so should we protect the fruit itself!
(דברים כ יט) כִּי תָצוּר אֶל עִיר, בְּמִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
Pisqa’ 203338H:219; JN2:95-96
1. “If you lay siege to a city” (Dt.20:19)—
This verse concerns an optional war
[of territorial expansion].339Cf. Pisqa’ 190.8
אֶל עִיר – וְלֹא לִכְרָךְ;
“To a city” (Dt.20:19)—but not to a capitol;
אֶל עִיר – וְלֹא לִכְפָר.
“To a city” (Dt.20:19)—but not to a village.
יָמִים רַבִּים, יָמִים – שְׁנַיִם, רַבִּים – שְׁלֹשָׁה. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: אֵין צָרִים עַל עִיר שֶׁל גּוֹיִם פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים קֹדֶם לַשַּׁבָּת.
“For many days” (Dt.20:19):
Days—this implies at least two days,
Many—adds a third.
On this basis they taught:
They do not lay siege to a gentile city,
Fewer than three days before the Sabbath.340Cf. T. Eruv.3:7.
לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתָפְשָׂהּ – וְלֹא לִשְׁבּוֹתָהּ.
“To wage war against it, to seize it” (Dt.20:19)—
but not merely to take captives.
לֹא תַשְׁחִית אֶת עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא גַּרְזֶן. מִנַּיִן אַף לִמְשֹׁךְ הֵימֶנָּה אַמַּת הַמַּיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תַשְׁחִית אֶת עֵצָהּ, בְּכָל דָּבָר.
2. “You may not destroy a tree, wielding an ax against it” (Dt.20:19)—
I infer only that
one may not wield an ax.
How do I know that
one may not even divert its irrigation channel?
The Teaching states:
“You may not destroy a tree” (Dt.20:19)—
by any means.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: כִּי תָצוּר אֶל עִיר, מַגִּיד שֶׁתּוֹבֵעַ שָׁלוֹם שְׁנַיִם שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִלְחָם בָּהּ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב א א): ״וַיֵּשֶׁב דָּוִד בְּצִקְלַג יָמִים שְׁנַיִם״. וְאֵין צָרִים עַל עִיר בַּתְּחִלָּה בְּשַׁבָּת, אֶלָּא קוֹדֶם לַשַּׁבָּת שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים. וְאִם הִקִּיפוּהָ וְאֵרְעָה שַׁבָּת לִהְיוֹת – אֵין הַשַּׁבָּת מַפְסֶקֶת מִלְחַמְתָּהּ. זֶה אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים שֶׁדָּרַשׁ שַׁמַּי הַזָּקֵן: אֵין מַפְלִיגִים אֶת הַסְּפִינָה לַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל אֶלָּא קוֹדֶם לַשַּׁבָּת שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה, אֲבָל בְּדֶרֶךְ קְרוֹבָה מַפְלִיגִים אוֹתָהּ.
Another word:
“If you lay siege to a city” (Dt.20:19)—
this explains that you may sue for peace
two or three days before waging war against it.
And, similarly, He says:
“And David stayed at Tziqlag for two days” (2Sam.1:1).
They may not initiate a siege against a city on the Sabbath;
rather, at least three days before the Sabbath.
But if they surround it, and the Sabbath intervenes,
Sabbath-observance does not interfere with the war341//T.Eruv.3:7..
This is one of three teachings
expounded by Shammai the Elder:
A ship does not embark on the Great Sea
unless there are three days left till the Sabbath.342//T.Eruv.3:8.
Under what circumstances?
If it’s sailing to a distant port.
But if it’s sailing a short distance,
They permit the ship to embark.343This material is lacking in many mss copies. See F:239, n.3,
כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל – מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה; וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת – מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
3. “For you must eat from it” (Dt.20:19)—
this is a prescription.
“But you may not chop it down” (Dt.20:19)—
this is a proscription.
כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁחַיָּיו שֶׁל אָדָם אֵינָם אֶלָּא מִן הָאִילָן. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: מִכָּן חָס הַמָּקוֹם עַל פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן קַל וָחוֹמֶר מֵאִילָן, וּמָה אִילָן שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה פֵּרוֹת – הִזְהִירְךָ הַכָּתוּב עָלָיו, פֵּרוֹת עַצְמָם – עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה!
“Now, is a tree of the field like a man” (Dt.20:19)—
this teaches that
human life is sustained only by trees.
R. Ishmael says:
On this basis we reason that
since the All-Present notes
the importance of the fruit of trees,
it stands to reason that
He cares for the tree itself.
For just as the verse warns you about the tree,
which yields the fruit,
all the more so should we protect the fruit itself!
לָבוֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצוֹר, הָא אִם מְעַכֶּבְךָ לָבוֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצוֹר – קָצְצֵהוּ!
“That must be besieged by you?” (Dt.20:19)—
well—if the tree is hindering the siege,
you may chop it down.