“Useless for food” (Dt.20:20)— this refers to a barren tree [that has never borne fruit]. If we are ultimately going to include under the rule a fruit-bearing tree [that no longer bears fruit], what, then, does the Teaching mean by: “The tree . . . useless for food”? (Dt.20:20) This teaches that [where two trees impede the siege], the destruction of the barren tree precedes that of the fruit-bearing tree. Is it possible to say that if the barren tree’s [wood] is more valuable [than the fruit tree’s fruit, it should be spared]— in accord with the view of R. Elazar b. R. Shimon? The Teaching states: “That one you may destroy and chop down” (Dt.20:20)—
(דברים כ כ) רַק עֵץ אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע – זֶה אִילַן מַאֲכָל.
Pisqa’ 204344H:220; JN2:97.
1. “Only, the tree which you know to have been useless” (Dt.20:20)—
a fruit-bearing tree [that no longer bears fruit].
כִּי לֹא עֵץ מַאֲכָל הוּא – זֶה אִילַן סְרָק. אִם סוֹפֵנוּ לְרַבּוֹת אֶת אִילַן מַאֲכָל, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר עֵץ מַאֲכָל? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִילַן סְרָק קוֹדֵם לְאִילַן מַאֲכָל. יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ מְעֻלֶּה בְּדָמִים, וּכְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֹתוֹ תַשְׁחִית וְכָרָתָּה,
“Useless for food” (Dt.20:20)—
this refers to a barren tree [that has never borne fruit].
If we are ultimately going to include under the rule
a fruit-bearing tree [that no longer bears fruit],
what, then, does the Teaching mean by:
“The tree . . . useless for food”? (Dt.20:20)
This teaches that
[where two trees impede the siege],
the destruction of the barren tree
precedes that of the fruit-bearing tree.
Is it possible to say that
if the barren tree’s [wood] is more valuable
[than the fruit tree’s fruit, it should be spared]—
in accord with the view of R. Elazar b. R. Shimon?
The Teaching states:
“That one you may destroy and chop down” (Dt.20:20)—
עוֹשֶׂה אַתָּה מִמֶּנּוּ תְּיָקִים וּנְדַבְיָאוֹת.
using the wood for storage-bins or construction.
וּבָנִיתָ מָצוֹר עַל הָעִיר – עוֹשֶׂה אַתָּה לָהּ מִינֵי מַטְרְנִיָּאוֹת,
“And you may construct siege-works against the city” (Dt.20:20)—
by deploying against it various kinds of catapults,
מֵבִיא אַתָּה לָהּ מִינֵי בַּלִּסְטְרָאוֹת.
and by bringing against it any sort of missile.
עַד רִדְתָּהּ – וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת.
“Until it falls” (Dt.20:20)—
even on the Sabbath.