Deu 20:19 | NASB1995 | STEP | “ When you besiege a city a long time , to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down . For is the tree of the field a man , that it should be besieged by you?

Deuteronomy 20:19

19 “When you besiege a city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. ^{▼▼ Read as interrogative with ancient versions}For is the tree of the field a man, that it should ^{▼▼ Lit come before you in the siege}be besieged by you?