1)

"Rak Eitz aasher Teida ? oso Sashchis Vechara'ta". What is the Torah coming to permit?

1.

Ramban 1 : It is giving precedence to cutting down a non-fruit bearing tree to a fruit-bearing one.


1

Refer to 20:19:6:2**.

2)

Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Eitz asher Teida"?

1.

Seforno: To teach us that, even a species of fruit-tree, if one knows that, due to old age or damage, it is no longer capable of bearing fruit, one is permitted to cut it down when laying siege.

2.

Rashbam: Refer to 20:20:1.1:1.

3.

Bava Kama, 91b: "Eitz asher Teida" is referring to a fruit-tree, and "Ki Lo Eitz Ma'achal Hu", to a non-fruit-bearing tree - to teach us that one is permitted to cut down either of them if necessary.

3)

Having taught us the concession to cut down a fruit-bearing tree in order to lay siege, why does it need to permit also a non-fruit-bearing tree?

1.

Rashbam: In order to permit cutting down species of non fruit-bearing trees even if they grow far from the town that is being besieged 1 - but not fruit-trees.

2.

Bava Kama, 91b: In order to give precedence to cutting down a non-fruit bearing tree over a fruit-tree wherever possible.


1

Refer to 20:19:4:3.

4)

What is the word "Rak" coming to preclude?

1.

Bava Kama, 71b: It precludes there where the non fruit-bearing tree is more valuable than the fruit-tree, in which case it is permitted to cut down the fruit-tree first. 1


1

Refer also to 20:20:3:2***.

5)

What is the meaning of "Ad Ridtah"?

1.

Rashi: It means until its inhabitants surrender.

2.

Rashbam: It means 'until its walls are brought down'. 1

3.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'until it is vanquished'.

4.

Moshav Zekenim: It comes to permit [fighting the city] even on Shabbos. 2


1

Rashbam: As in 28:5

2

Shabbos, 19a: If they began the siege three days before Shabbos and it took longer than expected to capture the tow. See Torah Temimah, note 65.

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