Devarim 20: I am the Lorax I Speak for the Trees.

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Apr 28, 2026 · 3m

Chapter 20 details the various laws of war. After outlining who is exempt from battle and the rules of engagement, the Torah commands:

“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…” (verse 19).

כִּי תָצוּר אֶל־עִיר יָמִים רַבִּים לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתָפְשָׂהּ לֹא־תַשְׁחִית אֶת־עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת

(Deuteronomy 20:19)

The verse then ends with a striking phrase that can be read…