Deuteronomy 20:18-20

EasyEnglish Bible

¹⁸ If not, they would teach you all the evil things that they do to worship their gods. They would cause you to do bad things against the Lord your God.

¹⁹ Perhaps you are preparing to attack a city. Your soldiers may have their camp around the city for a long time. If so, you must not cut down the fruit trees. Then you can eat the fruit from them. These trees are not people, like your enemies! So do not attack them! ²⁰ But you can cut down the other trees that do not provide any food. You can use the wood to make things that will help you to attack the city. You can do this until you go into the city and you take it for yourselves.