Shalom, Mitspacha!
Preservation Over Devastation
“When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; if you may eat from them, do not cut them down.”
- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 20:19
“For the tree of the field is man's food. Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, to build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it is subdued.”
- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 20:20
YHVH's Torah places preservation above needless devastation. Even when His people were engaged in warfare, they were commanded to protect fruit-bearing trees because they provided food and sustained life. The objective of conflict did not justify destroying resources simply because they belonged to an enemy.
This mitzvah reveals that righteous conduct considers what remains after conflict. YHVH's people were not permitted to treat destruction as an end in itself. Even in war, wisdom requires protecting what can continue to sustain life and rebuilding rather than leaving unnecessary devastation behind.
It is easy to measure success by what has been conquered, removed or destroyed. YHVH's Torah teaches us to consider another measure: what has been preserved. The ability to destroy something does not make its destruction righteous.
This principle reaches beyond warfare. In families, communities and relationships, words and actions can either preserve what is valuable or cause needless damage. May we become people who protect what gives life, repair what can be restored and choose preservation whenever destruction is unnecessary.
Heavenly Father, YHVH, thank You for teaching us to value preservation rather than needless devastation. Give us wisdom to recognise what should be protected, restraint when destruction may seem easier and compassion for the lives affected by our decisions. Help us to preserve what is good, repair what can be restored and leave behind a legacy that gives life rather than unnecessary destruction.
Baruch YHVH. Emet.
“YHVH bless you and keep you;
YHVH make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
YHVH lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
- Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26
Shalom until tomorrow.