"Onlythe treeswhichyou knoware not fruittreesyou shall destroyand cutdown,that you may constructsiegeworksagainstthe citythat is makingwarwith you untilit falls.
Then you shall strikeeveryfortifiedcityand everychoicecity,and felleverygoodtreeand stopallspringsof water,and mareverygoodpieceof landwith stones.'"
In Jerusalemhe madeengines[of war] inventedby skillfulmen to be on the towersand on the cornersfor the purpose of shootingarrowsand greatstones.Hence his famespreadafar,for he was marvelouslyhelpeduntilhe [was] strong.
There was a smallcitywith fewmenin it and a greatkingcameto it, surroundedit and constructedlargesiegeworksagainstit.
"Therefore,thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe kingof Assyria,'He will not cometo thiscityor shootan arrowthere;and he will not comebeforeit with a shield,orthrowup a siegerampagainstit.
"For thussaysthe LORDGodof Israelconcerningthe housesof thiscity,and concerningthe housesof the kingsof Judahwhich are brokendown[to make a defense] againstthe siegerampsand againstthe sword,
For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Cutdownher treesAnd castup a siegeagainstJerusalem.Thisis the cityto be punished,In whose midstthere is onlyoppression.
Pharaohwith [his] mightyarmyand greatcompanywill not helphim in the war,when they castup rampsand buildsiegewallsto cutoffmanylives.
Wherecan we goup? Our brethrenhave made our heartsmelt,saying,"The peopleare biggerand tallerthanwe; the citiesare largeand fortifiedto heaven.And besides,we sawthe sonsof the Anakimthere."'
"Whenyou besiegea citya longtime,to makewaragainstit in order to captureit, you shall not destroyits treesby swingingan axeagainstthem; for you may eatfrom them, and you shall not cutthem down.For is the treeof the fielda man,that it should be besiegedby you?
"Ifa slainperson is foundlyingin the open countryin the landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou to possess,[and] it is not knownwhohas struckhim,
