Ulangan 20:20

20:20 However, you may chop down any tree you know is not suitable for food, ¹  and you may use it to build siege works ²  against the city that is making war with you until that city falls.

Ulangan 27:15

27:15 ‘Cursed is the one ³  who makes a carved or metal image – something abhorrent ⁴  to the Lord, the work of the craftsman ⁵  – and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ⁶ 

[20:20]  ¹ tn Heb “however, a tree which you know is not a tree for food you may destroy and cut down.”

[20:20]  ² tn Heb “[an] enclosure.” The term מָצוֹר (matsor) may refer to encircling ditches or to surrounding stagings. See R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 238.

[27:15]  ³ tn Heb “man,” but in a generic sense here.

[27:15]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew term translated here “abhorrent” (תּוֹעֵבָה, to’evah) speaks of attitudes and/or behaviors so vile as to be reprehensible to a holy God. See note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.

[27:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “craftsman’s hands.”

[27:15]  ⁶ tn Or “So be it!” The term is an affirmation expressing agreement with the words of the Levites.