16. But of the towns of these people, which Hashem Eloheicha doth give thee for a nachalah, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;
17. But thou shalt utterly put them under cherem of destruction; namely, the Chitti, and the Emori, the Kena'ni, and the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi; as Hashem Eloheicha hath commanded thee;
18. That they teach you not to do after all their to'evot (abominations) which they have done unto their elohim; so that ye would sin against Hashem Eloheichem.
19. When thou shalt besiege a town yamim rabbim, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them; although thou mayest eat of them, thou shalt not cut them down. Are the etz hasadeh men that they should come under your siege?
20. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build siege works against the town that maketh milchamah with thee, until it be subdued.