Deuteronomy 20:17-19

The Voice

¹⁷ If it’s a city that belongs to the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, or the Jebusites, then completely destroy the inhabitants as He has commanded you. ¹⁸ If you don’t, they’ll teach you to do all the horrible things they do for their gods, and you’ll sin against Him.

¹⁹ When you’re fighting against a city, and it hasn’t fallen to you even after a long siege, don’t chop down all the trees around it. You can eat the fruit and nuts they produce, so don’t cut them down. Are these trees humans who are resisting your siege? Of course not!