Sifrei Devarim 204/ספרי דברים ר״ד

2“Useless for food” (Dt. 20:20)—this refers to a barren tree [that has never borne fruit].If we are ultimately going to include under the rulea fruit-bearing tree [that no longer bears fruit],what, then, does the Teaching mean by:“The tree . . . useless for food”? (Dt. 20:20)This teaches that[where two trees impede the siege],the destruction of the barren treeprecedes that of the fruit-bearing tree.Is it possible to say thatif the barren tree’s [wood] is more valuable[than the fruit tree’s fruit, it should be spared]—in accord with the view of R. Elazar b. R. Shimon?The Teaching states:“That one you may destroy and chop down” (Dt. 20:20)—

3using the wood for storage-bins or construction.

4“And you may construct siege-works against the city” (Dt. 20:20)—by deploying against it various kinds of catapults,

5and by bringing against it any sort of missile.

6“Until it falls” (Dt. 20:20)—even on the Sabbath.