92 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-DEUT DEUTERONOMY | 20:19 man — DEUT1013 R. Yochanan said: "For a man is a tree o... DEUT1013 R. Yochanan said: "For a man is a tree of the field" -- Now is a man a tree of the field! But [understand it thus:] it is written; "for from it shall you eat, but it shall you not cut down"; and (verse 20): "it shall you destroy and cut down." How is this to be resolved? [Midrashically,]: If he [i.e., one who would be your teacher] is a genuine Torah scholar, "from him shall you eat, and him shall you not cut down"; if not, "him shall you destroy and cut down" (Ta'anith 7a) Share Print Source KeyTEMIMAH-DEUTVerse20:19Keyword(s)manSource Page(s)196 Switch article DEUTERONOMY | 20:19 destroy — DEUT1011 The push for local, organic, and other a... Previous Article DEUTERONOMY | 20:19 trees — DEUT1015 It is a negative commandment not to dest... Next Article