(19) When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?
(ג) כי האדם עץ השדה. הֲרֵי כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן דִּלְמָא, שֶׁמָּא הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה לְהִכָּנֵס בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּצוֹר מִפָּנֶיךָ לְהִתְיַסֵּר בְּיִסּוּרֵי רָעָב וְצָמָא כְּאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר? לָמָּה תַּשְׁחִיתֶנּוּ?:
(3) כי האדם עץ השדה FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD A MAN [THAT IT SHOULD BE BESIEGED BY THEE]? — כי has here the meaning of “possibly”, “perhaps” (cf. Rashi on Exodus 23:5) — is the tree of the field perhaps a man who is able to withdraw within the besieged city from before you, that it should be chastised by the suffering of famine and thirst like the inhabitants of the city? Why should you destroy it?
עץ השדה- שלום חנוך
כי האדם עץ השדה
כמו האדם, גם העץ צומח
כמו העץ, האדם נגדע
ואני לא יודע
איפה הייתי ואיפה אהיה
כמו עץ השדה
כי האדם עץ השדה
כמו העץ, הוא שואף למעלה
כמו האדם, הוא נשרף באש
ואני לא יודע
איפה הייתי ואיפה אהיה
כמו עץ השדה
אהבתי וגם שנאתי
טעמתי מזה ומזה
קברו אותי בחלקה של עפר
ומר לי, מר לי בפה
כמו עץ השדה
כמו עץ השדה
כי האדם עץ השדה
כמו העץ, הוא צמא למים
כמו האדם, הוא נשאר צמא
ואני לא יודע
איפה הייתי ואיפה אהיה
כמו עץ השדה
אהבתי וגם שנאתי
טעמתי מזה ומזה
קברו אותי בחלקה של עפר
ומר לי, מר לי בפה
כמו עץ השדה
כמו עץ השדה
כי האדם עץ השדה
כי האדם עץ השדה
עץ השדה
The tree of the field- Shalom Chanoch
The Tree of the Field
For man is the tree of the field
Like the man, the tree also grows
Like the tree, the man gets cut down
And I know not
Where I was or where would I be
Like the tree of the field
For man is the tree of the field
Like the tree, (the man) aspires to great heights
Like the man, (the tree) catches fire
And I know not
Where I was or where would I be
Like the tree of the field
I have loved and I have hated
I have tasted of this and that
I was buried in a plot of earth
And bitter, bitter is my mouth
Like the tree of the field
Like the tree of the field
For man is the tree of the field
Like the tree, (the man is) thirsty for water
Like the man, (the tree) remains thirsty
And I know not
Where I was or where would I be
Like the tree of the field
I have loved and I have hated
I have tasted of this and that
I was buried in a plot of earth
And bitter, bitter is my mouth
Like the tree of the field
Like the tree of the field
For man is the tree of the field
For man is the tree of the field
The tree of the field
What is Rashi's response to the quote from Deuteronomy? What point is he trying to make?
How does Shalom Chanoch see people as similar to trees?
What does Shalom Chanoch see as critical differences between trees and people?
What do you think?
Why do you believe that Shalom Chanoch wrote these lyrics? What is he trying to say?