דברים כ׳:י״ט-כ׳

ימים. שְׁנַיִם:

Days. Two.

רבים. שְׁלוֹשָׁה, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין צָרִין עַל עַיָּרוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִם פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים קֹדֶם לַשַּׁבָּת, וְלִמֵּד שֶׁפּוֹתֵחַ בְּשָׁלוֹם שְׁנַיִם אוֹ שְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב א') וַיֵּשֶׁב דָּוִד בְּצִקְלָג יָמִים שְׁנָיִם (ספרי); וּבְמִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:

Many. Three. From here it is derived that we do not lay siege to the Gentile cities fewer than three days before Shabbos. And it teaches that the peace overture is tendered for two or three days. Similarly, it is said, “David remained in Ziklag for two days.” Scripture refers to discretionary warfare.

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?:

For, is the tree in the field a man? Here, כִּי is understood as “perhaps.” ‘Perhaps the tree in the field is a man, to be included in your siege, and suffer famine and thirst along with the city’s inhabitants? Why must you destroy it?’

עד רדתה. לְשׁוֹן רִדּוּי, שֶׁתְּהֵא כְּפוּפָה לְךָ:

Until it is conquered. The meaning is “conquest.” Until it is subjugated to you.