Inquiry:
Were the Israelites to spare the trees in the countries they invaded? Deuteronomy 20:19 says no, but 2 Kings 3:19 says yes. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
In Deuteronomy 20:19-20, instruction is given to the people about what they should do when they beseiged a city as they took possession of the land of Canaan. If there were trees which yielded fruit on them, they were not to cut them down, for the fruit would be useful to the men for food. The trees that were not good for food could be cut down (Deuteronomy 20:20).
In 2 Kings 3:19, they are told to destroy the good trees, along with the springs of water and the fields. With all of this destroyed, the defeat of their enemies would come much quicker.
Though the instructions are different, they are not contradictory. In the first instance, the people of Israel were coming into Canaan and told by God how to defeat the inhabitants of the land. It was important that they preserve the land, for it was given to them as a possession.
Many years later, during the days of the divided kingdom (Israel & Judah), they were instructed as they came up against the Moabites to destroy everything. Israel was already established in their land. They had no need of the produce of Moab. It was to be done away with.
There is no contradiction.
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