And all its spoil you shall gather into the midst of its open square and burn with fire the city and all its spoil completely for Hashem your God, and it shall be a mound forever; it shall not be rebuilt.
English: “Into the midst of its open square” — This teaches that if it has no open square, one is made for it; and if its open square was outside it, they bring it inside.
On the daf / in context: The gathering of the spoil must take place in a public square that belongs to the city itself.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the location for gathering the spoil.
What Is Learned
If the city lacks an open square, one is created; if the existing square is outside the city, it is brought within the city limits.