613 commandments

include shofar, sukkah, lulav, tzitzit and tellin).[7] Some

depend on the special status of a person in Judaism (such
as kohanim), while others apply only to men or only to
women.

The tradition that 613 commandments (Hebrew: "

: taryag mitzvot, 613 mitzvot) is the number of
mitzvot in the Torah, began in the 3rd century CE, when
Rabbi Simlai mentioned it in a sermon that is recorded in
Talmud Makkot 23b.[1]
These principles of Biblical law are sometimes called
connections or commandments (mitzvot) and referred to
collectively as the Law of Moses (Torat Moshe,
), Mosaic Law, Sinaitic Law, or simply the
Law. The word mitzvot is plural; singular is mitzvah.

1 Signicance of 613

Although there have been many attempts to codify and

enumerate the commandments contained in the Torah,
the traditional view is based on Maimonides' enumeration. The 613 commandments include positive commandments, to perform an act (mitzvot aseh), and
negative commandments, to abstain from certain acts
(mitzvot lo taaseh). The negative commandments number 365, which coincides with the number of days in
the solar year, and the positive commandments number 248, a number ascribed to the number of bones and
main organs in the human body (Babylonian Talmud,
Makkot 23b-24a).[2] Though the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real signicance increased in
later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works
listing or arranged by the mitzvot. Three types of negative commandments fall under the self-sacricial principle yehareg ve'al ya'avor, meaning One should let oneself be killed rather than violate it. These are murder,
idolatry, and forbidden sexual relations.[3]

[De Rouwdagen] De treurdagen (The mourning days) by Jan

Voerman , ca 1884

According to the Talmud (tractate Makkoth 23b), Deut.

33:04 is to be interpreted to mean that Moses transmitted the Torah from God to the Israelites: Moses commanded us the Torah as an inheritance for the community
The 613 mitzvot have been divided also into three general of Jacob".
categories: mishpatim; edot; and chukim. Mishpatim
The Talmud notes that the Hebrew numerical value
(laws) include commandments that are deemed to be
(gematria) of the word Torah is 611, and combining
self-evident, such as not to murder and not to steal. Edot
Mosess 611 commandments with the rst two of the
(testimonies) commemorate important events in JewTen Commandments which were the only ones heard
ish history. For example, the Shabbat is said to testify to
directly from God, adds up to 613.[8] The Talmud atthe story that Hashem created the world in six days and
tributes the number 613 to Rabbi Simlai, but other clasrested on the seventh day and declared it holy. Chukim
sical sages who hold this view include Rabbi Simeon ben
(decrees) are commandments with no known rationale,
Azzai (Sifre, Deuteronomy 76) and Rabbi Eleazar ben
and are perceived as pure manifestations of the Divine
Yose the Galilean (Midrash Aggadah to Genesis 15:1).
[4]
will.
It is quoted in Midrash Shemot Rabbah 33:7, Bamidbar
Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed now, following Rabbah 13:1516; 18:21 and Talmud Yevamot 47b.
the destruction of the Second Temple, although they still
Many Jewish philosophical and mystical works (e.g. by
retain religious signicance. According to one standard
Baal ha-Turim, the Maharal of Prague and leaders of
[5]
reckoning, there are 77 positive and 194 negative comHasidic Judaism) nd allusions and inspirational calcumandments that can be observed today, of which there
lations relating to the number of commandments.
are 26 commands that apply only within the Land of Is[6]
rael. Furthermore, there are some time-related com- The tzitzit (knotted fringes) of the tallit ("[prayer]
mandments from which women are exempt (examples shawl) are connected to the 613 commandments by interpretation: principal Torah commentator Rashi bases
1

3 WORKS ENUMERATING THE COMMANDMENTS

the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (Hebrew: ( Biblical), , in its Mishnaic spelling) has
the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and ve sets of knots, totalling 13. The sum
of all numbers is 613. This reects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzit reminds its wearer of all Torah
commandments.[9]

if it could be followed at all times? (The latter is the

view of Maimonides.)
Does counting a single commandment depend on
whether it falls within one verse, even though it may
contain multiple prohibitions, or should each prohibition count as a single commandment?

Ultimately, though, the concept of 613 commandments

has become accepted as normative amongst practicing
2 Dissent and diculties
Jews and today it is still common practice to refer to the
total system of commandments within the Torah as the
Rabbinic support for the number of commandments be- 613 commandments, even among those who do not liting 613 is not without dissent and, even as the number erally accept this count as accurate.
gained acceptance, diculties arose in elucidating the
However, the 613 mitzvot do not constitute a formal
list. Some rabbis declared that this count was not an
code of present-day halakha. (See Halakha: Codes of
authentic tradition, or that it was not logically possible
Jewish law.) The most widely recognized code is the
to come up with a systematic count. No early work of
Shulkhan Arukh, written by Rabbi Yosef Karo (Safed,
Jewish law or Biblical commentary depended on the 613
Israel, 1550). For Sephardic Jewry, this is generally the
system, and no early systems of Jewish principles of faith
accepted code. Ashkenazim, however, customarily folmade acceptance of this Aggadah (non-legal Talmudic
low the glosses appended to the Shulchan Arukh by Rabbi
statement) normative. The classical Biblical commenMoses Isserles. The Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh of Rabbi
tator and grammarian Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra denied
Shlomo Ganzfried (Hungary 1804 1886) is also popular
that this was an authentic rabbinic tradition. Ibn Ezra
among Ashkenazic Jews. Although it is often criticized, it
writes Some sages enumerate 613 mitzvot in many dicontains an overview of the rules of Ashkenazi Jewish life
verse ways [...] but in truth there is no end to the number
according to the minhagim followed by Hungarian Jewry.
of mitzvot [...] and if we were to count only the root prinThis is why it is not accepted by all Ashkenazic rabbinic
ciples [...] the number of mitzvot would not reach 613
authorities. However, Maimonides did write his Mishneh
(Yesod Mora, Chapter 2).
Torah while keeping in mind all of the 613 mitzvot.
Nahmanides held that this particular counting was a matter of rabbinic controversy, and that rabbinic opinion on
this is not unanimous. Nonetheless, he concedes that
3 Works enumerating the comthis total has proliferated throughout the aggadic litmandments
erature... we ought to say that it was a tradition from
Moses at Mount Sinai", (Nahmanides, Commentary to
Maimonides Sefer Hamitzvot'', Root Principle 1).
There is no single denitive list that explicates the 613
Rabbi Simeon ben Zemah Duran likewise rejected the commandments. Lists dier, for example, in how they
dogma of the 613 as being the sum of the Law, saying interpret passages in the Torah that may be read as dealthat perhaps the agreement that the number of mitzvot ing with several cases under a single law or several sepis 613... is just Rabbi Simlais opinion, following his arate laws. Other commandments in the Torah are reown explication of the mitzvot. And we need not rely on stricted as one-time acts, and would not be considered as
his explication when we come to determine [and aect] mitzvot binding on other persons. In rabbinic literathe Law, but rather on the Talmudic discussions (Zohar ture, Rishonim and later scholars composed to articulate
and justify their enumeration of the commandments:
Harakia, Lviv, 1858, p. 99).
Even when rabbis attempted to compile a list of the 613
commandments, they were faced with a number of diculties:
Which statements were to be included amongst the
613 commandments? Every one of Gods commands to any individual or to the entire people of
Israel?
Would an order from God be counted as a commandment, for the purposes of such a list, if it could
only be complied with in one place and time? Else,
would such an order only count as a commandment

Sefer ha-Mitzvoth (Book of Commandments) by

Rabbi Saadia Gaon is the earliest extant enumeration
of the 613 mitzvot. Written during the period of the
Geonim, Saadias work is a simple list (though it was
later expanded by Rabbi Yerucham Fishel Perlow.)
Sefer Hamitzvot (Book of Commandments) by
Maimonides, with a commentary by Nachmanides.
Maimonides employs a set of fourteen rules
(shorashim) which determine inclusion into the list.
In this work, he supports his specication of each
mitzvah through quotations from the midrash halakha and the Gemara. Nachmanides makes a num-

3
ber of critical points and replaces some items of the
list with others.
Sefer ha-Chinnuch (Book of Education). This
work generally follows Maimonides reckoning of
the 613 commandments. It is written in the order
in which the commandments appear in the Torah
rather than an arrangement by category (as in Maimonides work.) In addition to enumerating the
commandments and giving a brief overview of relevant laws, the Sefer ha-Chinuch also tries to explain
the philosophical reasons behind the mitzvot. It has
been attributed to various authors, most commonly
Rabbi Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona (the Ra'ah),
though its true authorship is unknown.
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Gadol or SMaG (Large book
of Commandments) by Rabbi Moses ben Jacob of
Coucy.
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Katan or SMaK (Small book
of Commandments) by Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil.
This work was written in the form of a poem, divided into seven sections and intended to be read
each week. While Isaacs work is fairly short, most
editions contain lengthy commentaries. Like the
Chafetz Chaims enumeration, the SMaK deals only
with those mitzvot applicable today.
Sefer Yere'im (Book of the [God-]fearing) by
Rabbi Eliezer of Metz (not a clear enumeration.)
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the
Chafetz Chaim). The Chafetz Chaims work follows the reckoning of Maimonides but gives only the
commandments relevant today. Notably, this listing
omits commandments regarding temple service, ritual purity, sacrices, and so on. Though the original
work included only those commandments relevant
in all places and at all times, later editions include
agricultural laws relevant today only in the Land of
Israel.

Maimonides list

The following are the 613 commandments and the source

of their derivation from the Hebrew Bible as enumerated
by Maimonides:
1. To know there is a God Ex. 20:2

6. To sanctify His Name Lev. 22:32

7. Not to profane His Name Lev. 22:32
8. Not to destroy objects associated with His Name
Deut. 12:4
9. To listen to the prophet speaking in His Name
Deut. 18:15
10. Not to try the LORD unduly Deut. 6:16
11. To emulate His ways Deut. 28:9
12. To cleave to those who know Him Deut. 10:20
13. To love other Jews Lev. 19:18
14. To love converts Deut. 10:19
15. Not to hate fellow Jews Lev. 19:17
16. To reprove a sinner Lev. 19:17
17. Not to embarrass others Lev. 19:17
18. Not to oppress the weak Ex. 22:21
19. Not to speak derogatorily of others Lev. 19:16
20. Not to take revenge Lev. 19:18
21. Not to bear a grudge Lev. 19:18
22. To learn Torah Deut. 6:7
23. To honor those who teach and know Torah Lev.
19:32
24. Not to inquire into idolatry Lev. 19:4
25. Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your
eyes see Num. 15:39
26. Not to blaspheme Ex. 22:27
27. Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped Standard->Ex. 20:6 Yemenite->Ex. 20:5
28. Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship
God Standard->Ex. 20:6 Yemenite->Ex. 20:5
29. Not to make an idol for yourself Standard->Ex.
20:5 Yemenite->Ex. 20:4
30. Not to make an idol for others Lev. 19:4
31. Not to make human forms even for decorative
purposes Standard->Ex. 20:21 Yemenite->Ex.
20:20

2. Not to even think that there are other gods besides

Him Standard->Ex. 20:3 Yemenite->Ex. 20:2

32. Not to turn a city to idolatry Deut. 13:14

3. To know that He is One Deut. 6:4

33. To burn a city that has turned to idol worship

Deut. 13:17

4. To love Him Deut. 6:5

34. Not to rebuild it as a city Deut. 13:17

5. To fear Him Deut. 10:20

35. Not to derive benet from it Deut. 13:18

MAIMONIDES LIST

36. Not to missionize an individual to idol worship

Deut. 13:12

62. Not to engage in divination or soothsaying Lev.

19:26

37. Not to love the idolater Deut. 13:9

63. Not to mutter incantations Deut. 18:11

38. Not to cease hating the idolater Deut. 13:9

64. Not to attempt to contact the dead Deut. 18:11

39. Not to save the idolater Deut. 13:9

65. Not to consult the ov Deut. 18:11

40. Not to say anything in the idolaters defense Deut.

13:9

66. Not to consult the yidoni Deut. 18:11

41. Not to refrain from incriminating the idolater

Deut. 13:9
42. Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry Deut.
13:14

67. Not to perform acts of magic Deut. 18:10

68. Men must not shave the hair o the sides of their
head Lev. 19:27
69. Men must not shave their beards with a razor Lev.
19:27

43. Not to listen to a false prophet Deut. 13:4

70. Men must not wear womens clothing Deut. 22:5

44. Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God

Deut. 18:20

71. Women must not wear mens clothing Deut. 22:5

45. Not to be afraid of the false prophet Deut. 18:22

46. Not to swear in the name of an idol Ex. 23:13
47. Not to perform ov (medium) Lev. 19:31
48. Not to perform yidoni (magical seer) Lev.
19:31
49. Not to pass your children through the re to Molech
Lev. 18:21
50. Not to erect a pillar in a public place of worship
Deut. 16:22
51. Not to bow down before a smooth stone Lev.
26:1
52. Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard Deut.
16:21
53. To destroy idols and their accessories Deut. 12:2
54. Not to derive benet from idols and their accessories
Deut. 7:26
55. Not to derive benet from ornaments of idols
Deut. 7:25
56. Not to make a covenant with idolaters Deut. 7:2

72. Not to tattoo the skin Lev. 19:28

73. Not to tear the skin in mourning Deut. 14:1
74. Not to make a bald spot in mourning Deut. 14:1
75. To repent and confess wrongdoings Num. 5:7
76. To say the Shema twice daily Deut. 6:7
77. To pray every day Ex. 23:25
78. The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily
Num. 6:23
79. To wear tellin (phylacteries) on the head Deut.
6:8
80. To bind tellin on the arm Deut. 6:8
81. To put a mezuzah on the door post Deut. 6:9
82. Each male must write a Torah scroll Deut. 31:19
83. The king must have a separate Torah scroll for himself Deut. 17:18
84. To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments Num.
15:38
85. To bless the Almighty after eating Deut. 8:10

57. Not to show favor to them Deut. 7:2

86. To circumcise all males on the eighth day after their

birth Gen. 17:10

58. Not to let them dwell in the Land of Israel Ex.

23:33

87. To rest on the seventh day Ex. 23:12

59. Not to imitate them in customs and clothing Lev.

20:23

88. Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day

Standard->Ex. 20:11 Yemenite->Ex. 20:10

60. Not to be superstitious Lev. 19:26

89. The court must not inict punishment on Shabbat

Ex. 35:3

61. Not to go into a trance to foresee events, etc.

Deut. 18:10

90. Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat

Ex. 16:29

5
91. To sanctify Shabbat with Kiddush and Havdalah 117. To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot
Standard->Ex. 20:9 Yemenite->Ex. 20:8
Lev. 23:42
92. To rest from prohibited labor on Yom Kippur 118. To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days Lev.
Lev. 23:32
23:40
93. Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur Lev. 119. Each man must give a half shekel annually Ex.
23:32
30:13
94. To aict oneself on Yom Kippur Lev. 16:29
95. Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:29
96. To rest on the rst day of Passover Lev. 23:7

120. Courts must calculate to determine when a new

month begins Ex. 12:2
121. To aict oneself and cry out before God in times of
calamity Num. 10:9

97. Not to do prohibited labor on the rst day of

122. To marry a wife by means of ketubah and kiddushin
Passover Lev. 23:8
Deut. 22:13
98. To rest on the seventh day of Passover Lev. 23:8
123. Not to have sexual relations with women not thus
married Deut. 23:18
99. Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of
Passover Lev. 23:8
124. Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual relations
from your wife Ex. 21:10
100. To rest on Shavuot Lev. 23:21
101. Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot Lev. 23:21 125. To have children with ones wife Gen. 1:28
102. To rest on Rosh Hashanah Lev. 23:24

126. To issue a divorce by means of a Get document

Deut. 24:1

103. Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashanah

Lev. 23:25
127. A man must not remarry his ex-wife after she has
married someone else Deut. 24:4
104. To rest on Sukkot Lev. 23:35
128. To perform yibbum (marry the widow of ones child105. Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot Lev. 23:35
less brother) Deut. 25:5
106. To rest on Shemini Atzeret Lev. 23:36
129. To perform halizah (free the widow of ones childless brother from yibbum) Deut. 25:9
107. Not to do prohibited labor on Shemini Atzeret
Lev. 23:36
130. The widow must not remarry until the ties with her
brother-in-law are removed (by halizah) Deut.
108. Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day
25:5
of Nisan Deut. 16:3
109. To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nisan Ex. 131. The court must ne one who sexually seduces a
maiden Ex. 22:15-16
12:15
110. Not to eat chametz all seven days of Passover Ex. 132. The rapist must marry his victim if she is unwed
13:3
Deut. 22:29
111. Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all seven 133.
days of Passover Ex. 12:20
134.
112. Not to see chametz in your domain seven days
Ex. 13:7
135.
113. Not to nd chametz in your domain seven days
136.
Ex. 12:19

He is never allowed to divorce her Deut. 22:29

The slanderer must remain married to his wife
Deut. 22:19
He must not divorce her Deut. 22:19
To fulll the laws of the Sotah Num. 5:30

114. To eat matzah on the rst night of Passover Ex. 137. Not to put oil on her meal oering (as usual)
Num. 5:15
12:18
115. To relate the Exodus from Egypt on that night 138. Not to put frankincense on her meal oering (as
usual) Num. 5:15
Ex. 13:8
116. To hear the Shofar on the rst day of Tishrei (Rosh 139. Not to have sexual relations with your mother
Hashanah) Num. 9:1
Lev. 18:7

6
140. Not to have sexual relations with your fathers wife 162.
Lev. 18:8
163.
141. Not to have sexual relations with your sister Lev.
18:9
164.
142. Not to have sexual relations with your fathers wifes
daughter Lev. 18:11

MAIMONIDES LIST

Not to marry non-Jews Deut. 7:3

Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry into
the Jewish people Deut. 23:4
Not to prevent a third-generation Egyptian convert
from marrying into the Jewish people Deut.
23:8-9

143. Not to have sexual relations with your sons daughter 165. Not to refrain from marrying a third generation
Edomite convert Deut. 23:8-9
Lev. 18:10
144. Not to have sexual relations with your daughter 166. Not to let a mamzer (a child born due to an illegal
relationship) marry into the Jewish people Deut.
Lev. 18:10
23:3
145. Not to have sexual relations with your daughters
167. Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish people
daughter Lev. 18:10
Deut. 23:2
146. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her
168. Not to oer to God any castrated male animals
daughter Lev. 18:17
Lev. 22:24
147. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her
169. The High Priest must not marry a widow Lev.
sons daughter Lev. 18:17
21:14
148. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her
170. The High Priest must not have sexual relations with
daughters daughter Lev. 18:17
a widow even outside of marriage Lev. 21:15
149. Not to have sexual relations with your fathers sister
171. The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden Lev.
Lev. 18:12
21:13
150. Not to have sexual relations with your mothers sister
172. A Kohen (priest) must not marry a divorcee Lev.
Lev. 18:13
21:7
151. Not to have sexual relations with your fathers
173. A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who has
brothers wife Lev. 18:14
had a forbidden sexual relationship) Lev. 21:7
152. Not to have sexual relations with your sons wife
174. A Kohen must not marry a chalalah (a desecrated
Lev. 18:15
person) (party to or product of 169-172) Lev.
21:7
153. Not to have sexual relations with your brothers wife
Lev. 18:16
175. Not to make pleasurable (sexual) contact with any
forbidden woman Lev. 18:6
154. Not to have sexual relations with your wifes sister
Lev. 18:18
176. To examine the signs of animals to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:2
155. A man must not have sexual relations with an animal
Lev. 18:23
177. To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between
kosher and non-kosher Deut. 14:11
156. A woman must not have sexual relations with an animal Lev. 18:23
178. To examine the signs of sh to distinguish between
kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:9
157. A man must not have sexual relations with a man
Lev. 18:22
179. To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:21
158. Not to have sexual relations with your father Lev.
18:7
180. Not to eat non-kosher animals Lev. 11:4
159. Not to have sexual relations with your fathers 181. Not to eat non-kosher fowl Lev. 11:13
brother Lev. 18:14
182. Not to eat non-kosher sh Lev. 11:11
160. Not to have sexual relations with someone elses wife
Lev. 18:20
183. Not to eat non-kosher ying insects Deut. 14:19
161. Not to have sexual relations with a menstrually im- 184. Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land
pure woman Lev. 18:19
Lev. 11:41

7
185. Not to eat non-kosher maggots Lev. 11:44

210. Not to take Gods Name in vain Standard->Ex.

20:7 Yemenite->Ex. 20:6

186. Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground

Lev. 11:42
211. Not to deny possession of something entrusted to
you Lev. 19:11
187. Not to eat creatures that live in water other than
(kosher) sh Lev. 11:43
212. Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim Lev.
19:11
188. Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without
ritual slaughter Deut. 14:21
213. To swear in Gods Name to conrm the truth when
deemed necessary by court Deut. 10:20
189. Not to benet from an ox condemned to be stoned
Ex. 21:2
214. To fulll what was uttered and to do what was
avowed Deut. 23:24
190. Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally
wounded Ex. 22:30
215. Not to break oaths or vows Num. 30:3
191. Not to eat a limb torn o a living creature Deut. 216. For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of
12:23
annulling vows explicit in the Torah Num. 30:3
192. Not to eat blood Lev. 3:17

217. The Nazirite must let his hair grow Num. 6:5

193. Not to eat certain fats of clean animals Lev. 3:17 218. He must not cut his hair Num. 6:5
194. Not to eat the sinew of the thigh Gen. 32:33

219. He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine

vinegar Num. 6:3

195. Not to eat mixtures of milk and meat cooked together Ex. 23:19
220. He must not eat fresh grapes Num. 6:3
196. Not to cook meat and milk together Ex. 34:26

221. He must not eat raisins Num. 6:3

197. Not to eat bread from new grain before the Omer 222. He must not eat grape seeds Num. 6:4
Lev. 23:14
223. He must not eat grape skins Num. 6:4
198. Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the
224. He must not be under the same roof as a corpse
Omer Lev. 23:14
Num. 6:6
199. Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the
225. He must not come into contact with the dead
Omer Lev. 23:14
Num. 6:7
200. Not to eat fruit of a tree during its rst three years
226. He must shave his head after bringing sacrices
Lev. 19:23
upon completion of his Nazirite period Num. 6:9
201. Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard
227. To estimate the value of people as determined by the
Deut. 22:9
Torah Lev. 27:2
202. Not to eat untithed fruits Lev. 22:15
228. To estimate the value of consecrated animals
203. Not to drink wine poured in service to idols Deut.
Lev. 27:12-13
32:38
229. To estimate the value of consecrated houses Lev.
204. To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it
27:14
Deut. 12:21
230. To estimate the value of consecrated elds Lev.
205. Not to slaughter an animal and its ospring on the
27:16
same day Lev. 22:28
231. Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions
206. To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl)
(cherem) Lev. 27:28
with earth Lev. 17:13
232. Not to sell the cherem Lev. 27:28
207. To send away the mother bird before taking its chil233. Not to redeem the cherem Lev. 27:28
dren Deut. 22:6
208. To release the mother bird if she was taken from the 234. Not to plant diverse seeds together Lev. 19:19
nest Deut. 22:7
235. Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard Deut.
209. Not to swear falsely in Gods Name Lev. 19:12
22:9

236. Not to crossbreed animals Lev. 19:19

MAIMONIDES LIST

262. Not to spend its redemption money on anything but

food, drink, or ointment Deut. 26:14

237. Not to work dierent animals together Deut.

22:10
263. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure Deut.
26:14
238. Not to wear shaatnez, a cloth woven of wool and
linen Deut. 22:11
264. A mourner on the rst day after death must not eat
Ma'aser Sheni Deut. 26:14
239. To leave a corner of the eld uncut for the poor
Lev. 19:10
265. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside Jerusalem
Deut. 12:17
240. Not to reap that corner Lev. 19:9
266. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products outside
241. To leave gleanings Lev. 19:9
Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
242. Not to gather the gleanings Lev. 19:9
267. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside Jerusalem
Deut. 12:17
243. To leave the unformed clusters of grapes Lev.
19:10
268. The fourth year crops must be totally for holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni Lev. 19:24
244. Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes Lev.
19:10
269. To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year Deut. 26:13
245. To leave the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 19:10
246. Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 270. To set aside the rst fruits and bring them to the
Temple Ex. 23:19
19:10
247. To leave the forgotten sheaves in the eld Deut. 271. The Kohanim must not eat the rst fruits outside
Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
24:19
248. Not to retrieve them Deut. 24:19
249. To separate the tithe for the poor Deut. 14:28
250. To give charity Deut. 15:8

272. To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation Deut. 26:5
273. To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen Num.
15:20

251. Not to withhold charity from the poor Deut. 15:7 274. To give the foreleg, two cheeks, and abomasum of
slaughtered animals to a Kohen Deut. 18:3
252. To set aside Terumah (heave oering) Gedolah (gift
for the Kohen) Deut. 18:4
253. The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe
Num. 18:26
254. Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate
them in their proper order Ex. 22:28
255. A non-Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:10

275. To give the rst shearing of sheep to a Kohen

Deut. 18:4
276. To redeem rstborn sons and give the money to a
Kohen Num. 18:15
277. To redeem the rstborn donkey by giving a lamb to
a Kohen Ex. 13:13

256. A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen 278. To break the neck of the donkey if the owner does
not intend to redeem it Ex. 13:13
must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:10
257. An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Terumah 279. To rest the land during the seventh year by not doing
any work which enhances growth Ex. 34:21
Ex. 12:48
258. An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev. 280. Not to work the land during the seventh year Lev.
25:4
22:4
259. A chalalah (party to #s 169-172 above) must not eat 281. Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that
year Lev. 25:4
Terumah Lev. 22:12
260. To set aside Ma'aser (tithe) each planting year and 282. Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner Lev. 25:5
give it to a Levite Num. 18:24
261. To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni) 283. Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in
Deut. 14:22
the normal way Lev. 25:5

9
284. To leave free all produce which grew in that year 306. Not to leave the Temple unguarded Num. 18:5
Ex. 23:11
307. To prepare the anointing oil Ex. 30:31
285. To release all loans during the seventh year Deut.
308. Not to reproduce the anointing oil Ex. 30:32
15:2
286. Not to pressure or claim from the borrower Deut. 309. Not to anoint with anointing oil Ex. 30:32
15:2
310. Not to reproduce the incense formula Ex. 30:37
287. Not to refrain from lending immediately before the 311. Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides
release of the loans for fear of monetary loss Deut.
incense Ex. 30:9
15:9
312. The Levites must transport the ark on their shoulders
288. The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven
Num. 7:9
years Lev. 25:8
313. Not to remove the staves from the ark Ex. 25:15
289. The Sanhedrin must sanctify the ftieth year Lev.
25:10
314. The Levites must work in the Temple Num.
18:23
290. To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free
the slaves Lev. 25:9
315. No Levite must do anothers work of either a Kohen
or a Levite Num. 18:3
291. Not to work the soil during the ftieth year (Jubilee)
Lev. 25:11
316. To dedicate the Kohen for service Lev. 21:8
292. Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows 317. The work of the Kohanim's shifts must be equal durwild in the ftieth year Lev. 25:11
ing holidays Deut. 18:6-8
293. Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal 318. The Kohanim must wear their priestly garments durmanner in the ftieth year Lev. 25:11
ing service Ex. 28:2
294. Carry out the laws of sold family properties Lev. 319.
25:24
320.
295. Not to sell the land in Israel indenitely Lev.
25:23
321.
296. Carry out the laws of houses in walled cities Lev.
25:29
322.
297. The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the
land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in
323.
Deut. 18:1

Not to tear the priestly garments Ex. 28:32

The Kohen Gadol 's (High Priest) breastplate must
not be loosened from the Efod Ex. 28:28
A Kohen must not enter the Temple intoxicated
Lev. 10:9
A Kohen must not enter the Temple with his head
uncovered Lev. 10:6
A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn clothes
Lev. 10:6

298. The Levites must not take a share in the spoils of

324. A Kohen must not enter the Temple indiscriminately
war Deut. 18:1
Lev. 16:2
299. To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their sur325. A Kohen must not leave the Temple during service
rounding elds Num. 35:2
Lev. 10:7
300. Not to sell the elds but they shall remain the
Levites before and after the Jubilee year Lev. 326. To send the impure from the Temple Num. 5:2
25:34
327. Impure people must not enter the Temple Num.
301. To build a Temple Ex. 25:8

5:3

302. Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal 328. Impure people must not enter the Temple Mount
area Deut. 23:11
Standard->Ex. 20:24 Yemenite->Ex. 20:23
303. Not to climb steps to the altar Standard->Ex. 329. Impure Kohanim must not do service in the temple
Lev. 22:2
20:27 Yemenite->Ex. 20:26
304. To show reverence to the Temple Lev. 19:30
305. To guard the Temple area Num. 18:2

330. An impure Kohen, following immersion, must wait

until after sundown before returning to service
Lev. 22:7

10

MAIMONIDES LIST

331. A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before service 355. Carry out the procedure of the guilt oering Lev.
Ex. 30:19
7:1
332. A Kohen with a physical blemish must not enter the 356. The Kohanim must eat the sacricial meat in the
Temple Ex. 29:33
sanctuary or approach the altar Lev. 21:23
333. A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve 357. The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard Deut. 12:17
Lev. 21:17
334. A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not serve 358. A non-Kohen must not eat sacricial meat Ex.
29:33
Lev. 21:17
335. One who is not a Kohen must not serve Num. 359. To follow the procedure of the peace oering
Lev. 7:11
18:4
336. To oer only unblemished animals Lev. 22:21

360. Not to eat the meat of minor sacrices before sprinkling the blood Deut. 12:17

337. Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar

361. To bring meal oerings as prescribed in the Torah
Lev. 22:20
Lev. 2:1
338. Not to slaughter it Lev. 22:22
362. Not to put oil on the meal oerings of wrongdoers
Lev. 5:11
339. Not to sprinkle its blood Lev. 22:24
340. Not to burn its fat Lev. 22:22

363. Not to put frankincense on the meal oerings of

wrongdoers Lev. 3:11

341. Not to oer a temporarily blemished animal

364. Not to eat the meal oering of the High Priest
Deut. 17:1
Lev. 6:16
342. Not to sacrice blemished animals even if oered by
365. Not to bake a meal oering as leavened bread
non-Jews Lev. 22:25
Lev. 6:10
343. Not to inict wounds upon dedicated animals
366. The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal ofLev. 22:21
ferings Lev. 6:9
344. To redeem dedicated animals which have become
367. To bring all avowed and freewill oerings to the
disqualied Deut. 12:15
Temple on the rst subsequent festival Deut.
345. To oer only animals which are at least eight days
12:5-6
old Lev. 22:27
368. Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow
Deut. 23:22
346. Not to oer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog. Some interpret exchange for a dog as referring to wage of a 369. To oer all sacrices in the Temple Deut. 12:11
male prostitute.[10][11] Deut. 23:19
370. To bring all sacrices from outside Israel to the Temple Deut. 12:26

347. Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar Lev. 2:11

348. To salt all sacrices Lev. 2:13
349. Not to omit the salt from sacrices Lev. 2:13
350. Carry out the procedure of the burnt oering as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 1:3
351. Not to eat its meat Deut. 12:17

371. Not to slaughter sacrices outside the courtyard

Lev. 17:4
372. Not to oer any sacrices outside the courtyard
Deut. 12:13
373. To oer two lambs every day Num. 28:3
374. To light a re on the altar every day Lev. 6:6

352. Carry out the procedure of the sin oering Lev. 375.
6:18
376.
353. Not to eat the meat of the inner sin oering Lev.
6:23
377.
354. Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin oering
Lev. 5:8
378.

Not to extinguish this re Lev. 6:6

To remove the ashes from the altar every day Lev.
6:3
To burn incense every day Ex. 30:7
To light the Menorah every day Ex. 27:21

11
379. The Kohen Gadol must bring a meal oering every 402.
day Lev. 6:13
403.
380. To bring two additional lambs as burnt oerings on
Shabbat Num. 28:9
404.
381. To make the show bread Ex. 25:30

Not to work consecrated animals Deut. 15:19

Not to shear the eece of consecrated animals
Deut. 15:19
To slaughter the paschal sacrice at the specied
time Ex. 12:6

382. To bring additional oerings on Rosh Chodesh (" 405. Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven
The New Month) Num. 28:11
Ex. 23:18
383. To bring additional oerings on Passover Num. 406.
28:19
407.
384. To oer the wave oering from the meal of the new
wheat Lev. 23:10
408.
385. Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks from
the day the new wheat oering was brought Lev.
409.
23:15

Not to leave the fat overnight Ex. 23:18

To slaughter the second Paschal Lamb Num.
9:11
To eat the Paschal Lamb with matzah and Marror
on the night of the fourteenth of Nisan Ex. 12:8
To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the
15th of Iyar Num. 9:11

386. To bring additional oerings on Shavuot Num.

28:26
410. Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled Ex.
12:9
387. To bring two loaves to accompany the above sacrice Lev. 23:17
411. Not to take the paschal meat from the connes of
the group Ex. 12:46
388. To bring additional oerings on Rosh Hashana
Num. 29:2
412. An apostate must not eat from it Ex. 12:43
389. To bring additional oerings on Yom Kippur 413. A permanent or temporary hired worker must not
Num. 29:8
eat from it Ex. 12:45
390. To bring additional oerings on Sukkot Num. 414. An uncircumcised male must not eat from it Ex.
29:13
12:48
391. To bring additional oerings on Shmini Atzeret 415. Not to break any bones from the paschal oering
Num. 29:35
Ex. 12:46 Ps. 34:20
392. Not to eat sacrices which have become unt or 416. Not to break any bones from the second paschal ofblemished Deut. 14:3
fering Num. 9:12
393. Not to eat from sacrices oered with improper in- 417. Not to leave any meat from the paschal oering over
tentions Lev. 7:18
until morning Ex. 12:10
394. Not to leave sacrices past the time allowed for eat- 418. Not to leave the second paschal meat over until
ing them Lev. 22:30
morning Num. 9:12
395. Not to eat from that which was left over Lev. 19:8
396. Not to eat from sacrices which became impure
Lev. 7:19
397. An impure person must not eat from sacrices
Lev. 7:20
398. To burn the leftover sacrices Lev. 7:17
399. To burn all impure sacrices Lev. 7:19

419. Not to leave the meat of the holiday oering of the

14th until the 16th Deut. 16:4
420. To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and
Sukkot Deut. 16:16
421. To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace
oering) Ex. 23:14
422. To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace
oering) Deut. 16:14

400. To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parshah Acharei Mot (After 423. Not to appear at the Temple without oerings
Deut. 16:16
the death of Aarons sons...) Lev. 16:3

401. One who profaned property must repay what he pro- 424. Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts
faned plus a fth and bring a sacrice Lev. 5:16
to, the Levites Deut. 12:19

12

MAIMONIDES LIST

425. To assemble all the people on the Sukkot following 447. The metzora must not remove his signs of impurity
the seventh year Deut. 31:12
Deut. 24:8
426. To set aside the rstborn animals Ex. 13:12

448. The metzora must not shave signs of impurity in his

hair Lev. 13:33

427. The Kohanim must not eat unblemished rstborn

animals outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
449. The metzora must publicize his condition by tearing
his garments, allowing his hair to grow and covering
428. Not to redeem the rstborn Num. 18:17
his lips Lev. 13:45
429. Separate the tithe from animals Lev. 27:32
450. Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying the metzora Lev. 14:2
430. Not to redeem the tithe Lev. 27:33
431. Every person must bring a sin oering (in the tem- 451. The metzora must shave o all his hair prior to puple) for his transgression Lev. 4:27
rication Lev. 14:9
432. Bring an asham talui (temple oering) when uncer- 452. Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing Lev.
tain of guilt Lev. 5:17-18
13:47
433. Bring an asham vadai (temple oering) when guilt 453. Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses Lev.
is ascertained Lev. 5:25
13:34
434. Bring an oleh v'yored (temple oering)(if the per- 454. Observe the laws of menstrual impurity Lev.
son is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal
15:19
oering) Lev. 5:7-11
455. Observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth
435. The Sanhedrin must bring an oering (in the Tem Lev. 12:2
ple) when it rules in error Lev. 4:13
456. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a womans
436. A woman who had a running (vaginal) issue must
running issue Lev. 15:25
bring an oering (in the Temple) after she goes to
the Mikveh Lev. 15:28-29
457. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a mans
running issue (irregular ejaculation of infected
437. A woman who gave birth must bring an oering (in
semen) Lev. 15:3
the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh Lev.
12:6
458. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a dead beast
Lev. 11:39
438. A man who had a running (unnatural urinary) issue
must bring an oering (in the Temple) after he goes 459. Observe the laws of impurity caused by the eight
to the Mikveh Lev. 15:13-14
shratzim (insects) Lev. 11:29
439. A metzora (one having a skin disease) must bring an
460. Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal emission
oering (in the Temple) after going to the Mikveh
(regular ejaculation, with normal semen) Lev.
Lev. 14:10
15:16
440. Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for
461. Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and
sacrice Lev. 27:10
solid foods Lev. 11:34
441. The new animal, in addition to the substituted one,
462. Every impure person must immerse himself in a
retains consecration Lev. 27:10
Mikvah to become pure Lev. 15:16
442. Not to change consecrated animals from one type of
463. The court must judge the damages incurred by a goroering to another Lev. 27:26
ing ox Ex. 21:28
443. Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead Num.
464. The court must judge the damages incurred by an
19:14
animal eating Ex. 22:4
444. Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer (Para Ad465. The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit
uma) Num. 19:2
Ex. 21:33
445. Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water Num.
466. The court must judge the damages incurred by re
19:21
Ex. 22:5
446. Rule the laws of human tzara'at as prescribed in the
Torah Lev. 13:12
467. Not to steal money stealthily Lev. 19:11

13
468. The court must implement punitive measures against 492.
the thief Ex. 21:37
493.
469. Each individual must ensure that his scales and
weights are accurate Lev. 19:36
494.
470. Not to commit injustice with scales and weights
495.
Lev. 19:35

Not to work nor plant that river valley Deut. 21:4

Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your
property Deut. 22:8
Make a guard rail around at roofs Deut. 22:8
Not to put a stumbling block before a blind man (nor
give harmful advice) Lev. 19:14

471. Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights even if

496. Help another remove the load from a beast which
they are not for use Deut. 25:13
can no longer carry it Ex. 23:5
472. Not to move a boundary marker to steal someones
497. Help others load their beast Deut. 22:4
property Deut. 19:14
473. Not to kidnap Standard->Ex. 20:14 Yemenite- 498. Not to leave others distraught with their burdens (but
to help either load or unload) Deut. 22:4
>Ex. 20:13
474. Not to rob openly Lev. 19:13

499. Conduct sales according to Torah law Lev. 25:14

475. Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt Lev. 500. Not to overcharge or underpay for an article Lev.
25:14
19:13
476. Not to covet and scheme to acquire anothers posses- 501. Not to insult or harm anybody with words Lev.
25:17
sion Standard->Ex. 20:15 Yemenite->Ex. 20:14
477. Not to desire anothers possession Standard- 502. Not to cheat a convert monetarily Ex. 22:20
>Deut. 5:19 Yemenite->Deut. 5:18
503. Not to insult or harm a convert with words Ex.
22:20
478. Return the robbed object or its value Lev. 5:23
479. Not to ignore a lost object Deut. 22:3

504. Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws Ex. 21:2

480. Return the lost object Deut. 22:1

505. Not to sell him as a slave is sold Lev. 25:42

481. The court must implement laws against the one who
assaults another or damages anothers property 506. Not to work him oppressively Lev. 25:43
Ex. 21:18
507. Not to allow a non-Jew to work him oppressively
Lev. 25:53
482. Not to murder Standard->Ex. 20:13 Yemenite>Ex. 20:12

508. Not to have him do menial slave labor Lev. 25:39

483. Not to accept monetary restitution to atone for the 509. Give him gifts when he goes free Deut. 15:14
murderer Num. 35:31
510. Not to send him away empty-handed Deut. 15:13
484. The court must send the accidental murderer to a
511. Redeem Jewish maidservants Ex. 21:8
city of refuge Num. 35:25
485. Not to accept monetary restitution instead of being 512.
sent to a city of refuge Num. 35:32
513.
486. Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial
Num. 35:12
514.
487. Save someone being pursued even by taking the life
of the pursuer Deut. 25:12
515.
488. Not to pity the pursuer Num. 35:12

Betroth the Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8

The master must not sell his maidservant Ex.
21:8
Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in
one of their limbs Lev. 25:46
Not to extradite a slave who ed to (Biblical) Israel
Deut. 23:16

489. Not to stand idly by if someones life is in danger 516. Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for
refuge Deut. 23:16
Lev. 19:16
490. Designate cities of refuge and prepare routes of ac- 517. The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker
and hired guard Ex. 22:9
cess Deut. 19:3
491. Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following 518. Pay wages on the day they were earned Deut.
an unsolved murder Deut. 21:4
24:15

14

MAIMONIDES LIST

519. Not to delay payment of wages past the agreed time 543. The court must not execute through a majority of
Lev. 19:13
one; at least a majority of two is required Ex.
23:2
520. The hired worker may eat from the unharvested
544. A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not
crops where he works Deut. 23:25
present an argument for conviction in capital cases
521. The worker must not eat while on hired time
Deut. 23:2
Deut. 23:26
545. The courts must carry out the death penalty of ston522. The worker must not take more than he can eat
ing Deut. 22:24
Deut. 23:25
546. The courts must carry out the death penalty of burn523. Not to muzzle an ox while plowing Deut. 25:4
ing Lev. 20:14
524. The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower 547. The courts must carry out the death penalty of the
Ex. 22:13
sword Ex. 21:20
525. The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid 548. The courts must carry out the death penalty of strangulation Lev. 20:10
guard Ex. 22:6
526. Lend to the poor and destitute Ex. 22:24

549. The courts must hang those stoned for blasphemy or

idolatry Deut. 21:22

527. Not to press them for payment if you know they

550. Bury the executed on the day they are killed Deut.
don't have it Ex. 22:24
21:23
528. Press the idolater for payment Deut. 15:3
551. Not to delay burial overnight Deut. 21:23
529. The creditor must not forcibly take collateral
552. The court must not let the sorcerer live Ex. 22:17
Deut. 24:10
530. Return the collateral to the debtor when needed 553. The court must give lashes to the wrongdoer
Deut. 25:2
Deut. 24:13
531. Not to delay its return when needed Deut. 24:12 554. The court must not exceed the prescribed number of
lashes Deut. 25:3
532. Not to demand collateral from a widow Deut.
555. The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial
24:17
evidence Ex. 23:7
533. Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for
556. The court must not punish anybody who was forced
preparing food Deut. 24:6
to do a crime Deut. 22:26
534. Not to lend with interest Lev. 25:37
535. Not to borrow with interest Deut. 23:20

557. A judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at

the trial Deut. 19:13

536. Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, 558. A judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the
trial Lev. 19:15
witness, or write the promissory note Ex. 22:24
537. Lend to and borrow from idolaters with interest
Deut. 23:21
538. The courts must carry out the laws of the plainti,
admitter, or denier Ex. 22:8

559. A judge must not respect the great man at the trial
Lev. 19:15
560. A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor Ex. 23:6

561. A judge must not pervert justice Lev. 19:15

539. Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance
Num. 27:8
562. A judge must not pervert a case involving a convert
or orphan Deut. 24:17
540. Appoint judges Deut. 16:18
563. Judge righteously Lev. 19:15
541. Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure Deut. 1:17
564. The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment
Deut. 1:17
542. Decide by majority in case of disagreement Ex.
23:2
565. Judges must not accept bribes Ex. 23:8

15
566. Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties 591.
are present Ex. 23:1
592.
567. Not to curse judges Ex. 22:27
593.
568. Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin Ex. 22:27
569. Not to curse any upstanding Jew Lev. 19:14

Appoint a king from Israel Deut. 17:15

Not to appoint a foreigner Deut. 17:15
The king must not have too many wives Deut.
17:17

594. The king must not have too many horses Deut.
17:16

570. Anybody who knows evidence must testify in court

595. The king must not have too much silver and gold
Lev. 5:1
Deut. 17:17
571. Carefully interrogate the witness Deut. 13:15
596. Destroy the seven Canaanite nations Deut. 20:17
572. A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes
Deut. 19:17
597. Not to let any of them remain alive Deut. 20:16
573. Not to accept testimony from a lone witness Deut. 598. Wipe out the descendants of Amalek Deut.
19:15
25:19
574. Transgressors must not testify Ex. 23:1
575. Relatives of the litigants must not testify Deut.
24:16
576. Not to testify falsely Standard->Ex.
Yemenite->Ex. 20:13

20:14

599. Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people

Deut. 25:17
600. Not to forget Amaleks atrocities and ambush on our
journey from Egypt in the desert Deut. 25:19

601. Not to dwell permanently in Egypt Deut. 17:16

577. Punish the false witnesses as they tried to punish the
defendant Deut. 19:19
602. Oer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while
holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah
578. Act according to the ruling of the Sanhedrin
if they accept the terms Deut. 20:10
Deut. 17:11
579. Not to deviate from the word of the Sanhedrin 603. Not to oer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them Deut. 23:7
Deut. 17:11
580. Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral 604. Not to destroy food trees even during the siege
Deut. 20:19
explanations Deut. 13:1
581. Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, 605. Prepare latrines outside the camps Deut. 23:13
in whole or in part Deut. 13:1
606. Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with Deut.
582. Not to curse your father and mother Ex. 21:17
23:14
583. Not to strike your father and mother Ex. 21:15
584.
585.
586.
587.
588.

607. Appoint a priest to speak with the soldiers during the

war Deut. 20:2
Respect your father or mother Standard->Ex.
20:13 Yemenite->Ex. 20:12
608. He who has taken a wife, built a new home, or
Fear your mother or father Lev. 19:3
planted a vineyard is given a year to rejoice with his
possessions Deut. 24:5
Not to be a rebellious son Deut. 21:18
609. Not to demand from the above any involvement,
Mourn for relatives Lev. 10:19
communal or military Deut. 24:5
The High Priest must not dele himself for any rel610. Not to panic and retreat during battle Deut. 20:3
ative Lev. 21:11

589. The High Priest must not enter under the same roof 611.
as a corpse Lev. 21:11
612.
590. A Kohen must not dele himself (by going to funerals or cemeteries) for anyone except relatives 613.
Lev. 21:1

Keep the laws of the captive woman Deut. 21:11

Not to sell her into slavery Deut. 21:14
Not to retain her for servitude after having sexual
relations with her Deut. 21:14

16

See also
Frum
Halakha
Laws and customs of the Land of Israel in Judaism
Mitzvah goreret mitzvah

EXTERNAL LINKS

8 External links
Taryag: Origin of 613 Commandments (Ohr Somayach)
List of the 613 Mitzvot (Judaism 101)
The 613 Mitzvot, According to Sefer Hamitzvot of
Rambam (Jewish Virtual Library)
The Above Listing of 613 Mitzvot Organized by
Parsha

References

[1] Israel Drazi (2009).

Maimonides and the Biblical
Prophets. Gefen Publishing House Ltd. p. 209.
[2] As stated by the Jewish Virtual Library: There is also
complete agreement that these 613 mitzvot can be broken
down into 248 positive mitzvot (one for each bone and organ of the male body) and 365 negative mitzvot (one for
each day of the solar year).
[3] Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 74a
[4] Mitzvot. NSW Board of Jewish Education. New South
Wales Board of Jewish Education. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
[5] Chofetz Chaim (1990). Sefer HaMitzvot HaKatzar (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Feldheim. pp. 9, 16, 17.
[6] HaCohen, Yisrael Meir. The Concise Book of Mitzvoth:
The Commandments which can be Observed Today,
Trans., Charles Wengrov. Feldheim, 1990.
[7] Talmud Kiddushin 29a
[8] Makkoth 24a
[9] Rashis commentary on Numbers 15:39 (from Numbers
Rabbah 18)
[10] Footnote to Deut. 23:19, Tanakh The Holy Scriptures,
The Jewish Publication Society, 1985, ISBN 978-0-82760252-6
[11] Footnote to Deut. 23:19, The Catholic Study Bible, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2011

Bibliography
Eisenberg, Ronald L. The 613 Mitzvot: A Contemporary Guide to the Commandments of Judaism
Schreiber Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-88400-303-5
Moses Maimonides, translation by Charles Ber
Chavel and Moses ibn Tibbon. The book of divine commandments (the Sefer Ha-mitzvoth of Moses
Maimonides) London: Soncino Press, 1940.

17

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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