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Other views
The Talmudic source is not without dissent.
Apart from Rabbi Simlai, to whom the number
613 is attributed, other classical sages who
hold this view include Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai
(Sifre, Deuteronomy 76) and Rabbi Eleazar ben
Yose the Galilean (Midrash Aggadah to Genesis
15:1). It is quoted in Midrash Exodus Rabbah
33:7, Numbers Rabbah 13:15–16; 18:21 and
Talmud Yevamot 47b.
However, some held that this count was not an
authentic tradition, or that it was not
logically possible to come up with a
systematic count. This is possibly why no
early work of Jewish law or Biblical
commentary depended on this system, and no
early systems of Jewish principles of faith
made acceptance of this Aggadah (non-legal
Talmudic statement) normative. The classical
Biblical commentator and grammarian Rabbi
Abraham ibn Ezra denied that this was an
authentic rabbinic tradition. Ibn Ezra writes
"Some sages enumerate 613 mitzvot in many
diverse ways [...] but in truth there is no
end to the number of mitzvot [...] and if we
were to count only the root principles [...]
the number of mitzvot would not reach 613" (Yesod
Mora, Chapter 2).
Nahmanides held that this counting was the
matter of a dispute, and that rabbinic opinion
on this is not unanimous. Despite this, he
states that "this total has proliferated
throughout the aggadic literature... we ought
to say that it was a tradition from Moses at
Mount Sinai" (Nahmanides, Commentary to
Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot'', Root Principle
1).
Rabbi Simeon ben Tzemah Duran states that
"perhaps the agreement that the number of
mitzvot is 613... is just Rabbi Simlai's
opinion, following his own explication of the
mitzvot. And we need not rely on his
explication when we come to determine the law,
but rather on the talmudic discussions" (Zohar
Harakia, Lviv, 1858, p.99).
Rabbis who attempted to compile a list of the
613 commandments faced a number of
difficulties, being:
Which statements were to be counted as
commandments? Every command by God to any
individual? Only commandments 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? Or, would such an order only count
as a commandment if it could - at least in
theory - be followed at all times? (The latter
is the view of Maimonides.)
How does one count commandments in a single
verse which offers multiple prohibitions?
Should each prohibition count as a single
commandment, or does the entire set count as
one commandment?
In Torah Min Hashamayim ("Heavenly Torah"),
Conservative Judaism's Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel writes:
Judah ibn Bal'am denigrates those who number
the mitzvot, and who attempt "to force their
count to equal 613." In his opinion, this is
impossible, for if we were to count all of the
mitzvot, including those that were temporary
commandments and those that were intended to
endure, the number would be far greater than
613. "And if we confined ourselves only to
those that endure, we would find fewer than
this number." (Behinat Hamitzvot Rabbi Yehiel
Mikhel Gutmann, Breslau, 1928, p.26)
Despite these misgivings, the idea that there
are 613 commandments became accepted as
normative in the Jewish community. Today, even
among those who do not literally accept this
count as accurate, it is still a common
practice to refer to the total system of
commandments within the Torah as the "613
commandments".
Works enumerating the commandments
In practice there is no one definitive list
that explicates the 613 laws. The differences
come about because in some places the Torah
lists related laws together, so it is
difficult to know whether one is dealing with
a single law, which lists several cases, or
several separate laws; Other "commandments" in
the Torah are restricted as one-time acts, and
would not be considered as "mitzvot". In
rabbinic literature there are a number of
works, mainly by the Rishonim, that were
composed to determine which commandments
belong in this enumeration:
-
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ("Book of Commandments") by
Rabbi Saadia Gaon (really just a list, later
expanded by R' Yerucham Fishel Perlow)
-
Sefer Hamitzvot ("Book of Commandments") by
Maimonides, with a critical commentary of
Nachmanides - see below;
-
Sefer ha-Chinnuch ("Book of Education"),
attributed to Rabbi Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona
(the Ra'ah);
-
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Gadol ("Large book of
Commandments") by Rabbi Moses ben Jacob of
Coucy;
-
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Katan ("Small book of
Commandments") by Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil;
-
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") - this work only deals
with the commandments that are valid in the
present time.
Maimonides' work
The most important of the above works is Sefer
ha-Mitzvoth by Maimonides (Rambam). Maimonides
went to great lengths to enumerate exactly
which of the written Torah's (Pentateuch)
commandments can be considered fixed
forevermore, in contradistinction to many
"commands" that God makes in the Torah at
various points but are restricted as one-time
acts. He employs a set of fourteen rules (shorashim)
which determine inclusion into the list. In
this work, Maimonides supports his
specification of each Mitzvah through
quotations from the Midrash halakha and the
Gemara. Nachmanides makes a number of critical
points and replaces some items of the list
with others.
The 613
commandments and their source in scripture, as
enumerated by Maimonides:
- To know
there is a God Ex. 20:2
- Not to
entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him
Ex. 20:3
- To know
that He is one Deut. 6:4
- To love
Him Deut. 6:5
- To fear
Him Deut. 10:20
- To
sanctify His Name Lev. 22:32
- Not to
profane His Name Lev. 22:32
- Not to
destroy objects associated with His Name
Deut. 12:4
- To listen
to the prophet speaking in His Name Deut.
18:15
- Not to
test the prophet unduly Deut. 6:16
- To emulate
His ways Deut. 28:9
- To cleave
to those who know Him Deut. 10:20
- To love
other Jews Lev. 19:18
- To love
converts Deut. 10:19
- Not to
hate fellow Jews Lev. 19:17
- To reprove
a sinner Lev. 19:17
- Not to
embarrass others Lev. 19:17
- Not to
oppress the weak Ex. 21:22
- Not to
speak derogatorily of others Lev. 19:16
- Not to
take revenge Lev. 19:18
- Not to
bear a grudge Lev. 19:18
- To learn
Torah Deut. 6:7
- To honor
those who teach and know Torah Lev. 19:32
- Not to
inquire into idolatry Lev. 19:4
- Not to
follow the whims of your heart or what your
eyes see Num. 15:39
- Not to
blaspheme Ex. 22:27
- Not to
worship idols in the manner they are
worshiped Ex. 20:5
- Not to
worship idols in the four ways we worship
God Ex. 20:5
- Not to
make an idol for yourself Ex. 20:4
- Not to
make an idol for others Lev. 19:4
- Not to
make human forms even for decorative
purposes Ex. 20:20
- Not to
turn a city to idolatry Ex. 23:13
- To burn a
city that has turned to idol worship Deut.
13:17
- Not to
rebuild it as a city Deut. 13:17
- Not to
derive benefit from it Deut. 13:18
- Not to
missionize an individual to idol worship
Deut. 13:12
- Not to
love the missionary Deut. 13:9
- Not to
cease hating the missionary Deut. 13:9
- Not to
save the missionary Deut. 13:9
- Not to say anything in his defense Deut.
13:9
- Not to refrain from incriminating him Deut.
13:9
- Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry
Deut. 13:14
- Not to listen to a false prophet Deut. 13:4
- Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God
Deut. 18:20
- Not to be afraid of killing the false
prophet Deut. 18:22
- Not to swear in the name of an idol Ex.
23:13
- Not to perform to (medium) Lev. 19:31
- Not to perform yidoni (magical seer) Lev.
19:31
- Not to pass your children through the fire
to Molech Lev. 18:21
- Not to erect a column in a public place of
worship Deut. 16:22
- Not to bow down on smooth stone Lev. 26:1
- Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard
Deut. 16:21
- To destroy idols and their accessories Deut.
12:2
- Not to derive benefit from idols and their
accessories Deut. 7:26
- Not to derive benefit from ornaments of
idols Deut. 7:25
- Not to make a covenant with idolaters Deut.
7:2
- Not to show favor to them Deut. 7:2
- Not to let them dwell in our land Ex. 23:33
- Not to imitate them in customs and clothing
Lev. 20:23
- Not to be superstitious Lev. 19:26
- Not to go into a trance to foresee events,
etc. Deut. 18:10
- Not to engage in astrology Lev. 19:26
- Not to mutter incantations Deut. 18:11
- Not to attempt to contact the dead Deut.
18:11
- Not to consult the ov Deut. 18:11
- Not to consult the yidoni Deut. 18:11
- Not to perform acts of magic Deut. 18:10
- Men must not shave the hair off the sides of
their head Lev. 19:27
- Men must not shave their beards with a razor
Lev. 19:27
- Men must not wear women's clothing Deut.
22:5
- Women must not wear men's clothing Deut.
22:5
- Not to tattoo the skin Lev. 19:28
- Not to tear the skin in mourning Deut. 14:1
- Not to make a bald spot in mourning Deut.
14:1
- To repent and confess wrongdoings Num. 5:7
- To say the Shema twice daily Deut. 6:7
- To serve the Almighty with prayer daily Ex.
23:25
- The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation
daily Num. 6:23
- To wear tefillin on the head Deut. 6:8
- To bind tefillin on the arm Deut. 6:8
- To put a mezuzah on each door post Deut. 6:9
- Each male must write a Sefer Torah Deut.
31:19
- The king must have a separate Sefer Torah
for himself Deut. 17:18
- To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments
Num. 15:38
- To bless the Almighty after eating Deut.
8:10
- To circumcise all males on the eighth day
after their birth Lev. 12:3
- To rest on the seventh day Ex. 23:12
- Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh
day Ex. 20:10
- The court must not inflict punishment on
Shabbat Ex. 35:3
- Not to walk outside the city boundary on
Shabbat Ex. 16:29
- To sanctify the day with Kiddush and
Havdalah Ex. 20:8
- To rest from prohibited labor Lev. 23:32
- Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur
Lev. 23:32
- To afflict yourself on Yom Kippur Lev. 16:29
- Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:29
- To rest on the first day of Passover Lev.
23:7
- Not to do prohibited labor on the first day
of Passover Lev. 23:8
- To rest on the seventh day of Passover Lev.
23:8
- Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh
day of Passover Lev. 23:8
- To rest on Shavuot Lev. 23:21
- Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot Lev.
23:21
- To rest on Rosh Hashana Lev. 23:24
- Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashana
Lev. 23:25
- To rest on Sukkot Lev. 23:35
- Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot Lev.
23:35
- To rest on Shmini Atzeret Lev. 23:36
- Not to do prohibited labor on Shmini Atzeret
Lev. 23:36
- Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the
14th day of Nissan Deut. 16:3
- To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nissan
Ex. 12:15
- Not to eat chametz all seven days of
Passover Ex. 13:3
- Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all
seven days of Passover Ex. 12:20
- Not to see chametz in your domain seven days
Ex. 13:7
- Not to find chametz in your domain seven
days Ex. 12:19
- To eat matzah on the first night of Passover
Ex. 12:18
- To relate the Exodus from Egypt on that
night Ex. 13:8
- To hear the Shofar on the first day of
Tishrei (Rosh Hashana) Num. 9:1
- To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of
Sukkot Lev. 23:42
- To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days
Lev. 23:40
- Each man must give a half shekel annually
Ex. 30:13
- Courts must calculate to determine when a
new month begins Ex. 12:2
- To afflict and cry out before God in times
of catastrophe Num. 10:9
- To marry a wife by means of ketubah and
kiddushin Deut. 22:13
- Not to have relations with women not thus
married Deut. 23:18
- Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual
relations from your wife Ex. 21:10
- To have children with one's wife Gen 1:28
- To issue a divorce by means of a Get
document Deut. 24:1
- A man must not remarry his wife after she
has married someone else
Deut. 24:4
- To do yibum (marry childless brother's
widow) Deut. 25:5
- To do chalitzah (freeing a widow from yibum)
Deut. 25:9
- The widow must not remarry until the ties
with her brother-in-law are removed Deut.
25:5
- The court must fine one who seduces a maiden
Ex. 22:15-16
- The rapist must marry the maiden (if she
chooses) Deut. 22:29
- He is not 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 fulfill the laws of the Sotah Num. 5:30
- Not to put oil on her meal offering Num.
5:15
- Not to put frankincense on her Meal Offering
Num. 5:15
- Not to have sexual relations with your
mother Lev. 18:7
- Not to have sexual relations with your
father's wife Lev. 18:8
- Not to have sexual relations with your
sister Lev. 18:9
- Not to have sexual relations with your
father's wife's daughter Lev. 18:11
- Not to have sexual relations with your son's
daughter Lev. 18:10
- Not to have sexual relations with your
daughter Lev. 18:10
- Not to have sexual relations with your
daughter's daughter Lev. 18:10
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman
and her daughter Lev. 18:17
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman
and her son's daughter Lev. 18:17
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman
and her daughter's daughter
Lev. 18:17
- Not to have sexual relations with your
father's sister Lev. 18:12
- Not to have sexual relations with your
mother's sister Lev. 18:13
- Not to have sexual relations with your
father's brother's wife Lev. 18:14
- Not to have sexual relations with your son's
wife Lev. 18:15
- Not to have sexual relations with your
brother's wife Lev. 18:16
- Not to have sexual relations with your
wife's sister Lev. 18:18
- A man must not have sexual relations with a
beast Lev. 18:23
- A woman must not have sexual relations with
a beast Lev. 18:23
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations Lev.
18:22
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations with
your father Lev. 18:7
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations with
your father's brother Lev. 18:14
- Not to have sexual relations with a married
woman Lev. 18:20
- Not to have sexual relations with a
menstrually impure woman Lev. 18:19
- Not to marry non-Jews Deut. 7:3
- Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry
into the Jewish people
Deut. 23:4
- Don't keep a third-generation Egyptian
convert from marrying into the Jewish people
Deut. 23:8-9
- Not to refrain from marrying a third
generation Edomite convert Deut. 23:8-9
- Not to let a mamzer ("bastard") marry into
the Jewish people Deut. 23:3
- Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish
people Deut. 23:2
- Not to offer to God any castrated male
(including animals) Lev. 22:24
- The High Priest must not marry a widow Lev.
21:14
- The High Priest must not have sexual
relations with a widow even outside of
marriage Lev. 21:15
- The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden
Lev. 21:13
- A Kohen (Priest) must not marry a divorcee
Lev. 21:7
- A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who
had forbidden relations)
Lev. 21:7
- A priest must not marry a chalalah (party to
or product of 169-172)
Lev. 21:7
- Not to make pleasurable (sexual) contact
with any forbidden woman
Lev. 18:6
- To examine the signs of animals to
distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
Lev. 11:2
- To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish
between kosher and non-kosher Deut. 14:11
- To examine the signs of fish to distinguish
between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:9
- To examine the signs of locusts to
distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
Lev. 11:21
- Not to eat non-kosher animals Lev. 11:4
- Not to eat non-kosher fowl Lev. 11:13
- Not to eat non-kosher fish Lev. 11:11
- Not to eat non-kosher flying insects Deut.
14:19
- Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl
on land Lev. 11:41
- Not to eat non-kosher maggots Lev. 11:44
- Not to eat worms found in fruit on the
ground Lev. 11:42
- Not to eat creatures that live in water
other than fish Lev. 11:43
- Not to eat the meat of an animal that died
without ritual slaughter
Deut. 14:21
- Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be
stoned Ex. 21:28
- Not to eat meat of an animal that was
mortally wounded Ex. 22:30
- Not to eat a limb torn off a living creature
Deut.
- Not to eat blood Lev. 3:17
- Not to eat certain fats of clean animals
Lev. 3:17
- Not to eat the sinew of the thigh Gen. 32:33
- Not to eat meat and milk cooked together Ex.
23:19
- Not to cook meat and milk together Ex. 34:26
- Not to eat bread from new grain before the
Omer Lev. 23:14
- Not to eat parched grains from new grain
before the Omer Lev. 23:14
- Not to eat ripened grains from new grain
before the Omer Lev. 23:14
- Not to eat fruit of a tree during its first
three years Lev. 19:23
- Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a
vineyard Deut. 22:9
- Not to eat untithed fruits Lev. 22:15
- Not to drink wine poured in service to idols
Deut. 32:38
- To ritually slaughter an animal before
eating it Deut. 12:21
- Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring
on the same day Lev. 22:28
- To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast
or fowl) with earth Lev. 17:13
- Not to take the mother bird from her
children Deut. 22:6
- To release the mother bird if she was taken
from the nest Deut. 22:7
- Not to swear falsely in God's Name Lev.
19:12
- Not to take God's Name in vain Ex. 20:7
- Not to deny possession of something
entrusted to you Lev. 19:11
- Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim
Lev. 19:11
- To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth
when deemed necessary by court Deut. 10:20
- To fulfill what was uttered and to do what
was avowed Deut. 23:24
- Not to break oaths or vows Num. 30:3
- For oaths and vows annulled, there are the
laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah
Num. 30:3
- The Nazir must let his hair grow Num. 6:5
- He must not cut his hair Num. 6:5
- He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or
wine vinegar Num. 6:3
- He must not eat fresh grapes Num. 6:3
- He must not eat raisins Num. 6:3
- He must not eat grape seeds Num. 6:4
- He must not eat grape skins Num. 6:4
- He must not be under the same roof as a
corpse Num. 6:6
- He must not come into contact with the dead
Num. 6:7
- He must shave after bringing sacrifices upon
completion of his Nazirite period Num. 6:9
- To estimate the value of people as
determined by the Torah Lev. 27:2
- To estimate the value of consecrated animals
Lev. 27:12-13
- To estimate the value of consecrated houses
Lev. 27:14
- To estimate the value of consecrated fields
Lev. 27:16
- Carry out the laws of interdicting
possessions (cherem) Lev. 27:28
- Not to sell the cherem Lev. 27:28
- Not to redeem the cherem Lev. 27:28
- Not to plant diverse seeds together Lev.
19:19
- Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard
Deut. 22:9
- Not to crossbreed animals Lev. 19:19
- Not to work different animals together Deut.
22:10
- Not to wear shatnez, a cloth woven of wool
and linen Deut. 22:11
- To leave a corner of the field uncut for the
poor Lev. 19:10
- Not to reap that corner Lev. 19:9
- To leave gleanings Lev. 19:9
- Not to gather the gleanings Lev. 19:9
- To leave the gleanings of a vineyard Lev.
19:10
- Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard
Lev. 19:10
- To leave the unformed clusters of grapes
Lev. 19:10
- Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes
Lev. 19:10
- To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field
Deut. 24:19
- Not to retrieve them Deut. 24:19
- To separate the tithe for the poor Deut.
14:28
- To give charity Deut. 15:8
- Not to withhold charity from the poor Deut.
15:7
- To set aside Terumah Gedolah ( tithe for the
Kohen) Deut. 18:4
- The Levite must set aside a tenth of his
tithe Num. 18:26
- Not to preface one tithe to the next, but
separate them in their proper order Ex.
22:28
- A non-Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:10
- A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a
Kohen must not eat Terumah
Lev. 22:10
- An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Terumah
Ex. 12:48
- An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev.
22:4
- A chalalah must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:12
- To set aside Ma'aser (tithe) each planting
year and give it to a Levite Num. 18:24
- To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser
Sheni) Deut. 14:22
- Not to spend its redemption money on
anything but food, drink, or ointment Deut.
26:14
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure Deut.
26:14
- A mourner on the first day after death must
not eat Ma'aser Sheni Deut. 26:14
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside
Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products
outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside
Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
- The fourth year crops must be totally for
holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni Lev. 19:24
- To read the confession of tithes every
fourth and seventh year Deut. 26:13
- To set aside the first fruits and bring them
to the Temple Ex. 23:19
- The Kohanim must not eat the first fruits
outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
- To read the Torah portion pertaining to
their presentation Deut. 26:5
- To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen
Num. 15:20
- To give the shoulder, two cheeks, and
stomach of slaughtered animals to a Kohen
Deut. 18:3
- To give the first sheering of sheep to a
Kohen Deut. 18:4
- To redeem the firstborn sons and give the
money to a Kohen Num. 18:15
- To redeem the firstborn donkey by giving a
lamb to a Kohen Ex. 13:13
- To break the neck of the donkey if the owner
does not intend to redeem it Ex. 13:13
- To rest the land during the seventh year by
not doing any work which enhances growth Ex.
34:21
- Not to work the land during the seventh year
Lev. 25:4
- Not to work with trees to produce fruit
during that year Lev. 25:4
- Not to reap crops that grow wild that year
in the normal manner Lev. 25:5
- Not to gather grapes which grow wild that
year in the normal way Lev. 25:5
- To leave free all produce which grew in that
year Ex. 23:11
- To release all loans during the seventh year
Deut. 15:2
- Not to pressure or claim from the borrower
Deut. 15:2
- Not to refrain from lending immediately
before the release of the loans for fear of
monetary loss Deut. 15:9
- The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of
seven years Lev. 25:8
- The Sanhedrin must sanctify the fiftieth
year Lev. 25:10
- To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei
to free the slaves Lev. 25:9
- Not to work the soil during the fiftieth
year ( Jubilee )Lev. 25:11
- Not to reap in the normal manner that which
grows wild in the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11
- Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the
normal manner in the fiftieth year Lev.
25:11
- Carry out the laws of sold family properties
Lev. 25:24
- Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely
Lev. 25:23
- Carry out the laws of houses in walled
cities Lev. 25:29
- The Tribe of Levi must not be given a
portion of the land in Israel, rather they
are given cities to dwell in Deut. 18:1
- The Levites must not take a share in the
spoils of war Deut. 18:1
- To give the Levites cities to inhabit and
their surrounding fields Num. 35:2
- Not to sell the fields but they shall remain
the Levites' before and after the Jubilee
year Lev. 25:34
- To build a Sanctuary Ex. 25:8
- Not to build the altar with stones hewn by
metal Ex. 20:23
- Not to climb steps to the altar Ex. 20:26
- To show reverence to the Temple Lev. 19:30
- To guard the Temple area Num. 18:2
- Not to leave the Temple unguarded Num. 18:5
- To prepare the anointing oil Ex. 30:31
- Not to reproduce the anointing oil Ex. 30:32
- Not to anoint with anointing oil Ex. 30:32
- Not to reproduce the incense formula Ex.
30:37
- Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar
besides incense Ex. 30:9
- The Levites must transport the ark on their
shoulders Num. 7:9
- Not to remove the staves from the ark Ex.
25:15
- The Levites must work in the Temple Num.
18:23
- No Levite must do another's work of either a
Kohen or a Levite Num. 18:3
- To dedicate the Kohen for service Lev. 21:8
- The kohanic work shifts must be equal during
holidays Deut. 18:6-8
- The Kohanim must wear their priestly
garments during service Ex. 28:2
- Not to tear the priestly garments Ex. 28:32
- The 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 long
hair Lev. 10:6
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn
clothes Lev. 10:6
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple
indiscriminately Lev. 16:2
- A Kohen must not leave the Temple during
service Lev. 10:7
- To send the impure from the Temple Num. 5:2
- Impure people must not enter the Temple Num.
5:3
- Impure people must not enter the Temple
Mount area Deut. 23:11
- Impure Kohanim must not do service in the
temple Lev. 22:2
- An impure Kohen, following immersion, must
wait until after sundown before returning to
service Lev. 22:7
- A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before
service Ex. 30:19
- A Kohen with a physical blemish must not
enter the sanctuary or approach the altar
Lev. 21:23
- A Kohen with a physical blemish must not
serve Lev. 21:17
- A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not
serve Lev. 21:17
- One who is not a Kohen must not serve Num.
18:4
- To offer only unblemished animals Lev. 22:21
- Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the
altar Lev. 22:20
- Not to slaughter it Lev. 22:22
- Not to sprinkle its blood Lev. 22:24
- Not to burn its fat Lev. 22:22
- Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal
Deut. 17:1
- Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if
offered by non-Jews Lev. 22:25
- Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals
Lev. 22:21
- To redeem dedicated animals which have
become disqualified Deut. 12:15
- To offer only animals which are at least
eight days old Lev. 22:27
- Not to offer animals bought with the wages
of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a
dog Deut. 23:19
- Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar Lev.
2:11
- To salt all sacrifices Lev. 2:13
- Not to omit the salt from sacrifices Lev.
2:13
- Carry out the procedure of the burnt
offering as prescribed in the Torah
Lev. 1:3
- Not to eat its meat Deut. 12:17
- Carry out the procedure of the sin offering
Lev. 6:18
- Not to eat the meat of the inner sin
offering Lev. 6:23
- Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin
offering Lev. 5:8
- Carry out the procedure of the guilt
offering Lev. 7:1
- The Kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in
the Temple Ex. 29:33
- The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside
the Temple courtyard Deut. 12:17
- A non-Kohen must not eat sacrificial meat
Ex. 29:33
- To follow the procedure of the peace
offering Lev. 7:11
- Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices
before sprinkling the blood Deut. 12:17
- To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the
Torah Lev. 2:1
- Not to put oil on the meal offerings of
wrongdoers Lev. 5:11
- Not to put frankincense on the meal
offerings of wrongdoers Lev. 3:11
- Not to eat the meal offering of the High
Priest Lev. 6:16
- Not to bake a meal offering as leavened
bread Lev. 6:10
- The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal
offerings Lev. 6:9
- To bring all avowed and freewill offerings
to the Temple on the first subsequent
festival Deut. 12:5-6
- Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow
Deut. 23:22
- To offer all sacrifices in the Temple Deut.
12:11
- To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel
to the Temple Deut. 12:26
- Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the
courtyard Lev. 17:4
- Not to offer any sacrifices outside the
courtyard Deut. 12:13
- To offer two lambs every day Num. 28:3
- To light a fire on the altar every day Lev.
6:6
- Not to extinguish this fire 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
- The Kohen Gadol must bring a meal offering
every day Lev. 6:13
- To bring two additional lambs as burnt
offerings on Shabbat Num 28:9
- To make the show bread Ex. 25:30
- To bring additional offerings on the New
Month ("Rosh Chodesh") Num. 28:11
- To bring additional offerings on Passover
Num. 28:19
- To offer the wave offering from the meal of
the new wheat Lev. 23:10
- Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks
from the day the new wheat offering was
brought Lev. 23:15
- To bring additional offerings on Shavuot
Num. 28:26
- To bring two leaves to accompany the above
sacrifice Lev. 23:17
- To bring additional offerings on Rosh
Hashana Num. 29:2
- To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur
Num. 29:8
- To bring additional offerings on Sukkot Num.
29:13
- To bring additional offerings on Shmini
Atzeret Num. 29:35
- Not to eat sacrifices which have become
unfit or blemished Deut. 14.3
- Not to eat from sacrifices offered with
improper intentions Lev. 7:18
- Not to leave sacrifices past the time
allowed for eating them Lev. 22:30
- Not to eat from that which was left over
Lev. 19:8
- Not to eat from sacrifices which became
impure Lev. 7:19
- An impure person must not eat from
sacrifices Lev. 7:20
- To burn the leftover sacrifices Lev. 7:17
- To burn all impure sacrifices Lev. 7:19
- To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the
sequence prescribed in Parshat "Acharei Mot"
(After the death of Aaron's sons...) Lev.
16:3
- One who profaned property must repay what he
profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice
Lev. 5:16
- Not to work consecrated animals Deut. 15:19
- Not to shear the fleece of consecrated
animals Deut. 15:19
- To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the
specified time Ex. 12:6
- Not to slaughter it while in possession of
leaven Ex. 23:18
- 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 first of Nissan
Ex. 12:8
- To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night
of the 15th of Iyar Num. 9:11
- Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled
Ex. 12:9
- Not to take the paschal meat from the
confines of the group Ex. 12:46
- An apostate must not eat from it Ex. 12:43
- A permanent or temporary hired worker must
not eat from it Ex. 12:45
- An uncircumcised male must not eat from it
Ex. 12:48
- Not to break any bones from the paschal
offering Ex. 12:46
- Not to break any bones from the second
paschal offering Num. 9:12
- Not to leave any meat from the paschal
offering over until morning Ex. 12:10
- Not to leave the second paschal meat over
until morning Num. 9:12
- Not to leave the meat of the holiday
offering of the 14th until the 16th Deut.
16:4
- To be seen at the Temple on Passover,
Shavuot, and Sukkot Deut. 16:16
- To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring
a peace offering) Ex. 23:14
- To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a
peace offering) Deut. 16:14
- Not to appear at the Temple without
offerings Deut. 16:16
- Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and
giving gifts to, the Levites Deut. 12:19
- To assemble all the people on the Sukkot
following the seventh year Deut. 31:12
- To set aside the firstborn animals Ex. 13:12
- The Kohanim must not eat unblemished
firstborn animals outside Jerusalem Deut.
12:17
- Not to redeem the firstborn Num. 18:17
- Separate the tithe from animals Lev. 27:32
- Not to redeem the tithe Lev. 27:33
- Every person must bring a sin offering for
his transgression Lev. 4:27
- Bring an asham talui when uncertain of guilt
Lev. 5:17-18
- Bring an asham vadai when guilt is
ascertained Lev. 5:25
- Bring an oleh v'yored offering (if the
person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a
bird or meal offering) Lev. 5:7-11
- The Sanhedrin must bring an offering when it
rules in error Lev. 4:13
- A woman who had a running issue must bring
an offering after she goes to the Mikveh
Lev. 15:28-29
- A woman who gave birth must bring an
offering after she goes to the Mikveh Lev.
12:6
- A man who had a running issue must bring an
offering after he goes to the Mikveh Lev.
15:13-14
- A metzora must bring an offering after going
to the Mikveh Lev. 14:10
- Not to substitute another beast for one set
apart for sacrifice Lev. 27:10
- The new animal, in addition to the
substituted one, retains consecration Lev.
27:10
- Not to change consecrated animals from one
type of offering to another Lev. 27:26
- Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead
Num. 19:14
- Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer
("Para Aduma") Num. 19:2
- Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water
Num. 19:21
- Rule the laws of human tzara'at as
prescribed in the Torah Lev. 13:12
- The metzora must not remove his signs of
impurity Deut. 24:8
- The metzora must not shave signs of impurity
in his hair Lev. 13:33
- The metzora must publicize his condition by
tearing his garments, allowing his hair to
grow and covering his lips Lev. 13:45
- Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying
the metzora Lev. 14:2
- The metzora must shave off all his hair
prior to purification Lev. 14:9
- Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing
Lev. 13:47
- Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses
Lev. 13:34
- Observe the laws of menstrual impurity Lev.
15:19
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by
childbirth Lev. 12:2
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a
woman's running issue Lev. 15:25
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a
man's running issue (irregular ejaculation
of infected semen) Lev. 15:3
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a
dead beast Lev. 11:39
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by the
eight shratzim - Insects Lev. 11:29
- Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal
emission (regular ejaculation, with normal
semen) Lev. 15:16
- Observe the laws of impurity concerning
liquid and solid foods Lev. 11:34
- Every impure person must immerse himself in
a Mikveh to become pure Lev. 15:16
- The court must judge the damages incurred by
a goring ox Ex. 21:28
- The court must judge the damages incurred by
an animal eating Ex. 22:4
- The court must judge the damages incurred by
a pit Ex. 21:33
- The court must judge the damages incurred by
fire Ex. 22:5
- Not to steal money stealthily Lev. 19:11
- The court must implement punitive measures
against the thief Ex. 21:37
- Each individual must ensure that his scales
and weights are accurate Lev. 19:36
- Not to commit injustice with scales and
weights Lev. 19:35
- Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights
even if they are not for use Deut. 25:13
- Not to move a boundary marker to steal
someone's property Deut. 19:14
- Not to kidnap Ex. 20:13
- Not to rob openly Lev. 19:13
- Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a
debt Lev. 19:13
- Not to covet and scheme to acquire another's
possession Ex. 20:14
- Not to desire another's possession Deut.
5:18
- Return the robbed object or its value Lev.
5:23
- Not to ignore a lost object Deut. 22:3
- Return the lost object Deut. 22:1
- The court must implement laws against the
one who assaults another or damages
another's property Ex. 21:18
- Not to murder Ex. 20:13
- Not to accept monetary restitution to atone
for the murderer Num. 35:31
- The court must send the accidental murderer
to a city of refuge Num. 35:25
- Not to accept monetary restitution instead
of being sent to a city of refuge Num. 35:32
- Not to kill the murderer before he stands
trial Num. 35:12
- Save someone being pursued even by taking
the life of the pursuer Deut. 25:112
- Not to pity the pursuer Num. 35:12
- Not to stand idly by if someone's life is in
danger Lev. 19:16
- Designate cities of refuge and prepare
routes of access Deut. 19:3
- Break the neck of a calf by the river valley
following an unsolved murder Deut. 21:4
- 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 flat roofs Deut.
22:8
- Not to put a stumbling block before a blind
man (nor give harmful advice) (Lifnei iver)
Lev. 19:14
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