Commandments, The 613

6/13/2021 Commandments, The 613
The 613 Commandments

COMMANDMENTS, THE 613 (Heb. ‫ַּת ְר ַי״ג ִמ ְצ וֹות‬, taryag mitzvot). The total number of biblical
commandments (precepts and prohibitions) is given in rabbinic tradition as 613. R. Simlai,
a Palestinian teacher, states: "613 commandments were revealed to Moses at Sinai, 365
being prohibitions equal in number to the solar days, and 248 being mandates
corresponding in number to the limbs of the human body" (Mak. 23b). (See the table "613
Commandments.") The number 613 usually known by the Hebrew mnemonic, ‫( ַּת ְר ַי״ג‬Ta-
RYa-G – ‫ = ת‬400, ‫ = ר‬200, ‫ = י‬10, 3 = ‫)ג‬, is found as early as tannaitic times in the sayings of
Simeon b. Eleazar (Mekh. Yitro, Ba-Ḥodesh, 5, only in ed. by I.H. Weiss (1865), 74 [75a]),
Simeon b. Azzai (Sif. Deut 76 where the 365 prohibitions are mentioned), and Eleazar b.
Yose the Galilean (Mid. Hag. to Gen. 15:1) and is apparently based upon an ancient
tradition (see Tanh. B.,
A list of the commandments as enumerated by Maimonides. The subheadings do not

appear in Sefer ha-Mitzvot but are added here as a guide to the general reader.
A list of the commandments as enumerated by Maimonides. The subheadings do not

appear in Sefer ha-Mitzvot but are added here as a guide to the general reader. It
should be noted that the biblical sources are given according to the rabbinic
interpretation, which is sometimes not the obvious meaning of the verse cited.
MANDATORY COMMANDMENTS
God
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/commandments-the-613 1/29
1. Ex.
20:2
2.
3. Deut.
Deut. 6:4
6:5
5. Ex.
4. 23:25;
Deut. The Jew is required to 1believe that God exists and to Deut.
2acknowledge His unity; to 3love, 4fear, and 5serve Him. He is
6:13
11:13
6. also commanded to 6cleave to Him (by associating with and (Deut.

Deut. imitating the wise) and to 7swear only by His name. One must 6:13
10:20
8imitate God and 9sanctify His name. and
7. also
Deut. 13:5)
10:20
8.
9. Deut.
Lev. 28:9
22:32
Torah
10.
Deut.
6:7
11.
Deut.
6:7
12. The Jew must 10recite the Shema each morning and evening and 14.
Deut. 11study the Torah and teach it to others. He should bind tefillin Num.
6:8
on his 12head and 13his arm. He should make 14ẓiẓit for his 15:38
13. 15.
garments and 15fix a mezuzah on the door. The people are to be
Deut. 16assembled every seventh year to hear the Torah read and
Deut.
6:8
6:9
17the king must write a special copy of the Torah for himself.
16. 19.
Deut. 18Every Jew should have a Torah scroll. One should 19praise God Deut.
31:12
after eating. 8:10.
17.
Deut.
17:18
18.
Deut.
31:19
Temple and the Priests
20.
Ex.
25:8
21.
22.
Lev.
Num.
19:30
18:4
The Jews should 20build a Temple and 21respect it. It must be 23.
24. 22guarded at all times and the 23Levites should perform their Num.
Ex.
special duties in it. Before entering the Temple or participating in 18:23
30:19
its service, the priests 24must wash their hands and feet; they 27. Ex.
25.
25:30
Ex. must also 25light the candelabrum daily. The priests are required
28. Ex.
27:21
to 26bless Israel and to 27set the shewbread and frankincense
30:7
26. before the Ark. Twice daily they must 28burn the incense on the 29.
Num.
golden altar. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar 29continually Lev.
6:23
and the ashes should be 30removed daily. Ritually unclean 6:6
30.
persons must be 31kept out of the Temple. Israel 32should honor 32.
Lev.
its priests, who must be 33dressed in special priestly raiment. The Lev.
6:3
21:8
31. priests should 34carry the Ark on their shoulders, and the holy
36.
Num. anointing oil 35must be prepared according to its special Deut.
5:2
formula. The priestly families should officiate in 36rotation. In 18:6–8
33.
honor of certain dead close relatives, the priests should 37make 37.
Ex.
themselves ritually unclean. The high priest may marry 38only a Lev.
28:2
virgin. 21:2–3
34.
38.
Num.
Lev.
7:9
21:13
35.
Ex.
30:31
Sacrifices
39.
Num.
28:3
41. 40.
Num. Lev.
28:9
The 39tamid sacrifice must be offered twice daily and the 40high 6:13
43. priest must also offer a meal-offering twice daily. An additional 42.
Lev. sacrifice (musaf) should be offered 41every Sabbath, 42on the Num.
23:36
first of every month, and 43on each of the seven days of 28:11
44. Passover. On the second day of Passover 44a meal offering of the 45.
Lev. first barley must also be brought. On Shavuot a 45musaf must be Num.
23:10
28:26–
offered and 46two loaves of bread as a wave offering. The
46. 27
Lev. additional sacrifice must also be made on 47Rosh Ha-Shanah and 47.
48on the Day of Atonement when the 49Avodah must also be
23:17
Num.
49. performed. On every day of the festival of 50Sukkot a musaf must 29:1–2
Lev. be brought as well as on the 51eighth day thereof.

48.
16
Every male Jew should make a 52pilgrimage to the Temple three Num.
50. times 29:7–8
Num. 52. Ex.

29:13
23:14
51.
Num.
29:36
Commandments, The 613
53. Ex. a year and 53appear there during the three pilgrim Festivals. 54.
34:23
One should 54rejoice on the Festivals.
Deut.
Deut. 16:14
On the 14th of Nisan one should 55slaughter the paschal lamb

16:16
58.
55. Ex. and 56eat of its roasted flesh on the night of the 15th. Those who Num.
were ritually impure in Nisan should slaughter the paschal lamb
12:6
9:11;
56. Ex. on 57the 14th of Iyyar and eat it with 58maẓẓah and bitter herbs.
Ex.
12:8
Trumpets should be 59sounded when the festive sacrifices are 12:8
57. brought and also in times of tribulation.

61.
Num. Cattle to be sacrificed must be 60at least eight days old and Lev.
9:11
61without blemish. All offerings must be 62salted. It is a mitzvah 22:21
59. to perform the ritual of 63the burnt offering, 64the sin offering, 63.
Num. 65the guilt offering, 66the peace offering, and 67the meal Lev.
10:10; 1:2
offering.
Num.
65.
10:9.
Should the Sanhedrin err in a decision, its members 68must Lev.
60. bring a sin offering which offering must also be brought 69by a 7:1
Lev. person who has unwittingly transgressed a karet prohibition 67.

22:27
(i.e., one which, if done deliberately, would incur karet). When in Lev.
62. doubt as to whether one has transgressed such a prohibition, a 2:1;
Lev. 70"suspensive" guilt offering must be brought.
6:7
2:13
72.
For 71stealing or swearing falsely and for other sins of a like
64. Lev.
nature, a guilt offering must be brought. In special
Lev. 5:1–11
6:18
circumstances the sin offering 72can be according to one's 75.
66. means.
Lev.
Lev. One must 73confess one's sins before God and repent for them. 15:28–
3:1
A 74man or 75a woman who has a seminal issue must bring a 29
68. sacrifice; a woman must also bring a sacrifice 76after childbirth. 77.
Lev. A leper must 77bring a sacrifice after he has been cleansed.
Lev.
4:13
One must 78tithe one's cattle. The 79firstborn of clean (i.e., 14:10
69. permitted) cattle are holy and must be sacrificed. The firstborn 79. Ex.
Lev. 13:2
of man must be 80redeemed. The firstborn of the ass must be

4:27
81redeemed; if not, 82its neck has to be broken.
81. Ex.
70. 34:20
Lev. Animals set aside as offerings 83must be brought to Jerusalem 82. Ex.
5:17– without delay and 84may be sacrificed only in the Temple. 13:13
18
Offerings from outside the land of Israel 85may also be brought 88.
71. to the Temple.
Lev.
Lev. Sanctified animals 86which have become blemished must be 6:9
5:15, redeemed. A beast exchanged for an offering 87is also holy.

90.
21–25;
Lev.
The priests should eat 88the remainder of the meal offering and
19:20– 89the flesh of sin and guilt offerings; but consecrated flesh
7:19
21
73. which has become 90ritually unclean or 91which was not eaten
Num. within its appointed time must be burned.
5:6–7
74.
Lev.
15:13–
15
76.
Lev.
12:6
78.
Lev.
27:32
80. Ex.
22:28;
Num.
18:15
83.
Deut.
12:5–5
84.
Deut.
12:14
85.
Deut.
12:26
86.
Deut.
12:15
87.
Lev.
27:33
89. Ex.
29:33
91.
Lev.
7:17
Vows
92.
Num.
6:5
A Nazirite must 92let his hair grow during the period of his
93. separation. When that period is over, he must 93shave his head 95.
Num. and bring his sacrifice.
Num.
6:18
A man must 94honor his vows and his oaths which a judge can 30:3.
94. 95annul only in accordance with the law.
Deut.
23:24
Ritual Purity
96.
97.
Lev.
Lev.
11:8,
11:29–
and
Anyone who touches 96a carcass or 97one of the eight species of 31
24
reptiles becomes ritually unclean; food becomes unclean by 99.

98.
98coming into contact with a ritually unclean object. Menstruous Lev.
Lev.
15:19
11:34
women 99and those 100bedridden after childbirth are ritually 102.
100. impure. A 101leper, 102a leprous garment, and 103a leprous Lev.
Lev. house are all ritually unclean. A man having 13:51
12:2
103.
101.
Lev.
Lev.
14:44
13:3
105.
Lev.
15:16
104a 104.
106. running issue is unclean, as is 105semen. A woman
Lev.
Lev. suffering from 106running issue is also impure. A 107human 15:2
15:19
corpse is ritually unclean. The purification water (mei niddah) 108.
107. purifies 108the unclean, but it makes the clean ritually impure. It Num.
Num.
is a mitzvah to become ritually clean 109by ritual immersion. To 19:13,
19:14
109. become cleansed of leprosy, one 110must follow the specified 21
procedure and also 111shave off all of one's hair. Until cleansed, 111.
Lev.
Lev.
15:16
the leper 112must be bareheaded with clothing in disarray so as
14:9
110. to be easily distinguishable.
112.
Lev. The ashes of 113the red heifer are to be used in the process of
Lev.
14:2
ritual purification. 13:45
113.
Num.
19:2–9
Donations to the Temple
114. If a person 114undertakes to give his own value to the Temple, 115.
Lev. he must do so. Should a man declare 115an unclean beast, 116a Lev.
27:2–8
27:11–
house, or 117a field as a donation to the Temple, he must give
116. 12
their value in money as fixed by the priest. If one unwittingly

Lev. 117.
27:14
derives benefit from Temple property, 118full restitution plus a Lev.
118. fifth must be made.
27:16,
Lev. The fruit of 119the fourth year's growth of trees is holy and may 22–23
5:16
be eaten only in Jerusalem. When you reap your fields, you must 120.
119. leave 120the corners, 121the gleanings, 122the forgotten sheaves, Lev.
Lev. 123the misformed bunches of grapes, and 124the gleanings of 19:9
19:24
the grapes for the poor.
122.
121. The first fruits must be 125separated and brought to the Temple Deut.
Lev. and you must also 126separate the great heave offering 24:19
19:9
123.
(terumah) and give it to the priests. You must give 127one tithe
124. Lev.
Lev. of your produce to the Levites and separate 128a second tithe 19:10
19:10
which is to be eaten only in Jerusalem. The Levites 129must give 126.
125. a tenth of their tithe to the priests.
Deut.
Ex. In the third and sixth years of the seven-year cycle, you should 18:4
130separate a tithe for the poor instead of the second tithe. A

23:19
128.
127. declaration 131must be recited when separating the various Deut.
Lev. 14:22
27:30;
tithes and 132when bringing the first fruits to the Temple.
129.
Num. The first portion of the 133dough must be given to the priest. Num.
18:24
18:26
130. 132.
Deut. Deut.
14:28
26:5
131.
Deut.
26:13
133.
Num.
15:20
The Sabbatical Year
134.
Ex.
23:11
In the seventh year (shemittah) everything that grows is

135. 134ownerless and available to all; the fields 135must lie fallow
Ex.
34:21
and you may not till the ground. You must 136sanctify the Jubilee 137.
136. year (50th) and on the Day of Atonement in that year 137you Lev.
Lev. must sound the shofar and set all Hebrew slaves free. In the 25:9
25:10
Jubilee year all land is to be 138returned to its ancestral owners 138.
139. and, generally, in a walled city 139the seller has the right to buy Lev.
Lev. back a house within a year of its sale.
25:24
25:29– Starting from entry into the land of Israel, the years of the 142.
30
Jubilee must be 140counted and announced yearly and Deut.
140. septennially.
15:3
Lev.
In the seventh year 141all debts are annulled but 142one may
25:8.
exact a debt owed by a foreigner.

141.
Deut.
15:3
Concerning Animals for Consumption
145. When you slaughter an animal, you must 143give the priest his
143.
Lev. share as you must also give him 144the first of the fleece. When
Deut.
27:21, a man makes a ḥerem (a special vow), you must 145distinguish 18:3
28
between that which belongs to the Temple (i.e., when God's 144.
146. name was mentioned in the vow) and between that which goes Deut.
Deut. to the priests. To be fit for consumption, beast and fowl must be 18:4
12:21 146slaughtered according to the
147.
Lev.
17:13.
148. law, and if they are not of a domesticated species, 147their blood 149.
Deut. must be covered with earth after slaughter.
Lev.
22:7
11:2
Set the parent bird 148free when taking the nest. Examine
150. 149beast, 150fowl, 151locusts, and 152fish to determine whether
151.
Deut. Lev.
14:11 they are permitted for consumption. 11:21
152.
Lev.
11:9
Festivals
153.
154.
Ex.
Ex.
12:2
23:12
Deut.
155.
16:1
Ex.
156.
20:8
Ex.
12:15
The Sanhedrin should 153sanctify the first day of every month 158.
and reckon the years and the seasons. You must 154rest on the Ex.
157.
12:18
Ex. Sabbath day and 155declare it holy at its onset and termination.
160.
13:8
On the 14thof Nisan 156remove all leaven from your ownership Ex.
159. and on the night of the 15th 157relate the story of the exodus 12:16
Ex. from Egypt; on that night 158you must also eat maẓẓah. On the 163.
12:16
159first and 160seventh days of Passover you must rest. Starting Lev.
161.
from the day of the first sheaf (16thof Nisan), you shall 161count 23:24
Lev.
49 days. You must rest on 162Shavuot and on 163Rosh Ha- 165.
23:35
Lev.
162. Shanah; on the Day of Atonement you must 164fast and 165rest.
16:29,
Lev. You must also rest on 166the first and 167the eighth day of 31
23
Sukkot during which festival you shall 168dwell in booths and 167.
164. 169take the four species. On Rosh Ha-Shanah 170you are to hear
Lev.
Lev.
the sound of the shofar. 23:36
16:29
168.
166.
Lev.
Lev.
23:42
23:35
170.
169.
Num.
Lev.
29:1
23:40
Community
171. Every male should 171give half a shekel to the Temple annually. 173.
Ex. You must 172obey a prophet and 173appoint a king. You must Deut.
30:12– also 174obey the Sanhedrin; in the case of division, 175yield to 17:15
13
174.
the majority. Judges and officials shall be 176appointed in every
172. Deut.
town and they shall judge the people 177impartially.
Deut. 17:11
18:15
Whoever is aware of evidence 178must come to court to testify. 177.
175. Witnesses shall be 179examined thoroughly and, if found to be Lev.
Ex. false, 180shall have done to them what they intended to do to 19:15
23:2
the accused. When a person is found murdered and the 178.
176. murderer is unknown, the ritual of 181decapitating the heifer Lev.
Deut. must be performed.
5:1
16:18
Six cities of refuge should be 182established. The Levites, who 179.
180. Deut.
have no ancestral share in the land, shall 183be given cities to
Deut. 13:15
19:19
live in. You must 184build a fence around your roof and remove 182.
181. potential hazards from your home. Deut.
Deut. 19:3
21:4
184.
183. Deut.
Num. 22:8
35:2
Idolatry
185.
Deut.
186. Idolatry and its appurtenances 185must be destroyed, and a city 12:2;
Deut. 7:5
which has become perverted must be 186treated according to

13:17
188.
187. the law. You are commanded to 187destroy the seven Canaanite Deut.
Deut. nations, and 188to blot out the memory of Amalek, and 189to 25:19
20:17 remember what they did to Israel. 189.

Deut.
25:17
War
190.
Deut.
20:11– The regulations for wars other than those commanded in the
12
Torah 190are to be observed and a priest should be 192.
191. 191appointed for special duties in times of war. The military Deut.
Deut. 23:14–
20:2
camp must be 192kept in a sanitary condition. To this end, every 15
193. soldier must be 193equipped with the necessary implements.
Deut.
23:14
Social
194. 195.
Lev. Deut.
5:23
Stolen property must be 194restored to its owner. Give 15:8;
196. 195charity to the poor. When a Hebrew slave goes free, the Lev.
Deut. 25:35–
15:14
owner must 196give him gifts. Lend to 197the poor without 36
197. interest; to the foreigner you may 198lend at 198.

Ex. Deut.
22:24 23:21
200.
Deut.
199.
24:15
Deut.
201.
24:13;
Deut.
Ex.
23:25– interest. Restore 199a pledge to its owner if he needs it. Pay the
22:25
26
worker his wages 200on time; 201permit him to eat of the 202.
203. produce with which he is working. You must 202help unload an Ex.
Deut.
animal when necessary, and also 203help load man or beast. 23:5
22:4
205. Lost property 204must be restored to its owner. You are required 204.
205to reprove the sinner but you must 206love your fellow as Deut.
Lev.
22:1;
19:17
yourself. You are commanded 207to love the proselyte. Your
Ex.
206. weights and measures 208must be accurate. 23:4
Lev.
207.
19:18
Deut.
208.
10:19
Lev.
19:36
Family
209. Respect the 209wise; 210honor and 211fear your parents.

210.
Lev. You should 212perpetuate the human race by marrying Ex.
19:32
213according to the law. A bridegroom is to 214rejoice with his 20:12
212. 211.
Gen. bride for one year. Male children must 215be circumcised. Lev.
1:28
Should a man die childless, his brother must either 216marry his 19:3
213. widow or 217release her (halizah). He who violates a virgin must 216.
Deut. 218marry her and may never divorce her. If a man unjustly Deut.
24:1
accuses his wife of premarital promiscuity, 219he shall be 25:5
214. flogged, and may never divorce her. The seducer 220must be 221.
Deut. Deut.
24:5
punished according to the law. The female captive must be 21:11
215. 221treated in accordance with her special regulations. Divorce 223.

Gen. can be executed 222only by means of a written document. A Num.
17:10;
5:15–
woman suspected of adultery 223has to submit to the required
Lev. 2.7
test.
12:3
217.
Deut.
25:9
218.
Deut.
22:29
219.
Deut.
22:18–
19
220.
Ex.
22:15–
23
222.
Deut.
24:1
Judicial
224. 225.
Deut. Num.
25:2
35:25
226. When required by the law, 224you must administer the 228.
Ex. punishment of flogging and you must 225exile the unwitting Lev.
21:20
homicide. Capital punishment shall be by 226the sword, 20:14
227. 227strangulation, 228fire, or 229stoning, as specified. In some 229.

Ex. cases the body of the executed 230shall be hanged, but it Deut.
21:16
231must be brought to burial the same day. 22:24
230. 231.
Deut. Deut.
21:22 21:23
Slaves
232. Hebrew slaves 232must be treated according to the special laws 233.
Ex. for them. The master should 233marry his Hebrew maidservant Ex.
21:2
21:8
or 234redeem her. The alien slave 235must be treated according
234.
to the regulations applying to him.
Ex.
21:8
235.
Lev.
25:46
Torts
236.
Ex. 238.
21:18
Ex.
237. 21:33–
Ex. 34
21:28
239.
240. The applicable law must be administered in the case of injury Ex.
Ex. caused by 236a person, 237an animal, or 238a pit. Thieves 21:37–
22:4
239must be punished. You must render judgment in cases of 22:3
242. 240trespass by cattle, 241arson, 242embezzlement by an unpaid 241.

Ex. Ex.
guardian and in claims against 243a paid guardian, a hirer, or
22:6–8
244a borrower. Judgment must also be rendered in disputes
22:5
243. 244.
Ex. arising out of 245sales, 248inheritance, and 246other matters Ex.
22:9– generally. You are required to 247rescue the persecuted even if 22:13
12
it means killing his oppressor. 248.
245. Num.
Lev. 27:8
25:14
247.
246. Deut.
Ex. 25:12
22:8
PROHIBITIONS
Idolatry and Related Practices
1. Ex.
20:3
It is 1forbidden to believe in the existence of any but the One
2. Ex. God. You may not make images 2for yourself or 3for others to 3. Lev.
20:4
worship or for 4any other purpose. You must not worship 19:4
4. Ex. anything but God either
20:20
5. Ex. in 5the manner prescribed for His worship or 6in its own manner 6. Ex.
20:5
of worship.
20:5
7. Lev. Do not 7sacrifice children to Molech.

9. Lev.
18:21
19:31
You may not 8practice necromancy or 9resort to "familiar

8. Lev. 12.
19:31
spirits"; neither should you take idolatry or its mythology Lev.
10. 10seriously.
20:1
Lev. It is forbidden to construct a 11pillar or 12dais even for the 16.

19:4
Deut.
worship of God or to 13plant trees in the Temple.
11. 13:12
Deut. You may not 14swear by idols or instigate an idolator to do so, 19.
16:22
nor may you encourage or persuade any 15non-Jew or 16Jew to Deut.
13. worship idols. You must not 17listen to or love anyone who 13:9
Deut. disseminates idolatry nor 18should you withhold yourself from 20.
16:21
hating him. Do not 19pity such a person. If somebody tries to Deut.
14. Ex. convert you to idolatry, 20do not defend him or 21conceal the 13:9
23:13
fact.
23.
15. Ex. Deut.
It is forbidden to 22derive any benefit from the ornaments of
23:13
13:17
17. idols. You may not 23rebuild that which has been destroyed as a 25.
Deut. punishment for idolatry nor may you 24have any benefit from its Deut.
13:9
wealth. Do not 25use anything connected with idols or idolatry.
7:26
18. It is forbidden 26to prophesy in the name of idols or prophesy 28.

Deut. 27falsely in the name of God. Do not 28listen to the one who Deut.
13:9
prophesies for idols and do not 29fear the false prophet or 13:3,
21. hinder his execution.
4;
Deut. Deut.
You must not 30imitate the ways of idolators or practice their
13:9
13:4
22. customs; 31divination, 32soothsaying, 33enchanting, 34sorcery, 31.

35charming, 36consulting ghosts or 37familiar spirits, and
Deut. Lev.
7:25
38necromancy are forbidden. Women must not 39wear male 19:26;
24. clothing nor men 40that of women. Do not 41tattoo yourself in Deut.
Deut. the manner of the idolators.
18:10
13:18
You may not wear 42garments made of both wool and linen nor 32.
26. Deut.
may you shave (with a razor) the sides of 43your head or 44your
Deut. 18:10
18:20
beard. Do not 45lacerate yourself over your dead. 36.
27. Deut.
Deut. 18:10–
18:20
11
29. 38.
Deut. Deut.
18:22
18:10–
30. 11
Lev. 39.
20:23
Deut.
33. 22:5
Deut. 41.
18:10– Lev.
11
19:28
34. 43.
Deut. Lev.
18:10– 19:27
11
44.
35. Lev.
Deut. 19:27
18:10–
11
37.
Deut.
18:10–
11
40.
Deut.
22:5
42.
Deut.
22:11
45.
Deut.
16:1;
Deut.
14:1;
45.
also
Lev.
19:28
Prohibitions Resulting from Historical Events
46. It is forbidden to return to Egypt to 46dwell there permanently 48. Ex.

Deut. or to 47indulge in impure thoughts or sights. You may not 23:32;
17:16
48make a pact with the seven Canaanite nations or 49save the Deut.
47. 7:2
Num. life of any member of them. Do not 50show mercy to idolators, 51. Ex.
51permit them to dwell in the land of Israel, or 52intermarry with
15:39
23:33
49. them. A Jewess may not 53marry an Ammonite or Moabite even 53.
Deut. if he converts to Judaism but should not refuse (for reasons of Deut.
20:16
genealogy alone) 54a descendant of Esau or 55an Egyptian who 23:4
50. are proselytes. It is prohibited to 56make peace with the 54.

Deut. Ammonite or Moabite nations.
Deut.
7:2
The 57destruction of fruit trees even in times of war is forbidden 23:8
52. 56.
as is wanton waste at any time. Do not 58fear the enemy and do
Deut. Deut.
7:3
not 59forget the evil done by Amalek. 23:7
55. 59.
Deut. Deut.
23:8
25:19
57.
Deut.
20:19
58.
Deut.
7:21
Blasphemy
60.
Lev.
24:16;
61.
rather
Lev.
Ex. You must not 60blaspheme the Holy Name, 61break an oath 19:12
22:27
made by It, 62take It in vain or 63profane It. Do not 64try the Lord 63.
62. Ex.
20:7
God. You may not 65erase God's name from the holy texts or Lev.
destroy institutions devoted to His worship. Do not 66allow the 22:32
64.
body of of one hanged to remain so overnight. 66.
Deut.
Deut.
6:16
21:23
65.
Deut.
12:4
Temple
67. Be not 67lax in guarding the Temple.

70.
Num. The high priest must not enter the Temple 68indiscriminately; a Lev.
18:5
21:17
priest with a physical blemish may not 69enter there at all or

68. 70serve in the sanctuary, and even if the blemish is of a temporary 72.
Lev. Num.
16:2
nature, he may not 71participate in the service there until it has 18:3
69. passed.
73.
Lev. The Levites and the priests must not 72interchange in their Lev.
21:23
functions. Intoxicated persons may not 73enter the sanctuary or 10:9–
71. teach the Law. It is forbidden for 74non-priests, 75unclean priests, 11
Lev. or 76priests who have performed the necessary ablution but are 75.
21:18
still within the time limit of their uncleanness to serve in the Lev.
74. 22:2
Temple. No unclean person may enter 77the Temple or 78the

Num. 76.
Temple Mount.
18:4
Lev.
77. The altar must not be made of 79hewn stones nor may the ascent 21:6
Num. to it be by 80steps. The fire on it may not be 81extinguished nor 78.

5:3
may any other but the specified incense be 82burned on the Deut.
80. golden altar. You may not 83manufacture oil with the same 23:11
Ex. ingredients and in the same proportions as the anointing oil 79.
20:26
which itself 84may not be misused. Neither may you 85compound Ex.
83. incense with the same ingredients and in the same proportions 20:25
Ex. as that burned on the altar. You must not 86remove the staves 81.
30:32
from the Ark, 87remove the breastplate from the eTBLd, or Lev.
84. 88make any incision in the upper garment of the high priest. 6:6
Ex. 82.
30:32
Ex.
85. 30:9
Ex. 87.
30:37
Ex.
86. 28:28
Ex.
25:15
88.
Ex.
28:32
Sacrifices
89. It is forbidden to 89offer sacrifices or 90slaughter consecrated 90.

Deut. animals outside the Temple. You may not 91sanctify, 92slaughter, Lev.
12:13
93sprinkle the blood of, or 94burn the inner parts of a blemished 17:3–
91. 4
Lev. animal even if the blemish is 95of a temporary nature and even if 92.
22:20
it is 96offered by Gentiles. It is forbidden to 97inflict a blemish on Lev.
94. an animal consecrated for sacrifice.
22:22
Lev. Leaven or honey may not 98be offered on the altar, neither may 93.
22:22
99anything unsalted. An animal received as the hire of a harlot or Lev.
95. as the price of a dog 100may not be offered.
22:24
Deut. Do not 101kill an animal and its young on the same day.
96.
17:1
Lev.
It is forbidden to use 102olive oil or 103frankincense in the sin
97. 22:25
Lev. offering or 104,105in the jealousy offering (sotah). You may not 103.
106substitute sacrifices even 107from one category to the other.
22:21
Lev.
98. You may not 108redeem the firstborn of permitted animals.
5:11
Lev. It is forbidden to 109sell the tithe of the herd or 110sell or 105.

2:11
111redeem a field consecrated by the herem vow.
Num.
99. When you slaughter a bird for a sin offering, you may not 112split 5:15
Lev. its head.

106.
2:13
Lev.
It is forbidden to 113work with or 114to shear a consecrated
100. 27:10
Deut. animal. You must not slaughter the paschal lamb 115while there is 110.
23:19
still leaven about; nor may you leave overnight 116those parts Lev.
101. that are to be offered up or 117to be eaten.
27:28
Lev. You may not leave any part of the festive offering 118until the 114.
22:28
third day or any part of 119the second paschal lamb or 120the Deut.
102. thanksgiving offering until the morning.
15:19
Lev. 119.
It is forbidden to break a bone of 121the first or 122the second
5:11
Num.
104. paschal lamb or 123to carry their flesh out of the house where it is 9:13
Num. being eaten.

122.
5:15
You must not 124allow the remains of the meal offering to Num.
107. become 9:12
Lev. 123.
27:26
Ex.
108. 12:46
Num.
18:17
109.
Lev.
27:33
111.
Lev.
27:28
112.
Lev.
5:8
113.
Deut.
15:19
115.
Ex.
34:25
116.
Ex.
23:10
117.
Ex.
12:10
118.
Deut.
16:4
120.
Lev.
22:30
121.
Ex.
12:46
124.
Lev.
6:10
125. leaven. It is also forbidden to eat the paschal lamb 125raw or 127.
Ex. sodden or to allow 126an alien resident, 127an uncircumcised Ex.
12:9
12:48
126. person, or an 128apostate to eat of it.

128.
Ex. A ritually unclean person 129must not eat of holy things nor may Ex.
12:45
130holy things which have become unclean be eaten. Sacrificial 12:43
130. 129.
Lev. meat 131which is left after the time-limit or 132which was Lev.
7:19
slaughtered with wrong intentions must not be eaten. The heave 12:4
131. offering must not be eaten by 133a non-priest, 134a priest's 132.
Lev. sojourner or hired worker, 135an uncircumcised person, or 136an Lev.
19:6– unclean priest. The daughter of a priest who is married to a non- 7:18
8
priest may not 137eat of holy things.
134.
133. The meal offering of the priest 138must not be eaten, neither may Lev.
Lev. 139the flesh of the sin offerings sacrificed within the sanctuary or 22:10
22:10
140consecrated animals which have become blemished.
135.
136. Lev.
Lev. You may not eat the second tithe of 141corn, 142wine, or 143oil or 22:10
144unblemished firstlings outside Jerusalem. The priests may not

22:4
138.
137. eat the 145sin-offerings or the trespass-offerings outside the Lev.
Lev. Temple courts or 146the flesh of the burnt-offering at all. The 6:16
22:12
lighter sacrifices 147may not be eaten before the blood has been 142.
139. sprinkled. A non-priest may not 148eat of the holiest sacrifices and Deut.
Lev. 12:17
a priest 149may not eat the first fruits outside the Temple courts.
6:23
144.
140. One may not eat 150the second tithe while in a state of impurity or Deut.
151in mourning; its redemption money 152may not be used for
Deut. 12:17
14:3
anything other than food and drink.
145.
141. You must not 153eat untithed produce or 154change the order of Deut.
Deut. separating the various tithes.
12:17
12:17
Do not 155delay payment of offerings – either freewill or 148.
143. obligatory – and do not 156come to the Temple on the pilgrim Deut.
Deut. festivals without an offering.
12:17
12:17
149.
Do not 157break your word.
146. Ex.
Deut. 29:33
12:17
151.
147. Deut.
Deut. 26:14
12:17
154.
150. Ex.
Deut. 22:28
26:14
156.
152. Ex.
Deut. 23:15
26:14
153.
Lev.
22:15
155.
Deut.
23:22
157.
Num.
30:3
Priests
158.
Lev.
21:7
160. 159.
Lev. Lev.
21:7
A priest may not marry 158a harlot, 159a woman who has been 21:7
162. profaned from the priesthood, or 160a divorcee; the high priest 161.
Lev. must not 161marry a widow or 162take one as a concubine. Priests Lev.
21:15
may not enter the sanctuary with 163overgrown hair of the head 21:14
163. or 164with torn clothing; they must not 165leave the courtyard 164.
Lev. during the Temple service. An ordinary priest may not render Lev.
10:6
10:6
himself 166ritually impure except for those relatives specified, and

166. 165.
Lev. the high priest should not become impure 167for anybody in Lev.
168any way.
21:1
10:7
167. The tribe of Levi shall have no part in 169the division of the land of 168.
Lev. Israel or 170in the spoils of war.
Lev.
21:11
It is forbidden 171to make oneself bald as a sign of mourning for 21:11
170. one's dead. 169.

Deut. Deut.
18:1
18:1
171.
Deut.
14:1
Dietary Laws
172. A Jew may not eat 172unclean cattle, 173unclean fish, 174unclean 173.
Deut. fowl, 175creeping things that fly, 176creatures that creep on the Lev.
14:7
11:11
ground, 177reptiles, 178worms found in fruit or produce, or 179any

174. 175.
detestable creature.
Lev. Deut.
11:13
An animal that has died naturally 180is forbidden for 14:19
176. consumption, as is 181a torn or mauled animal. One must not eat 177.
182any limb taken from a living animal. Also prohibited is 183the
Lev. Lev.
11:41
sinew of the thigh (gid ha-nasheh), as are 184blood and 185certain 11:44
178. types of fat (helev). It is 179.

Lev. Lev.
11:42
11:43
181. 180.
Ex. Deut.
23:19
14:21
183. 182.
Gen. Deut.
32:33
12.23
184. 185.
Lev. Lev.
7:26 7:23
186.
Ex.
23:19
188.
Ex.
21:28
189.
Lev. 187.
23:14
forbidden 186to cook meat together with milk or 187eat of such a Ex.
190. mixture. It is also forbidden to eat 188of an ox condemned to 34:26
Lev. stoning (even if it has been properly slaughtered).

191.
23:14
Lev.
One may not eat 189bread made of new corn or the new corn
192. 23:14
Lev. itself, either 190roasted or 191green, before the omer offering has 193.
19:23
been brought on the 16thof Nisan. You may not eat 192orlah or Deut.
194. 193the growth of mixed planting in the vineyard (see Mixed 22:9
Deut. Species). Any use of 194wine libations to idols is prohibited, as are 196.
32:38
195gluttony and drunkenness. One may not eat anything on Lev.
195. 196the Day of Atonement. During Passover it is forbidden to eat 23:29
Lev. 197leaven (hamez) or 198anything containing an admixture of 198.

19:26;
Ex.
Deut. such. This is also forbidden 199after the middle of the 14th of 13:20
21:20
Nisan (the day before Passover). During Passover no leaven may 201.
197. be 200seen or 201found in your possession. Ex.
Ex. 12:19
13:3
199.
Deut.
16:3
200.
Ex.
13:7
Nazirites
202. A Nazirite may not drink 202wine or any beverage made from 204.
Num. grapes; he may not eat 203fresh grapes, 204dried grapes, Num.
6:3
6:3
203. 205grape seeds, or 206grape peel. He may not render himself 205.
Num. 207ritually impure for his dead nor may he 208enter a tent in Num.
6:3
6:4
which there is a corpse. He must not 209shave his hair.

206. 207.
Num. Num.
6:4
6:7
208.
Lev.
21:11
209.
Num.
6:5
Agriculture
210.
Lev.
23:22
211. 212.
Lev. Lev.
19:9
19:10
213. It is forbidden 210to reap the whole of a field without leaving the 214.
Lev. corners for the poor; it is also forbidden to 211gather up the ears Deut.
19:10
of corn that fall during reaping or to harvest 212the misformed 24:19
215. 216.
clusters of grapes, or 213the grapes that fall or to 214return to
Lev. Deut.
take a forgotten sheaf.
19:19
22:9
217. You must not 215sow different species of seed together or 218.
216corn in a vineyard; it is also forbidden to 217crossbreed
Lev. Deut.
19:19
different species of animals or 218work with two different species 22:10
219. yoked together. You must not 219muzzle an animal working in a 221.
Deut. field to prevent it from eating. It is forbidden to 220till the earth, Lev.
25:4
221to prune trees, 222to reap (in the usual manner) produce or 25:4
220. 223fruit which has grown without cultivation in the seventh year 223.
Lev. Lev.
25:4
(shemittah). One may also not 224till the earth or prune trees in 25:5
222. the Jubilee year, when it is also forbidden to harvest (in the usual 224.
Lev. manner) 225produce or 226fruit that has grown without Lev.
25:5
cultivation.
25:11
225. One may not 227sell one's landed inheritance in the land of Israel 226.
Lev. permanently or 228change the lands of the Levites or 229leave the Lev.
25:11
Levites without support. 25:11
227. 229.
Lev. Deut.
25:23
12:19
228.
Lev.
25:33
Loans, Business, and the Treatment of Slaves
230.
Deut.
15:2
231.
Deut.
15:9
232. It is forbidden to 230demand repayment of a loan after the

Deut.
seventh year; you may not, however, 231refuse to lend to the 233.
15:7
poor because that year is approaching. Do not 232deny charity to Deut.

235.
the poor or 233send a Hebrew slave away empty-handed when he 15:13
Lev.
234.
25:37
finishes his period of service. Do not 234dun your debtor when
Ex.
237. you know that he cannot pay. It is forbidden to 235lend to or
22:24
Ex. 236borrow from another Jew at interest or 237participate in an

236.
22:24
agreement involving interest either as a guarantor, witness, or Deut.
238. writer of the contract.
23:20
Lev. Do not 238delay payment of wages.

240.
19:13
You may not 239take a pledge from a debtor by violence, 240keep Deut.
239.
Deut. a poor man's pledge when he needs it, 241take any pledge from a 24:12
24:10
widow or 242from any debtor if he earns his living with it.
241.
Deut.
24:17
242.
Deut.
24:6
243. Kidnapping 243a Jew is forbidden.

245.
Ex. Do not 244steal or 245rob by violence. Do not 246remove a Lev.
20:13
19:13
landmarker or 247defraud.
244. 247.
Lev. It is forbidden 248to deny receipt of a loan or a deposit or 249to Lev.
19:11
swear falsely regarding another man's property.
19:13
246. You must not 250deceive anybody in business. You may not 249.
251mislead a man even verbally. It is forbidden to harm the
Deut. Lev.
19:14
stranger among you 252verbally or 253do him injury in trade.
19:11
248. You may not 254return or 255otherwise take advantage of a slave 251.
Lev. who has fled to the land of Israel from his master, even if his Lev.
19:11
master is a Jew. Do not 256afflict the widow or the orphan. You 25:17
250. 253.
may not 257misuse or 258sell a Hebrew slave; do not 259treat him
Lev. Ex.
25:14
cruelly or 260allow a heathen to mistreat him. You must not 22:20
252. 261sell your Hebrew maidservant or, if you marry her, 255.
Ex. 262withhold food, clothing, and conjugal rights from her. You Deut.
22:20
23:17
must not 263sell a female captive or 264treat her as a slave.
254. 257.
Deut. Do not 265covet another man's possesions even if you are willing Lev.
23:16
to pay for them. Even 266the desire alone is forbidden.
25:39
256. A worker must not 267cut down standing corn during his work or 259.
Ex. 268take more fruit than he can eat.
Lev.
22:21
One must not 269turn away from a lost article which is to be 25:43
258. 261.
returned to its owner nor may you 270refuse to help a man or an
Lev. Ex.
animal which is collapsing under its burden.
25:42
21:8
260. It is forbidden to 271defraud with weights and measures or even 264.

272to possess inaccurate weights.
Lev. Deut.
25:53
21:14
262. 268.
Ex. Deut.
21:10
23:25
263. 272.
Deut. Deut.
21:14
25:13
265.
Ex.
20:17
266.
Deut.
5:18
267.
Deut.
23:26
269.
Deut.
22:3
270.
Ex.
23:5
271.
Lev.
19:35
Justice
273. A judge must not 273perpetrate injustice, 274accept bribes, or be 274.

Lev. 275partial or 276afraid. He may 277not favor the poor or Ex.
19:15
278discriminate against the wicked; he should not 279pity the 23:8
275. 276.
Lev. condemned or 280pervert the judgment of strangers or orphans.
Deut.
19:15
It is forbidden to 281hear one litigant without the other being 1:17
278. present.
277.
Ex. A capital case cannot be decided by 282a majority of one.
Lev.
23:6
A judge should not 283accept a colleague's opinion unless he is 19:15,
279. rather
convinced of its correctness; it is forbidden to 284appoint as a
Deut. Ex.
judge someone who is ignorant of the law.
19:13
23:3
Do not 285give false testimony or accept 286testimony from a

281. 280.
Ex. wicked person or from 287relatives of a person involved in the Deut.
23:1
case. It is forbidden to pronounce judgment 288on the basis of 24:17
282. the testimony of one witness.

286.
Ex. Do not 289murder.
Ex.
23:2
You must not convict on 290circumstantial evidence alone.
23:1
283. A witness 291must not sit as a judge in capital cases.

287.
Ex. Deut.
You must not 292 execute anybody without due proper trial and
23:2
24:16
conviction.
284. 290.
Deut. Do not 293pity or spare the pursuer.
Ex.
1:17
Punishment is not to be inflicted for 294an act committed under 23:7
285. duress.
294.
Ex. Do not accept ransom 295for a murderer or 296a manslayer.
Deut.
20:16
Do not 297hesitate to save another person from danger and do 22:26
288. not 298leave a stumbling block in the way or 299mislead another 296.
Deut. person by giving wrong advice.
Num.
19:15
It is forbidden 300to administer more than the assigned number 35:32
289. 299.
of lashes to the guilty.
Ex. Lev.
Do not 301tell tales or 302bear hatred in your heart. It is forbidden
20:13
19:14
to
291. 302.
Num. Lev.
35:30
19:17
292.
Num.
35:12
293.
Deut.
25:12
295.
Num.
35:31
297.
Lev.
19:16
298.
Deut.
22:8
300.
Deut.
25:2–
3
301.
Lev.
19:16
303. 303shame a Jew, 304to bear a grudge, or 305to take revenge. 304. Lev.
Lev. Do not 306take the dam when you take the young birds.
19:18
19:17
306.
It is forbidden to 307shave a leprous scalp or 308remove
305. Deut.
Lev. other signs of that affliction. It is forbidden 309to cultivate a 22:6
valley in which a slain body was found and in which

19:18
308.
307. subsequently the ritual of breaking the heifer's neck (eglah Deut.
Lev. arufah) was performed.
24:8
13:33
Do not 310suffer a witch to live.
309.
310. Do not 311force a bridegroom to perform military service Deut.
Ex. during the first year of his marriage. It is forbidden to 21:4
22:17
312rebel against the transmitters of the tradition or to 314.
311. 313add or 314detract from the precepts of the law.
Deut.
Deut. Do not curse 315a judge, 316a ruler, or 317any Jew.
13:1
24:5
316. Ex.
Do not 318curse or 319strike a parent.
312. 22:27
Deut. It is forbidden to 320work on the Sabbath or 321walk further 317. Lev.

17:11
than the permitted limits (eruv). You may not 322inflict 19:14
313. punishment on the Sabbath.

321. Ex.
Deut. It is forbidden to work on 323the first or 324the seventh day 16:29
13:1
of Passover, on325Shavuot, on 326Rosh Ha-Shanah, on the 322. Ex.
315. 327first and 328eighth (*Shemini Azeret) days of Sukkot, and 35:3
Ex. 329on the Day of Atonement. 324. Ex.

22:27
12:16
318. 326. Lev.

Ex. 23:25
21:17
329. Lev.
319. 23:28
Ex.
21:15
320.
Ex.
20:10
323.
Ex.
12:16
325.
Lev.
23:21
327.
Lev.
23:35
328.
Lev.
23:36
Incest and Other Forbidden Relationships
330. It is forbidden to enter into an incestuous relationship with 333. Lev.

Lev. one's 330mother, 331step-mother, 332sister, 333half-sister, 18:11
18:7
334son's daughter, 335daughter's daughter, 336daughter, 334. Lev.
331. 337any woman and her daughter, 338any woman and her 18:10
Lev. 335. Lev.

son's daughter, 339any woman and her daughter's
18:8
18:10
332. daughter, 340father's sister, 341mother's sister, 342paternal 337. Lev.

Lev. uncle's wife, 343daughter-in-law, 344brother's wife, and 18:17
18:9
345wife's sister.
339. Lev.
336. It is also forbidden to 346have sexual relations with a 18:17
Lev. menstruous woman (see Niddah).

340. Lev.
18:10
Do not 347commit adultery.
18:12
338. 342. Lev.

It is forbidden for 348a man or 349a woman to have sexual
Lev. 18:14
intercourse with an animal.
18:17
345. Lev.
341. Homosexuality 350is forbidden, particularly with 351one's 18:18
Lev. father or 352uncle.

346. Lev.
18:13
It is forbidden to have 353intimate physical contact (even 18:19
343. without actual intercourse) with any of the women with 348. Lev.
Lev. whom intercourse is forbidden.
18:23
18:15
A mamzer may not 354marry a Jewess.
349. Lev.
344. Harlotry 355is forbidden.
18:23
Lev. 352. Lev.

A divorcee may not be 356remarried to her first husband if,
18:16
in the meanwhile, she had married another.
18:14
347. 356.
A childless widow may not 357marry anybody other than her
Lev. Deut.
late husband's brother (see Levirate Marriage).
18:20
24:4
350. A man may not 358divorce a wife whom he married after 357.
Lev. having raped her or 359after having slandered her.
Deut.
18:22
A eunuch may not 360marry a Jewess.
25:5
351. Castration 361is forbidden. 359.

Lev. Deut.
18:7
22:19
353.
Lev.
18:6
354.
Deut.
23:3
355.
Deut.
23:18
358.
Deut.
22:29
360.
Deut.
23:2
361.
Lev.
22:24
The Monarchy
362.
Deut.
17:15
You may not 362elect as king anybody who is not of the seed
363. 365.
of Israel.
Deut. Deut.
The king must not accumulate an excessive number of
17:16
363horses, 364wives, or 365wealth.
17:17
364.
Deut.
17:17
[Raphael
Posner]
Deut. 17; Ex. R. 33:7; Num. R. 13:15–16; 18:21; Yev. 47b) which crystallized in the school of
R. *Akiva (see A.H. Rabinowitz, Taryag, 38–39). Doubt as to the validity of this tradition in
the eyes of the sages of the Talmud has been expressed by *Naḥmanides, Abraham *Ibn
Ezra, Simeon b. Zemaḥ *Duran, Schechter, and others, but the majority of scholars,
including Naḥmanides and Duran, conclude that the tradition does in fact reflect the
opinion of the rabbis of the Talmud. Works enumerating the commandments are
numerous (see Jellinek, Kunteres Taryag, 1878), but the majority of the lists conform to one
of four methods of enumeration: (1) The earliest lists, those of the anonymous *azharot,
are divided simply into two lists of positive and prohibitive precepts, with little attention
being paid to the internal classification, e.g., Attah Hinḥalta, Azharat Reshit, Emet Yehegeh
Ḥikki. (2) The threefold division into positive commandments, prohibitions, and
parashiyyot, first found in the list prefacing the *Halakhot Gedolot of R. Simeon Kayyara
and subsequently in almost every enumeration of geonic times. (The basis for this division
is to be found in Mid. Ps. 119:1 and indirectly in PR 22:111.) The section called parashiyyot
lists precepts involving the public body but not the individual, e.g., setting aside cities for
the levites, erecting the sanctuary. (3) Classification of the precepts under the tenfold
headings of the *Decalogue. This method of classifying the precepts is at least as old as
*Philo (Decal.), is mentioned in the Midrash several times (e.g., Num. R. 13:15/16), and is
followed by *Saadiah Gaon, Isaac *Abrabanel, Ma'amar Haskel, and many others. (4)
Independent logical classification of the two lists of positive and prohibitive precepts. This
is the method of Maimonides and his school. There are in addition many literary
curiosities in this field. Elijah Ettinger attempted to show that the 613 precepts are
contained in the four verses of Moses' prayer (Deut. 3:23–6). Shirah le-Ḥayyim (Warsaw,
1817) attempts to insert the 613 precepts into the 613 letters of the song of Ha'azinu (Deut.
32:1–43). David Vital's Keter Torah construes a 613-line poem, each line defining one
mitzvah and commencing with the letters of the Decalogue as they appear in the text. A
Taryag enumeration amounts in principle to a codification of the major elements of
biblical law – the 613 headings under which all the details of Torah legislation may be
classified. Extracting and identifying these headings from the complex body of biblical law
is the central problem of the vast literature which has grown up around Taryag
enumerations. In this literature the term mitzvah is used in the limited sense of a mandate
or prohibition which fulfills the conditions necessary for inclusion among the member
mitzvot of Taryag. Since early tradition gives no precise criteria, the problem is immense
and no logical system hitherto proposed is free from criticism. Although preceded by the
logical systems of Saadiah Gaon and Ḥefeẓ b. Yaẓli'aḥ, and subsequently criticized by
Naḥmanides, the principal method of enumerating the mitzvot is that defined by
*Maimonides in his Sefer ha-Mitzvot. Maimonides introduces the work with a lengthy
treatise in which he lays down 14 guiding principles governing the inclusion or exclusion
of a mitzvah in a Taryag enumeration. This treatise formed the basis for subsequent
literature on the subject, and the divergence of different Taryag lists, both preceding and
succeeding Maimonides, is due to differences of opinion over these principles. Taryag lists
are by no means confined to halakhic treatment. They range over the fields of ethics
(Aaron of Barcelona, and Isaiah Hurwitz, among others) homiletics (Aḥai Gaon),
philosophy (Moreh Nevukhim), and mysticism (David b. Solomon ibn Abi Zimra). An entire
(though incomplete) section of the Zohar, the "Ra'aya Meheimna" ("Faithful Shepherd"), is
devoted to enumerating Taryag and offers a mystical interpretation of the precepts.
Taryag lists also entered the liturgy, during geonic times, in the form of azharot, which
form an integral part of the festival prayer book.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Bloch, in: REJ, 1 (1880), 197–211; 5 (1882), 27–40; J.M. (Michael) Guttmann, Beḥinat ha-
Mitzvot (1928); Halper, in: JQR, 4 (1913/14), 519–76; 5 (1914/15), 29–90; H. Heller (ed.), Sefer
ha-Mitzvot le-R. Moshe b. Maimon (1914); Maimonides, The Book of Divine Commandments, tr.
by C.B. Chavel (1940).
Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.

Commandments, The 613

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6/13/2021 Commandments, The 613

The 613 Commandments

A list of the commandments as enumerated by Maimonides. The subheadings do not

A list of the commandments as enumerated by Maimonides. The subheadings do not

6. also commanded to 6cleave to Him (by associating with and (Deut.

Temple and the Priests

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Lev. be brought as well as on the 51eighth day thereof.

Num. 52. Ex.