Kings and Wars Chapter 9

עַל שִׁשָּׁה דְּבָרִים נִצְטַוָּה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. עַל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. וְעַל בִּרְכַּת הַשֵּׁם. וְעַל שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים. וְעַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת. וְעַל הַגֵּזֶל. וְעַל הַדִּינִים. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכֻּלָּן הֵן קַבָּלָה בְּיָדֵינוּ מִמּשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ. וְהַדַּעַת נוֹטָה לָהֶן. מִכְּלַל דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה יֵרָאֶה שֶׁעַל אֵלּוּ נִצְטַוָּה. הוֹסִיף לְנֹחַ אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ט, ד) "אַךְ בָּשָׂר בְּנַפְשׁוֹ דָמוֹ לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ". נִמְצְאוּ שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת. וְכֵן הָיָה הַדָּבָר בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם עַד אַבְרָהָם. בָּא אַבְרָהָם וְנִצְטַוָּה יֶתֶר עַל אֵלּוּ בְּמִילָה. וְהוּא הִתְפַּלֵּל שַׁחֲרִית. וְיִּצְחָק הִפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר וְהוֹסִיף תְּפִלָּה אַחֶרֶת לִפְנוֹת הַיּוֹם. וְיַעֲקֹב הוֹסִיף גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה וְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית. וּבְמִצְרַיִם נִצְטַוָּה עַמְרָם בְּמִצְוֹת יְתֵרוֹת. עַד שֶׁבָּא משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ וְנִשְׁלְמָה תּוֹרָה עַל יָדוֹ:

Regarding six things Adam the First was commanded: regarding foreign worship, and cursing [lit. blessing] G-d, and spilling blood, and forbidden sexual relations, and theft, and [a justice system]. Even though they are all received traditions in our hands from our teacher Moses, and reason is inclined to them from the principles of the Torah, it appears that regarding these he was commanded. He added for Noah [the prohibition on eating] the limb of a live animal, as it is said "but flesh in its life its blood you shall not eat." We find seven commandments. And so was the matter in the whole world until Abraham. Abraham came and he was commanded, in addition to these, with circumcision. And he prayed shaharit. And Isaac separated a tithe and added another prayer as the day wanes. And Jacob added the [fobidden] sinew and prayed arvit. And in Egypt Amram was commanded with additional commandments, until Moses our teacher came and the Torah was completed by himmatters was Adam the first commanded.

בֶּן נֹחַ שֶׁעָבַד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב. וְהוּא שֶׁיַּעֲבֹד כְּדַרְכָּהּ. וְכָל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁבֵּית דִּין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְמִיתִין עָלֶיהָ בֶּן נֹחַ נֶהֱרָג עָלֶיהָ. וְכָל שֶׁאֵין בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְמִיתִין עָלֶיהָ אֵין בֶּן נֹחַ נֶהֱרָג עָלֶיהָ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶהֱרָג אָסוּר בַּכּל. וְאֵין מְנִיחִין אוֹתוֹ לְהָקִים מַצֵּבָה. וְלֹא לִטַּע אֲשֵׁרָה. וְלֹא לַעֲשׂוֹת צוּרוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן לְנוֹי:

A Ben Noach (Son of Noah – a non-Jew that upholds the Seven Noahide Laws) that worshiped a foreign G-d (other than the G-d of Israel) is liable [for the Death Penalty]. And that is [specifically] if he worshiped it in it's normal manner. And for all foreign worship that the Jewish court of law puts [a Jewish person] to death, the Ben-Noach is put to death. And for all foreign worship that the Jewish court of law does not put [a Jewish person] to death, the Ben-Noach is not put to death. And although he is not put to death, it is all forbidden And we do not allow him to erect an altar, or plant an asheira tree (a tree that is used for idolatrous purposes), or to make images or the like for the sake of beautification.

בֶּן נֹחַ שֶׁבֵּרֵךְ אֶת הַשֵּׁם. בֵּין שֶׁבֵּרֵךְ בַּשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד. בֵּין שֶׁבֵּרֵךְ בְּכִנּוּי בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן חַיָּב. מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל:

A Ben Noach that blasphemed – whether he blasphemed the principal Name [of H-shem], or a blasphemed a contemporary name (of the G-d of Israel) he is liable [for the Death penalty] – in any language. This is not the case for a Jew.

בֶּן נֹחַ שֶׁהָרַג נֶפֶשׁ אֲפִלּוּ עֵבָּר בִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ נֶהֱרָג עָלָיו. וְכֵן אִם הָרַג טְרֵפָה אוֹ שֶׁכְּפָתוֹ וּנְתָנוֹ לִפְנֵי אֲרִי אוֹ שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ בָּרָעָב עַד שֶׁמֵּת. הוֹאִיל וְהֵמִית מִכָּל מָקוֹם נֶהֱרָג. וְכֵן אִם הָרַג רוֹדֵף שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְהַצִּילוֹ בְּאֶחָד מֵאֵיבָרָיו נֶהֱרָג עָלָיו. מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל:

A Ben Noach that killed a person – including an embryo in its mother's womb - is put to death for it. Even if he killed a wounded person, or tied up a person and placed him before a lion or he left him to starve until he died – since he caused him to die in any case, he is killed for this. Also, if he [the Ben Noach] killed a person that was pursuing him [the Ben Noach] to kill him and he [the Ben Noach] killed him when he could have saved his life by just maiming him – he is put to death for this. This is not the case for a Jew.

שֵׁשׁ עֲרָיוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת עַל בְּנֵי נֹחַ. הָאֵם. וְאֵשֶׁת הָאָב. וְאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ. וַאֲחוֹתוֹ מֵאִמּוֹ. וְזָכוּר. וּבְהֵמָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, כד) "עַל כֵּן יַעֲזָב אִישׁ אֶת אָבִיו" זוֹ אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו. (בראשית ב, כד) "וְאֶת אִמּוֹ" כְּמַשְׁמָעָהּ. (בראשית ב, כד) "וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ" וְלֹא בְּאֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ. בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ וְלֹא בְּזָכוּר. (בראשית ב, כד) "וְהָיוּ לְבָשָׂר אֶחָד" לְהוֹצִיא בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וְעוֹף שֶׁאֵין הוּא וְהֵם בָּשָׂר אֶחָד. וְנֶאֱמַר (בראשית כ, יב) "אֲחֹתִי בַת אָבִי הִיא אַךְ לֹא בַת אִמִּי וַתְּהִי לִי לְאִשָּׁה":

There are six forbidden [marital] relations that are forbidden to a Ben Noach – [these are marital relations with : the mother. the wife of the father. the wife of a man. his sister from his mother.a male and an animal. As it states [in the Torah – Bereshit / Genesis 2:24] "Therefor a man shall abandon his father" - this is the wife of his father.and his mother" (Ibid) [this refers to his mother] as what it refers to, "And he shall cling to his wife" (ibid) and not to the wife of his fellow; "And he shall cling to his wife" (ibid) and not to a male. "And they shall be one flesh" (ibid) - to exclude a beast, a wild animal, or a bird for him and they are not one flesh. And it states "my sister, the daughter of my father is she" - and not of my mother - "and she will be for me a wife" (Bereshit / Genesis 20:12)

בֶּן נֹחַ חַיָּב עַל מְפֻתַּת אָבִיו וַאֲנוּסַת אָבִיו הֲרֵי הִיא אִמּוֹ מִכָּל מָקוֹם. וְחַיָּב עַל אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר מִיתַת אָבִיו. וְחַיָּב עַל הַזָּכוּר בֵּין קָטָן בֵּין גָּדוֹל וְעַל הַבְּהֵמָה בֵּין קְטַנָּה בֵּין גְּדוֹלָה. וְהוּא נֶהֱרָג לְבַדּוֹ וְאֵין הוֹרְגִין אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה. שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַוּוּ בַּהֲרִיגַת בְּהֵמָה אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל:

A Ben Noach is liable for [the Death penalty for relations with] the woman his father seduced or that his father violated. Behold she is his mother in any case. And he is liable for [the Death penalty for relations with] the wife of his father - even after his father's death. And he is liable for [the Death penalty for relations with] a male whether a minor or an adult. And he is liable [the Death penalty for relations with] for an animal whether it is small or big. And only he [the person who committed the act] is killed himself – but not the animal – for they [Bnai Noach] are not commanded on killing the animal – only if it was a Yisrael (who committed the transgression do we kill the animal)....

אֵין בֶּן נֹחַ חַיָּב עַל אֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא עָלֶיהָ כְּדַרְכָּהּ אַחַר שֶׁנִּבְעֲלָה לְבַעְלָהּ. אֲבָל מְאֹרָסָה אוֹ שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לְחֻפָּה וְלֹא נִבְעֲלָה אֵין חַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כ, ג) "וְהִיא בְּעֻלַת בָּעַל". בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּבֶן נֹחַ שֶׁבָּא עַל בַּת נֹחַ. אֲבָל עַכּוּ"ם הַבָּא עַל הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית בֵּין כְּדַרְכָּהּ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא כְּדַרְכָּהּ חַיָּב. וְאִם הָיְתָה נַעֲרָה מְאֹרָסָה נִסְקָל עָלֶיהָ כְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. בָּא עָלֶיהָ אַחַר שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לַחֻפָּה וְלֹא נִבְעֲלָה הֲרֵי זֶה בְּחֶנֶק כְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֲבָל אִם בָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחַר שֶׁנִּבְעֲלָה הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמִי שֶׁבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת עַכּוּ"ם חֲבֵרוֹ וְיֵהָרֵג בְּסַיִף:

A Ben Noach is not liable (for the Death penalty) (for adultery) on the wife of his fellow unless he goes (with her) in the normal manner after she has cohabited with her husband. However if she was betrothed or went under the marriage canopy and did not yet cohabit he is not liable as it states "and she is the cohabited of her husband" (Bereshit 20:3) What are these matters stated about, about a Ben Noach (a male that follows the 7 commandments) that cohabits with a Bat Noach (a female that follows the 7 commandments). However a non-Jew that cohabits with a Jewish woman – whether in the normal way or not in the way – he is liable [for the death penalty]. And if she was a betrothed maiden – he will be stoned for her – like the laws pertaining to the Jews. If he went with her after she entered the wedding canopy but before she cohabited with her husband he is strangled – like the laws for the Jews. However if he cohabited with a Jewish woman after she cohabited with her husband – he is like one that went with a wife of non-Jew – and is killed by the sword.

בֶּן נֹחַ שֶׁיִּחֵד שִׁפְחָה לְעַבְדּוֹ וּבָא עָלֶיהָ הֲרֵי זֶה נֶהֱרָג עָלֶיהָ מִשּׁוּם אֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ. וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב עָלֶיהָ עַד שֶׁיִּפְשֹׁט הַדָּבָר וְיֹאמְרוּ לָהּ הָעָם זוֹ דְּבֵית עֶבֶד פְּלוֹנִי. וּמֵאֵימָתַי תַּחְזֹר לְהֶתֵּרָהּ מִשֶּׁיַּפְרִישֶׁנָּה מֵעַבְדּוֹ וְיִפְרַע רֹאשָׁהּ בַּשּׁוּק. וּמֵאֵימָתַי תִּהְיֶה אֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ כִּגְרוּשָׁה שֶׁלָּנוּ מִשֶּׁיּוֹצִיאֶנָּה מִבֵּיתוֹ וִישַׁלְּחֶנָּה לְעַצְמָהּ. אוֹ מִשֶּׁתֵּצֵא הִיא מִתַּחַת רְשׁוּתוֹ וַתֵּלֶךְ לָהּ. שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם גֵּרוּשִׁין בִּכְתָב. וְאֵין הַדָּבָר תָּלוּיִ בּוֹ לְבַד. אֶלָּא כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה הוּא אוֹ הִיא לִפְרשׁ זֶה מִזֶּה פּוֹרְשִׁין:

A Ben Noach that designated [for marriage] a maidservant for his male servant – he is killed for [his adultery with] her – because of [the law prohibiting adultery with] the wife of his fellow. And he is not liable [for the death penalty] upon her until the matter [that she was the wife of a servant] becomes widespread [knowledge] and the people say upon her – this [woman] is the wife of servant ploni (ploni is a name). And when will she become return to be permitted – when she separates from his servant and she uncovers her hair in the marketplace. And when will the wife of his fellow be considered as a gerusha (divorced) of ours – when he (her husband) removes her from his house and she will be sent on her own - or when she goes out from under his dominion and goes out herself – for she has no written divorce (requirement) – and the matter is not totally dependent upon him – rather as long as she or he wishes to separate from him or her – they may separate.

בֶּן נֹחַ חַיָּב עַל הַגֵּזֶל. בֵּין שֶׁגָּזַל עַכּוּ"ם בֵּין שֶׁגָּזַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאֶחָד הַגּוֹזֵל אוֹ הַגּוֹנֵב מָמוֹן אוֹ גּוֹנֵב נֶפֶשׁ אוֹ הַכּוֹבֵשׁ שְׂכַר שָׂכִיר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ. אֲפִלּוּ פּוֹעֵל שֶׁאָכַל שֶׁלֹּא בִּשְׁעַת מְלָאכָה. עַל הַכּל הוּא חַיָּב וַהֲרֵי הוּא בִּכְלַל גַּזְלָן. מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְכֵן חַיָּב עַל פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה. וּבֶן נֹחַ שֶׁגָּזַל פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה וּבָא אַחֵר וּגְזָלָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ. שְׁנֵיהֶן נֶהֱרָגִין עָלֶיהָ:

A Ben Noach is liable (for the death penalty) on theft whether it the theft of a non-jew or a Jew. And whether he stole money, or burgled money or he kidnapped or he withheld the wages of a daily laborer – and thing alike – even if a worker ate from food not at the time of work – on all he is liable and is in the category of a thief. Which is not the case for a Jew. And also he is liable for less than (stealing) the equivalent of a peruta (a monetary value - about 20 American cents). And if a ben noach stole less that the equivalent of a peruta and another ben noach stole it from him – both of them are put to death for it.

וְכֵן חַיָּב עַל אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי וְעַל בָּשָׂר מִן הַחַי בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא. שֶׁלֹּא נִתְּנוּ הַשִּׁעוּרִין אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבַד. וּמֻתָּר הוּא בְּדָם מִן הַחַי:

And also one is liable (for the death) for (eating) a limb (taken) from a live animal or from flesh (taken) from a live animal even in a minute amount. For amounts where not specified – only for Jews. However he is is permitted to (eat) blood (taken) from a live animal.

אֶחָד הָאֵבֶר אוֹ הַבָּשָׂר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַבְּהֵמָה אוֹ מִן הַחַיָּה. אֲבָל הָעוֹף יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁאֵין בֶּן נֹחַ נֶהֱרָג עַל אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי מִמֶּנּוּ:

Whether a limb or flesh, one who separates it from a beast or a wild animal (he is executed); however – fowl it appears to me that a ben noach is not killed on eating from a live animal from it.

הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה אֲפִלּוּ שָׁחַט בָּהּ שְׁנֵי הַסִּימָנִין. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא מְפַרְכֶּסֶת אֵבֶר וּבָשָׂר הַפּוֹרְשִׁין מִמֶּנָּה אֲסוּרִין לִבְנֵי נֹחַ מִשּׁוּם אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי:

One who slaughters a beast – even if he slaughtered with two signs – as long as it is still moving - to a limb or flesh is forbidden to a ben noach because of (the law of eating from) a limb from a live animal.

כָּל שֶׁאָסוּר עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשּׁוּם אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי אָסוּר עַל בְּנֵי נֹחַ. וְיֵשׁ שֶׁבְּנֵי נֹחַ חַיָּבִין וְלֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁבְּנֵי נֹחַ אֶחָד בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה בֵּין טְמֵאָה בֵּין טְהוֹרָה חַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ מִשּׁוּם אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי. וּמִשּׁוּם בָּשָׂר מִן הַחַי. וְאֵבֶר וּבָשָׂר הַפּוֹרְשִׁין מִן הַמְפַרְכֶּסֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשָּׁחַט בָּהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵי סִימָנִין הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר לִבְנֵי נֹחַ מִשּׁוּם אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי:

Whatever is forbidden to a Jewish person because of (the law of eating) a limb (taken) from a living being it is forbidden to a Bnai Noach. And there are (instances) where a Ben Noach will liable (for punishment for eating), but not a Jew. For (with respect to) a ben noach whether a beast or a wild animal, whether a kosher or non-kosher animal a ben noach will liable for (punishment transgressing the law of eating) a limb of a live animal and/or the flesh of a living creature, However, a limb or flesh that is separated from a live animal that is still fidgeting – even though a benai Yisrael (Jew) slaughtered it with two signs (of proper kosher slaughtering – the trachea and the esophagus) – behold it is still forbidden to a benai noach (to eat from it) because of (the law of eating) a limb from a living creature.

וְכֵיצַד מְצֻוִּין הֵן עַל הַדִּינִין. חַיָּבִין לְהוֹשִׁיב דַּיָּנִין וְשׁוֹפְטִים בְּכָל פֶּלֶךְ וּפֶלֶךְ לָדוּן בְּשֵׁשׁ מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ. וּלְהַזְהִיר אֶת הָעָם. וּבֶן נֹחַ שֶׁעָבַר עַל אַחַת מִשֶּׁבַע מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ יֵהָרֵג בְּסַיִף. וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה נִתְחַיְּבוּ כָּל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם הֲרִיגָה. שֶׁהֲרֵי שְׁכֶם גָּזַל וְהֵם רָאוּ וְיָדְעוּ וְלֹא דָּנוּהוּ. וּבֶן נֹחַ נֶהֱרָג בְּעֵד אֶחָד וּבְדַיָּן אֶחָד בְּלֹא הַתְרָאָה וְעַל פִּי קְרוֹבִין. אֲבָל לֹא בְּעֵדוּת אִשָּׁה. וְלֹא תָּדוּן אִשָּׁה לָהֶם:

And how are they commanded in [a justice system]? They are obligated to set up judges and justices in every single town to adjudicate about these six commandments and to warn the people [about them]. And a Noachide that transgresses one of these seven commandments is killed with the sword (decapitation). And because of this, all of the people of Shekhem were liable for the death penalty (Genesis 34) - as behold, Shekhem stole (kidnapped) and they saw and knew [it] and they did not try him. And a Noachide can be executed [based on the testimony of] one witness and with one judge, without [prior] warning], and according to the [testimony] of his relatives. And a woman may not [be a] judge [for] them.