THE THIRTY LAWS OF THE BEN NOACH
 

These thirty laws of the Ben Noach can be found in the appendix to the Encyclopedia Talmudica, in the section concerning the Ben Noach. The first list that we shall cite is that of Rabbi Menachem Azaria from Fano. The commandments that are followed by an * are positive commandments, and those that do not are to be understood as prohibitions.

I. IDOLATRY: BEREISHIT 2:16.

  A. Passing a child through fire (Devarim 18:10)
  B. Soothsaying (Devarim 18:10)
  C. Divining of times (Devarim 18:10)
  D. Interpreting of omens (Devarim 18:10)
  E. Sorcery (Devarim 18:10)
  F. Charming (Devarim 18:10) 
  G. Counseling mediums (Devarim 18:10)
  H. Counseling oracles (Devarim 18:10)
  I. Necromancy (Devarim 18:10)

II. SEXUAL SINS:

  A. Be fruitful. * (Bereishit 9:1)
  B. Multiply seed. * (Bereishit 9:1.)
  C. Homosexual intercourse (Bereishit 2:24)
  D. Cross-breeding of animals (Bereishit 8:20)
  F. Castration (Bereishit 5:17)
  G. Grafting trees (VaYikra 19:19)

III. MURDER: BEREISHIT 9:5-6.

  A. Striking a Jew (Shemot 2:11-12; cf. Sanhedrin. 58b)

IV. BLASPHEMY; BEREISHIT 2:16.

  A. Honoring the Torah. * (Chulin 92a)
  B. Studying revellent parts of the Torah. * (VaYikra 18:5; cf. Sanhedrin. 59a.

V. THEFT - INCLUDING KIDNAPPING: BEREISHIT 2:6; 6:11.

  A. No to study non-revelent parts of the Torah (Devarim 33:4)

VI. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE: BEREISHIT 18:19.

  A. No to observe the Shabbat (Bereishit 8:22)

VII. EATING ALL OR PART OF A LIVING CREATURE
: BEREISHIT 9:4.

  A. Blood of a living creature (Bereishit 9:4)
  B. Eating an animal that died - without slaughter (Bereishit 9:3)
  C. Human flesh (Chulin 92b; Rashi)

ADDITIONAL NOTES
:

Rav Saadiah Gaon adds:
  A. Tithing. *
  B. Levirate marriage. *

Rav Nissim Gaon adds:
  A. Obedience to G-d. *
  B. Knowledge of G-d. *
  C. Worship of G-d. *

Ran and Rama add:
  A. Charity.*


THE THIRTY LAWS OF THE BEN NOACH

These thirty laws of the Ben Noach can be found in the appendix of the Encyclopedia Talmudica, Vol.3, in the section containing the Ben Noach.

This list of the laws of the Ben Noach are according to Rabbi Shumel ben Chofni. The laws that are followed by an * are positive admonitions, and those that do not are to be understood as prohibitions.

1. MONOTHEISM* (Bereishit 2:16)

2. IDOLATRY (Bereishit 2:16)

3. BLASPHEMY (Bereishit 2:16)

4. PRAYER* (Bereishit 20:7)

5. FALSE OATH (Bereishit 21:23)

6. SUICIDE (Bereishit 9:5-6)

7. MURDER (Bereishit 9:5-6)

8. ADULTERY (Bereishit 20:3)

9. FORMAL MARRIAGE* (Bereishit 34:12)

10. INCEST (Bereishit 12:13)

11. HOMOSEXUAL INTERCOURSE (Bereishit 2:24)

12. BESTIALITY (Bereishit 2:24)

13. CASTRATION (Bereishit 5:17)

14. EATING AN ANIMAL THAT DIED - WITHOUT SLAUGHTER (Bereishit 9:3)

15. EATING ALL OR PART OF A LIVING CREATURE (Bereishit 9:4)

16. BLOOD OF A LIVING CREATURE (Bereishit 9:4)

17. CROSS-BREEDING ANIMALS (Bereishit 8:20)

18. THEFT - INCLUDING KIDNAPPING (Bereishit 2:16; 6:11)

19. SACRIFICES* (Bereishit 8:20)

20. HONORING PARENTS* (Bereishit 9:22-23)

21. PASSING CHILD THROUGH FIRE (Devarim 18:10)

22. SOOTHSAYING (Devarim 18:10)

23. DIVINING OF TIMES (Devarim 18:10)

24. INTERPRETING OF OMENS (Devarim 18:10)

25. SORCERY (Devarim 18:10)

26. CHARMING (Devarim18:10)

27. COUNSELING MEDIUMS (Devarim 18:10)

28. COUNSELING ORACLES (Devarim 18:10)

29.NECROMANCING (Devarim 18:10)

There seems to be one missing from the list of Rabbi Shmuel's list. It seems plausible that this could possibly the commandment to ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF
JUSTICE.

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