ב"ה
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Shvuot - Chapter 1
Shvuot - Chapter 1
The Book of Utterancesסֵפֶר הַפְלָאָה
The Sixth Bookוְהוּא סֵפֶר שִׁשִּׁי
This book contains four halachot which are arranged in the following order:הִלְכוֹתָיו אַרְבַּע, וְזֶהוּ סִדּוּרָן:
The Laws of Oathsהִלְכוֹת שְׁבוּעוֹת,
The Laws of Vowsהִלְכוֹת נְדָרִים,
The Laws of Nazirite Vowsהִלְכוֹת נְזִירוּת,
The Laws of Endowment Valuations and Devotion Offeringsהִלְכוֹת עֲרָכִים וַחֲרָמִים.
The Laws of Oathsהִלְכוֹת שְׁבוּעוֹת
They contain 5 mitzvos: One positive commandment and four negative commandments. They are:יֵשׁ בִּכְלָלָן חָמֵשׁ מִצְווֹת - אַחַת מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, וְאַרְבַּע מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה; וְזֶה הוּא פְּרָטָן:
1) Not to swear falsely in God’s name,(א) שֶׁלֹּא לִשָּׁבַע בִּשְׁמוֹ לַשֶּׁקֶר;
2) Not to take God’s name in vain,(ב) שֶׁלֹּא לִשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹ לַשָּׁוְא;
3) Not to deny having received an entrusted object,(ג) שֶׁלֹּא לִכְפֹּר בַּפִּקָּדוֹן;
4) Not to swear falsely when denying financial obligations,(ד) שֶׁלֹּא לִשָּׁבַע עַל כְּפִירַת מָמוֹן;
5) To swear truly in God’s name.(ה) לִשָּׁבַע בִּשְׁמוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת.
These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters.וּבֵאוּר מִצְווֹת אֵלּוּ בִּפְרָקִים אֵלּוּ.
1There are four types of oaths for which one may be liable: sh’vuat bitui, sh’vuat shav, sh’vuat hapikadon, and sh’vuat ha’edut.1אאַרְבָּעָה מִינֵי שְׁבוּעוֹת הֵן: שְׁבוּעַת בִּטּוּי, וּשְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא, וּשְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן, וּשְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת.
Sh’vuat bitui2 is referred to in the Torah by Leviticus 5:4: “When a soul will take an oath, expressing with his lips, whether he will do harm3 or do good.”שְׁבוּעַת בִּטּוּי, הִיא שֶׁנֶּאְמְרָה בַּתּוֹרָה "אוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תִשָּׁבַע לְבַטֵּא בִשְׂפָתַיִם לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב" (ויקרא ה, ד).
This category subdivides into four groupings: two4 involving statements made concerning the future and two involving statements made concerning the past. For example, he took an oath concerning a past event that it occurred or did not occur, or concerning a future event, the he will do it or that he will not do it.וְהִיא נֶחֱלֶקֶת לְאַרְבָּעָה חֲלָקִים: שְׁתַּיִם לְהַבָּא, וּשְׁתַּיִם לְשֶׁעָבַר, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל דָּבָר שֶׁעָבַר שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשָׂה, וְעַל דָּבָר שֶׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יֵעָשֶׂה.
2The concept of a sh’vuat bitui applies with regard to deeds that a person could perform5 whether in the past or in the future.בוְאֵין שְׁבוּעַת בִּטּוּי נוֹהֶגֶת אֶלָא בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹתָן, בֵּין לְהַבָּא בֵּין לְשֶׁעָבַר.
What is implied? With regard to the past: “I ate,” “I cast a stone into the sea,” or “So-and-so spoke with so-and-so”; “I did not eat,” “I did not cast a stone into the sea,” or “So-and-so did not speak with so-and-so.” With regard to the future: “I will eat” or “I will not eat,” “I will...” or “I will not cast a stone into the sea.”6 Thus there are two groupings7 concerning the past and two groupings concerning the future.כֵּיצַד לְשֶׁעָבַר? 'שֶׁאָכַלְתִּי', אוֹ 'שֶׁזָּרַקְתִּי אֶבֶן לַיָּם', אוֹ 'שֶׁדִּבֵּר פְּלוֹנִי עִם פְּלוֹנִי', אוֹ 'שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי', אוֹ 'שֶׁלֹּא זָרַקְתִּי אֶבֶן לַיָּם', אוֹ 'שֶׁלֹּא דִבֵּר פְּלוֹנִי עִם פְּלוֹנִי'. וְכֵיצַד לְהַבָּא? 'שֶׁאֹכַל', אוֹ 'שֶׁאֶזְרֹק אֶבֶן לַיָּם', אוֹ 'שֶׁלֹּא אֹכַל', אוֹ 'שֶׁלֹּא אֶזְרֹק אֶבֶן לַיָּם'. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שְׁתַּיִם לְשֶׁעָבַר וּשְׁתַּיִם לְהַבָּא.
3If a person takes an oath concerning one of these four categories and does the opposite, he has taken a false oath. For example, he took an oath not to eat and he ate, that he would eat and he did not eat, that he ate, when he did not or that he did not eat, when he had eaten. With regard to these matters, Leviticus 19:12 states: “Do not swear falsely in My name.”8גנִשְׁבָּע עַל אַחַת מֵאַרְבַּע מַחֲלוֹקוֹת אֵלּוּ וְהֶחֱלִיף - כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל וְאָכַל, אוֹ שֶׁאָכַלְתִּי וְהוּא לֹא אָכַל - הֲרֵי זוֹ שְׁבוּעַת שֶׁקֶר. וְעַל זֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ נֶאֱמַר "לֹא תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר" (ויקרא יט, יב).
If he willfully swears falsely, he is liable for lashes.9 If he does so inadvertently, he must bring an adjustable guilt offering,10 as ibid. 5:4 states: “And it became concealed from him and he did not know and became guilty.”וְאִם נִשְׁבָּע לַשֶּׁקֶר: בְּמֵזִיד, לוֹקֶה; בְּשׁוֹגֵג, מֵבִיא קָרְבָּן עוֹלֶה וְיוֹרֵד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְנֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ וְהוּא יָדַע וְאָשֵׁם וְגוֹ'" (ויקרא ה, ד).
4The prohibition against taking a sh’vuat shav, an oath taken in vain,11 also subdivides into four categories: the first, a person took an oath concerning a known matter12 that was not true, e.g., he took an oath that a man was a woman, a woman was a man, that a marble pillar was gold, or concerning other similar factors.דשְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא נֶחֱלֶקֶת לְאַרְבַּע מַחֲלוֹקוֹת: הָאַחַת, שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל דָּבָר הַיָּדוּעַ שֶׁאֵינוֹ כֵּן. כֵּיצַד? כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל הָאִישׁ שֶׁהוּא אִשָּׁה, וְעַל הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁהִיא אִישׁ, וְעַל עַמּוּד שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ שֶׁהוּא שֶׁל זָהָב. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה.
5The second: that one takes an oath on a known matter concerning which no one has a doubt, e.g., one took an oath that the sky was the sky, that a stone is a stone, on two objects that they are two, and the like. Even though there is no doubt about the matter for a person of sound mind, one takes an oath to strengthen the appreciation of the matter.13ההַשְּׁנִיָּה, שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל דָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ סָפֵק לְאָדָם בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא כֵּן. כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁהוּא שָׁמַיִם, וְעַל הָאֶבֶן זוֹ שֶׁהִיא אֶבֶן, וְעַל שְׁנַיִם שְׁהֵם שְׁנַיִם. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה. שֶׁזֶּה הַדָּבָר אֵין בּוֹ סָפֵק לְאָדָם שָׁלֵם כְּדֵי לְצַדֵּק הַדָּבָר בִּשְׁבוּעָה.
6The third: is one who takes an oath to nullify a mitzvah.14ושְׁלִישִׁית, שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לְבַטֵּל אֶת הַמִּצְוָה.
What is implied? One took an oath not to wrap himself in tzitzit,15 not to put on tefilin, not to dwell in a sukkah throughout the holiday of Sukkot,16 not to eat matzah on Pesach night, that he would fast on the Sabbaths and the festivals,17 or concerning other analogous instances.כֵּיצַד? כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַטֵּף בְּצִיצִית, וְשֶׁלֹּא יִלְבֹּשׁ תְּפִלִּין, וְשֶׁלֹּא יֵשֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת, וְלֹא יֹאכַל מַצָּה בְּלֵילֵי הַפֶּסַח, אוֹ שֶׁיִּתְעַנֶּה בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה.
7The fourth: that one took an oath concerning a matter that he is unable to perform.18זרְבִיעִית, שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע עַל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כּוֹחַ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ.
What is implied? He took an oath that he would not sleep for three consecutive days and nights,19 he would not eat for seven consecutive days or concerning any analogous matter.כֵּיצַד? כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹּא יִישַׁן שְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים לַיְלָה וְיוֹם רְצוּפִים, אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעֹם כְּלוּם שִׁבְעָה יָמִים רְצוּפִים. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה.
Whenever a person takes an oath in vain by taking one of these four types of oaths, he transgresses a negative commandment,20 as Exodus 20:7 states: “And you shall not take the name of God your Lord in vain.”כָּל הַנִּשְׁבָּע שְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא מֵאַרְבַּע שְׁבוּעוֹת אֵלּוּ - עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא" (שמות כ, ו; דברים ה, י).
If he takes the oath willfully, he is liable for lashes.21 If he does so inadvertently, he is exempt entirely.וְאִם הָיָה מֵזִיד, לוֹקֶה; וְאִם הָיָה שׁוֹגֵג, פָּטוּר מִכְּלוּם.
8What is meant by a sh’vuat hapikadon, an oath concerning an entrusted object?22 It applies when a person has money belonging to a colleague in his possession - whether it be an entrusted article or a loan, he stole from him, withheld his wages, he found a loss object belonging to him and did not return it, or any similar situation. If his colleague claims the money that he has in his possession and he denies the claim, he violates a negative commandment,23 as Leviticus 19:11 states: “You shall not deny...”; this is a warning not to deny a monetary claim. One is not liable for lashes for this transgression.24חשְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן כֵּיצַד? כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ מָמוֹן חֲבֵרוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, בֵּין פִּקָּדוֹן, בֵּין מִלְוָה, אוֹ שֶׁגְּזָלוֹ, אוֹ עֲשָׁקוֹ, אוֹ מָצָא לוֹ אֲבֵדָה וְלֹא הֶחֱזִירָהּ, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה, וְתָבַע מִמֶּנּוּ מָמוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, וְכָפַר בּוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא תְכַחֲשׁוּ" (ויקרא יט,יא) - זוֹ אַזְהָרָה לִכְפִירַת מָמוֹן; וְאֵין לוֹקִין עַל לָאו זֶה.
If one took a false oath with regard to the financial claim that he denied, he transgresses another negative commandment,25 as the above verse continues: “A person may not lie to his colleague.”26 This is a warning against swearing falsely when denying a financial obligation.וְאִם נִשְׁבָּע לוֹ עַל שֶׁקֶר, עַל מָמוֹן שֶׁכָּפַר בּוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו אַחֵר, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר "וְלֹא תְשַׁקְּרוּ אִישׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ" (שם) - זוֹ אַזְהָרָה לַנִּשְׁבָּע עַל כְּפִירַת מָמוֹן.
This oath is called by the sages sh’vuat hapikadon, an oath concerning an entrusted objectוּשְׁבוּעָה זוֹ הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'שְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן'.
9What is a person’s liability for taking a false sh’vuat hapikadon? He must pay the principle that he denied plus an additional fifth27 and bring a definite28 guilt offering as a sacrifice. This applies whether he transgressed intentionally or unintentionally,29 as indicated by Leviticus 5:21-23 which states: “And he will deny his obligation to a colleague concerning an entrusted object, a financial deposit, a robbery... when he sin and become guilty.” The verse does not say: “And it will become concealed from him,”30 indicating that one who transgresses willfully is liable just as one who transgresses inadvertently.טוּמַה הוּא חַיָּב עַל שְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן שֶׁשִּׁקֵּר בָּהּ? מְשַׁלֵּם הַקֶּרֶן שֶׁכָּפַר בּוֹ, עִם תּוֹסֶפֶת חֹמֶשׁ, וּמַקְרִיב אָשָׁם וַדַּאי, בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה מֵזִיד בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה שׁוֹגֵג, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְכִחֵשׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ בְּפִקָּדוֹן אוֹ בִתְשׂוּמֶת יָד אוֹ בְגָזֵל... וְהָיָה כִּי יֶחֱטָא וְאָשֵׁם" (ויקרא ה, כא-כג). וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ 'וְנֶעְלַם', לְחַיֵּב שׁוֹגֵג כְּמֵזִיד.
10The above applies when the person willfully accepted the entrusted object or the money that he was obligated and knew about it at the time of the oath. If, however, he acted unintentionally, forgot that he had the money in his possession, therefore denied it and took an oath, and then discovered the matter, he is considered to have transgressed because of factors beyond his control and is not liable at all.31יוְהוּא שֶׁיָּזִיד בַּפִּקָּדוֹן אוֹ בַּמָּמוֹן שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּב בּוֹ, וְיֵדַע בּוֹ בִּשְׁעַת שְׁבוּעָה. אֲבָל אִם שָׁגַג וְשָׁכַח שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אֶצְלוֹ מָמוֹן וְכָפַר וְנִשְׁבַּע, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָדַע - הֲרֵי זֶה אָנוּס, וּפָטוּר מִכְּלוּם.
Similarly, if the person did not know that it was forbidden to take a false oath in denial of a financial claim, he is considered to have transgressed because of factors beyond his control and is not liable.32וְכֵן אִם לֹא יָדַע שֶׁאָסוּר לִשָּׁבַע לַשֶּׁקֶר עַל כְּפִירַת מָמוֹן, הֲרֵי זֶה אָנוּס וּפָטוּר.
11If so, what is meant by acting inadvertently with regard to a sh’vuat hapikadon? For example, he forgot that one is liable to bring a sacrifice for taking such a false oath, but knew that it was forbidden to do so and that he has the other person’s money in his possession. This is considered the inadvertent transgression of this prohibition.33 Willful transgression is when he knows that he is liable to bring a sacrifice because of the transgression.יאאִם כֵּן, הֵיאָךְ הִיא שִׁגְגַת שְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן? כְּגוֹן שֶׁנֶּעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ אִם חַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן אִם לָאו, וְיָדַע שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה וְשֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אֶצְלוֹ מָמוֹן - זוֹ הִיא שִׁגְגָתָהּ. וּזְדוֹנָהּ, שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן.
12What is meant by sh’vuat ha’edut?34 Witnesses know testimony associated with a monetary claim35 and the person affected by the testimony demanded that they testify on his behalf. The witnesses deny knowledge of testimony, do not testify, and take an oath36 that they do not know any testimony concerning him. This is referred to as a sh’vuat ha’edut.יבשְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת כֵּיצַד? הָעֵדִים שֶׁיָּדְעוּ עֵדוּת מָמוֹן, וּתְבָעָם בַּעַל הָעֵדוּת לְהָעִיד לוֹ, וְכָפְרוּ בְּעֵדוּתָן וְלֹא הֵעִידוּ, וְנִשְׁבְּעוּ לוֹ שֶׁאֵינָן יוֹדְעִין לוֹ עֵדוּת - זוֹ הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'שְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת'.
For taking a false oath of this nature, one is liable for an adjustable guilt offering,37 This applies whether he transgressed intentionally or unintentionally, as indicated by Leviticus 5:1 which states: “When a person will sin: If he heard a demand for an oath and he had witnessed....” The verse does not say: “And it will become concealed from him,” indicating that one who transgresses willfully is liable just as one who transgresses inadvertently.וְחַיָּבִין עַל שְׁבוּעָה זוֹ קָרְבָּן עוֹלֶה וְיוֹרֵד, בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ מְזִידִין בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹגְגִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא וְשָׁמְעָה קוֹל אָלָה וְהוּא עֵד" (ויקרא ה, א). וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ 'וְנֶעְלַם', לְחַיֵּב עַל הַזָּדוֹן כִּשְׁגָגָה.
13What is meant by acting inadvertently with regard to a sh’vuat ha’edut? For example, he forgot that one is liable to bring a sacrifice for taking such a false oath, but knew that this oath was forbidden and that he would be swearing falsely.יגכֵּיצַד שִׁגְגַת שְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת? כְּגוֹן שֶׁנֶּעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן, וְיָדַע שֶׁשְּׁבוּעָה זוֹ אֲסוּרָה, וּשֶׁהִיא שֶׁקֶר.
Willful transgression is when he knows that he is liable to bring a sacrifice because of the transgression.וּזְדוֹנָהּ, שֶׁיָּדַע שֶׁחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן.
If he did not know that taking such an oath is forbidden or forgot the testimony and took an oath38 and later it was discovered that he knew testimony and took a false oath, he is considered to have transgressed because of forces beyond his control and he is not liable to bring a sacrifice.39אֲבָל אִם לֹא יָדַע שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה, אוֹ שֶׁשָּׁכְחוּ הָעֵדוּת וְנִשְׁבְּעוּ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹדַע לָהֶם שֶׁהֵן יוֹדְעִין לוֹ עֵדוּת, וְשֶׁנִּשְׁבְּעוּ עַל שֶׁקֶר - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲנוּסִין, וּפְטוּרִין אַף מִן הַקָּרְבָּן.
Footnotes
1.
The Rambam proceeds to explain these four types of oath in this chapter.
2.
Bitui literally means “expression.” I.e., this oath is taken expressing statements concerning the past or the future. See Chapters 4 and 5 where this subject is discussed in detail.
3.
As evident from Chapter 5, Halachot 16-17, this applies when he takes an oath to harm himself, but not to harm others.
4.
I.e., one positive and one negative. The concept that a sh ‘vuat bitui has both these forms is derived from the prooftext cited which states: “Whether he will do harm or do good.” See Chapter 9, Halachah 18. ·
5.
But not with regard to something which he cannot perform. As stated in Halachah 7, that is included in the category of an oath taken in vain.
6.
An oath he takes concerning the future that involves another person is not included in this category, because he has no way of controlling that person’s conduct. See Chapter 5, Halachot 1-2.
7.
One positive and one negative.
8.
Sefer HaMitzvot (negative commandment 61) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 227) include this prohibition among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.
9.
This is somewhat of a new concept, because one does not receive lashes for violating a transgression that does not involve a deed and ordinarily, speech is not considered a deed. Nevertheless, taking a false oath is an exception to this principle, for Exodus 20:7 states: “God will not absolve anyone who takes His name in vain.” Sh’vuot 21a interprets that to mean that a person who takes an oath in vain is liable for lashes. See also Chapter 4, Halachot 20-21 for more factors concerning this concept.
10.
In contrast to an ordinary sin-offering, the sacrifice a person liable for such an offering must bring is adjusted according to his financial status as stated in Leviticus, ch. 5.
11.
See Chapter 6 where this subject is discussed in detail.
12.
The Ra’avad explains that the term “a known matter” refers to something known to three people. The Radbaz notes that the Rambam himself mentions this point in Chapter 5, Halachah 22. See Chapter 3, Halachah 5, and notes, from which it is evident that here, the person taking the oath is not speaking facetiously. Although it is known that what he is saying is false, he intends that his words be taken at face value. See also Chapter 5, Halachah 21, and notes.
13.
Thus since no one else but a fool will have any doubt concerning the matter, there is no need to take an oath. Hence, the oath is considered to have been taken in vain (Radbaz).
14.
Since he is obligated to fulfill the mitzvah and the matter is not dependent on his choice or consent, his oath is considered to be in vain. See also Chapter 5, Halachot 14-15.
15.
The Radbaz clarifies that we are not speaking about taking an oath not to wear a tallit, for a person is not obligated to wear a tallit by Scriptural Law (see Hilchot Tzitzit 3:11). Instead, the intent is to take an oath that he will wear a four-cornered garment and not put tzitzit on it.
16.
See Chapter 5, Halachah 18.
17.
For one must take pleasure in food and drink on these days. It is forbidden to fast (Hilchot Shabbat 30:12; Hilchat Sh ‘vitat Yorn Tov 6:17).
18.
Since he is unable to perform the matter, the oath he took is obviously in vain.
19.
See Chapter 5, Halachah 20.
20.
Sefer HaMitzvot (negative commandment 62) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 30) include this prohibition among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.
21.
See the notes to Halachah 3.
22.
The latter is the literal translation of the term pikadon. Nevertheless, as the Rambam continues to explain, the term has a broader halachic meaning in this context. The Radbaz explains that the mishnah uses the term sh ‘vuat hapikadon, because it is most common that such a claim will be made with regard to an entrusted object. Alternatively, because the prooftext (Leviticus 5 :21) mentions an entrusted object first. See Chapters 7 and 8 where this subject is discussed in detail.
23.
Sefer HaMitzvot (negative commandment 248) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 225) include this prohibition among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.
24.
Either because the transgression does not involve a deed, or because financial compensation must be given and a person is not held liable both for financial restitution and lashes (Hilchot Sanhedrin 18:2).
25.
He also violates the commandment against taking a false oath [Sh‘vuot 20b; Sefer HaMitzvot (negative comni. andment 249)].
26.
Sefer HaMitzvot (loc. cit.) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 226) include this prohibition among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.
27.
As the Rambam explains in several instances, the intent is one fifth of the new total. For example, if he denied a debt of 20 zuz, he must pay 25 in restitution.
28.
This term is used to distinguish this offering from the conditional guilt offering brought by a person who is unsure whether or not he committed a sin.
29.
contrast, an ordinary sin offering is brought only when one transgresses inadvertently.
30.
As Leviticus 5:4 states with regard to a sh ‘vuat bitui.
31.
Neither for a sacrifice, nor for the payment of an additional fifth of the object’s value.
32.
The Radbaz states that although such an individual is not liable for a sacrifice or the additional fifth, he is liable for transgressing the prohibition against denying property.
33.
Since he is unaware of the fact that he must bring a sacrifice and thus does not know the full severity of his act, he is considered to have transgressed inadvertently. Nevertheless, because he is conscious of the transgression and the fact that he has the other person's money in his possession, he is not considered to have transgressed due to forces beyond his control.
34.
The term literally means “an oath [associated with] testimony.” See Chapters 9 and 10 where this subject is discussed in detail.
35.
See Chapter 9, Halachot 3-5..
36.
This oath is not required by the court, but rather is· demanded by the person affected by their testimony. See Chapter 9, Halachah 6.
37.
See the notes to Halachah 3.
38.
In translation, we have used the singular for continuity. The Rambam, however, uses plural forms, because testimony brings about a monetary obligation only when given by two witnesses.
39.
Le., they are not considered to have transgressed at all.
Rabbi Eliyahu Touger is a noted author and translator, widely published for his works on Chassidut and Maimonides.
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