Daily Mitzvah (Rambam)

The 285th prohibition is that we are forbidden from giving false testimony.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not testify as a false witness (eid sheker) against your neighbor." This prohibition is repeated using a different expression,2 "as a perjurous witness" (eid shav).

Scripture3 dictates the punishment for one who violates this prohibition, "You must do the same to them as they plotted to do to their brother." The Mechilta says,4 "The verse, 'Do not testify as a false witness' is the prohibition regarding false witnesses (eidim zom'mim5)"

The punishment for violating this prohibition is lashes, as explained in the last chapter6 of tractate Makkos, where the details of this mitzvah are explained.

Footnotes

1.

Ex. 20:13

2.

Deut. 5:17.

3.

Ibid., 19:19.

4.

Parshas Yisro. Evidently the Rambam quotes the Mechilta because the phrase "the prohibition" proves that this verse constitutes a Biblical prohibition and therefore included in the count of the 613 mitzvos.

5.

Eidim zom'mim are a particular type of false witnesses, who have been proven false by virtue of testimony that they were not present at the event they claim to have witnessed. If Reuven and Shimon testified, for example, that they saw Levi kill Yehudah, they could be proven to be eidim zom'mim if others testify that they saw Reuven and Shimon in another city on that day. If this happens, Reuven and Shimon are put to death since this is what they tried to have inflicted on Levi. See the next mitzvah, P180.

6.

4b. This should evidently read, "first chapter." See Kapach, 5731, footnote 1.