Negative Commandment 219 (Digest)
Muzzling a Working Animal
"You shall not muzzle the ox when it is threshing"—Deuteronomy 25:4.
It is forbidden to prevent an animal from eating from produce upon which it is working—e.g., if it is threshing grain or carrying a bundle of hay. It is even forbidden to prevent it by verbally [shouting at it when it wishes to eat].
The 219th prohibition is that we are forbidden to prevent an animal from eating from the produce it is working with as it works. If, for example, it is treading grain or carrying straw on its back, one may not prevent it from eating from the grain or straw.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement, "Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading grain."
It is explained that the verse [says "ox" rather than "animal" because it] refers to the most common case, but one may not muzzle an ox nor any other animal. So too, one may not prevent it from eating the food as it works whether it is treading or doing another type of work. One who does so is punished by lashes, even if done only verbally.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 7th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 244 (Digest)
The Borrower
"And if a man borrows from his neighbor..."—Exodus 22:13.
We are commanded [to follow all the laws outlined in the Torah] regarding one who borrows an object from his fellow.
The 244th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the law of a borrower.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "If a person borrows something from another..."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 8th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia and the 8th chapter of Shavuos.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Translation of (the unabridged text of) Sefer Hamitzvot by Rabbi Berel Bell, member of the Rabbinical Court of Montreal and director of Teacher Training for the Jewish Learning Institute.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
