Negative Commandment 248 (Digest)
Denying a Debt
"Do not deny"—Leviticus 19:11.
It is forbidden for a person to deny a debt that he owes or to deny that a person entrusted him an object for safekeeping.
The
248th prohibition is that we are forbidden to falsely deny that we owe money or
that we were entrusted with an object.
The
source of this commandment is G‑d's statement, "Do not deny."
It
is explained that this refers to a financial claim. The Sifra says, "We learn what the
punishment is from the verse, 'If he denies [illegally withholding another
person's money] and swears falsely [...he must pay the principal and add
one-fifth.]' Which verse serves as the actual prohibition? The verse, 'Do not deny.' "
You
are aware that one who [falsely] denies possession of an object he was
entrusted with — even if he does not swear falsely — is invalid to act as a
witness. This is because he has transgressed the mitzvah, "Do not deny."
The
details of this mitzvah are explained
in a number of passages in tractate Sh'vuos.
Negative Commandment 249 (Digest)
Swearing Falsely in Denial of a Debt
"Do not lie to each other"—Leviticus 19:11.
It is forbidden to take a false oath in denial of a debt or any other financial obligation.
The
249th prohibition is that we are forbidden to swear falsely regarding money
that we owe.
The
source of this commandment is G‑d's statement, "Do not lie to one another."
If,
for example, one [falsely] denies possessing an object he was entrusted with,
he transgresses the prohibition, "do not
deny." Should he swear falsely to substantiate his
previous denial, he transgress the [present] prohibition "do not lie."
The
Sifra says, "What does the Torah mean
to teach us by saying 'do not lie'? The verse, 'and he swears falsely' serves as the
punishment. Which verse serves as the actual prohibition? The verse, 'do not lie.' "
The
details of this mitzvah are explained
in the fifth chapter of Sh'vuos, where it is explained that a person who makes
a false oath in denying a financial claim transgresses two mitzvos — "do not swear falsely by My name" and "do not lie to one another."
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