Difference between revisions of "Chart of Maimonides' Noahide Laws"

Revision as of 04:53, 17 February 2011

The discussion of the Rambam, Law of Kings 9:2-3 is very interesting, in that it uses the same wording to describe the addition of "Circumcision" as a commandment as it does for the addition of Ever min hachai. The following table charts the words of the Rambam:

Adamide Laws

1. Prohibition of Idolatry
2. Prohibition of Blasphemy
3. Prohibition of Murder
4. Prohibition of Immorality
5. Prohibition of Theft
6. Injunction to set up Courts of Justice

(These laws alone may still be said to apply to the surviving sons of Enoch and Mehujael -Y chromosomal Haplogroups A and B- in the world today.)

Noahide Laws

1. Prohibition of Idolatry
2. Prohibition of Blasphemy
3. Prohibition of Murder
4. Prohibition of Immorality
5. Prohibition of Theft
6. Dietary Laws
7. Injunction to set up Courts of Justice

(These laws alone apply to all the sons of Noah -Y chromosomal Haplogroups other than A and B- in the world today who are not part of the people of circumcision.)

Ishmaelite Laws

given to Avraham, but superseded in the case of Yitzchak

1. Prohibition of Idolatry
2. Prohibition of Blasphemy
3. Prohibition of Murder
4. Prohibition of Immorality
5. Prohibition of Theft
6. Dietary Laws
7. Commandment to set up Courts of Justice
8. Commandment of Circumcision

Ishmaelite takkanah

1. Injunction of Morning Prayer

Esavite Laws

given to Yitzchak, but superseded in the case of Yakov

1. Prohibition of Idolatry
2. Prohibition of Blasphemy
3. Prohibition of Murder
4. Prohibition of Immorality
5. Prohibition of Theft
6. Dietary Laws
7. Commandment to set up Courts of Justice
8. Commandment of Circumcision

Esavite takkanos

1. Injunction of Morning Prayer
2. Injunction of Afternoon Prayer
3. Injunction to Tithe

What we see here is that beyond the seven laws, there appears to be additional commandments and perhaps what might be called "takkanos". This may indicate that circumcision is a requirement for certain groups of people, as the Rambam states. It also seems to lend support to the idea that Noahide nations have parallel, independent systems of law specific to each nation.