Please note when reading this translation that while [[Maimonides]] is one of the major sources for the Code of Jewish Law, however Jewish law does not always follow his rulings, and in certain cases other opinions are accepted as law.
Concerning Maimonides apparent obligation of Jews to seek (or force) observance of Noachide Laws by Gentiles. A simple reading of the rules of Maimonides' would indicate that Jews or a Jewish court are obligated in (at the minimum) coercing Noachides to observe their laws. Such is not the only way, however, to interpret Maimonides' statements. See Rabbi Michael J. Broyde in his "The Obligation of Jews to Seek Observance of Noachide Laws by Gentiles: A Theoretical Review" where the conclusion is that such a view is not supported by Jewish Law.<ref>[[The Obligation of Jews to Seek Observance of Noahide Laws by Gentiles]]</ref>
Concerning Maimonides exclusive use of capital punishment for Noahide violations, most rabbinic authorities disagree and hold that it means "punishments up to and including capital punishment"; that a system of fines is meant to be set up; and Noahide courtsset up by Noahides themselves, not Jewish law, should determine the structure and severity of Noahide punishments in whatever manner best serves justice for their particular country.<ref>[[Capital Punishment in Noahide law]]</ref>
The question as to what constitutes idolatry today, and whether Christianity constitutes idolatry or a lesser form of ''partnership'', is a matter of debate in Jewish law. In any event, Jewish law has never, at any time in our history, suggested that Christians be prosecuted according to these laws.<ref>[[Christianity and Noahide Law]]</ref>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''9''' A ''[[Yefas to'ar]]'' that does not want to put down idolatry, after the twelve month<ref>The [[Kesef Mishneh]] asks why a ''Yefas to'ar'' is allowed to worship for such a long period of time when this tolerance is not shown in any other case. The commentaries suggest that this leniency was granted because she was taken by force as prisoner during battle.</ref> receives capital punishment.<ref>Devarim 21:14 says that if the ''Yefas to'ar'' is released, "send her to herself". On this the [[Midrash HaGadol]] comments "send her to herself, but not to her gods", i.e. she must be executed if she remains in idolatry.</ref> Likewise with the city that submits, no treaty is made with them until they have denounced idolatry, destroyed all its places, and have taken upon themselves the rest of the commandments<ref>Here it refers to idolatry, hence the reference to the "other" six commandments. See Law of Kings and their Wars 6:1</ref> that were commanded to ''[[Bnei Noah|Noahides]]''. Any non-Jew who does not accept the laws that were commanded to Noahides receives capital punishment<ref>See Law of Kings and their Wars 9:14</ref> if he is within our jurisdiction.<ref>Commentaries: our ''undisputed'' authority. In Laws of Idolatry 10:6, the Rambam says that no idolaters should be allowed to live among Jews "when the hand of Israel is powerful over them." The extent of the authority, or under what conditions, is a matter of dispute among the commentaries. During the Second Temple period, it appears that the Sages did not exercise this authority. The consensus of halachic opinion holds that this ruling of the Rambam does not apply today, and may require further clarification and limitation.</ref>
:See also: [[Capital Punishment in Noahide law]]</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>ט</b>&nbsp; יפת תואר שלא רצת להניח עבודה זרה לאחר השנים עשר חודש, הורגין אותה. וכן עיר שהשלימה, אין כורתין להן ברית, עד שיכפרו בעבודה זרה, ויאבדו כל מקומותיה, ויקבלו שאר המצוות שנצטוו בני נח: שכל גוי שלא קיבל מצוות שנצטוו בני נח, הורגין אותו, אם ישנו תחת ידינו.</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''10''' ''[[Moshe Rabbenu]]'' gave the Torah and the commandments as an inheritance only to Israel<ref>See Laws of Kings and their Wars 10:9 where is explains that a non-Jew who studies Torah is worthy of death at the hand of Heaven, under certain conditions.</ref>, as it is written: "[The Torah is...] an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob" (Deuteronomy 33:4). Anyone who wants to may convert from the other nations, as it is written "as with you are , [the same shall be] as with the convert" (Numbers 15:15). Anyone who does not wish to is not compelled to accept the Torah and commandments. Instead ''Moshe Rabbenu'' commanded, at the word of the Almighty, to compel all those who come into the world to accept the commandments which were commanded to Noah.<ref>Tosefos Yom Tov (Avos 3:14) writes "as the Rambam writes, we were commanded by Moses [to compel the non-Jews to accept the Seven Laws]. If this applies to compulsion at the point of the sword, with threats of execution,... it surely applies regarding compulsion through persuasion, to lead their hearts to the will of their Creator." The Chasam Sofer (Choshen Mishpat, responsum 85) writes that it is a mitzvah to guide the gentiles in the service of G-d. However some authorities disagree and hold that the obligation is only moral, not a legal requirement, see introduction above.</ref> Anyone who will not accept, receives capital punishment.<ref>In contrast to the guidance mentioned previously, this law only applies when the Jews have undisputed authority of the Land of Israel, See Laws of Kings and their Wars 9:14</ref> One who accepts these [basic laws] is called: ''[[Ger Toshav]]'' in every place.<ref>According to the Rambam, the laws concerning ''Ger Toshav'' only applies when the entire (or majority) of Jewish people live in the Land of Israel (see Laws of Idolatry 10:6) and at that time non-Jews can become a ''Ger Toshav'' in any land. Other authorities disagree and hold that one may become a ''Ger Toshav'' today. Some authorities require the non-Jew to live in the Land of Israel to be considered a ''Ger Toshav''.</ref> It is necessary to receive him in front of three Torah Scholars.<ref>Three Torah Scholars constitute a rabbinical court. Some commentaries have noted that this is the same requirement for a non-Jews conversion to Judaism, inviting comparison between conversion and a "partial conversion" of the ''Ger Toshav''. Other authorities view the requirement to appear before the court as performing a legal, rather than spiritual function, pointing out that here the non-Jew is re-affirming their covenant rather than 'switching' covenants.</ref> And all who have taken upon themselves to circumcise, and twelve months have past without circumcision, behold this person is like a heretic among the nations.<ref>The Rambam, in the Laws of Kings and their Wars 10, outlines the rules governing our relationship with Jews and non-Jews. A distinction is made between non-Jews who uphold a recognized legal system based on the Seven Laws and those who are outside any recognized legal system. Other texts read "this person is like the other nations". In either case, a A non-Jew who belongs to a nation who has taken on circumcision (generally understood to refer to the Arabs), but fails to do so falls outside the relationship defined by the Seven Laws. Other texts read "this person is like the other nations", which is understood to imply that someone who agrees to circumcise himself, i.e. convert to Judaism, but twelve months elapse without circumcising himself, his original commitment to convert is no longer taken seriously and he reverts to an ordinary non-Jew.</ref>
:See also:''[[The Obligation of Jews to Seek Observance of Noahide Laws by Gentiles]]''</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>י</b>&nbsp; משה רבינו לא הנחיל התורה והמצוות אלא לישראל, שנאמר "מורשה, קהילת יעקוב" (דברים לג,ד), ולכל הרוצה להתגייר משאר האומות, שנאמר "ככם כגר" (במדבר טו,טו). אבל מי שלא רצה, אין כופין אותו לקבל תורה ומצוות. וכן ציווה משה רבינו מפי הגבורה, לכוף את כל באי העולם לקבל כל מצוות שנצטווה נח, וכל מי שלא קיבל, ייהרג. והמקבל אותם, הוא הנקרא גר תושב בכל מקום. וצריך לקבל עליו בפני שלושה חברים. וכל המקבל עליו למול, ועברו עליו שנים עשר חודש ולא מל, הרי זה כמין שבאומות.</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''11''' Everyone who accepts the [[Seven Laws]] and is careful to do them, this person is one of the ''[[Chasidei Umos HaOlam]]'' (very pious of the nations of the world), and he has portion in the world to come. This applies to one who accepts them and will do them because the ''[[Kodosh Baruch Hu]]'' commanded them in the Torah, and informed us by means of Moshe Rabbenu, that Noahides were previously commanded concerning these laws. But if he does them because of an intellectual decision, then he is not a ''Ger Toshav'', and is not of the ''[[Chasidei Umos HaOlam]]'', rather except from their wise men . he is [only] one of their ''[[Chochmei Umos HaOlam]]'' (wise men of the nations of the world).</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>יא</b>&nbsp; כל המקבל שבע מצוות ונזהר לעשותן, הרי זה מחסידי אומות העולם, ויש לו חלק לעולם הבא. והוא שיקבל אותן ויעשה אותן מפני שציווה בהן הקדוש ברוך הוא בתורה, והודיענו על ידי משה רבינו, שבני נח מקודם נצטוו בהן. אבל אם עשאן מפני הכרע הדעת, אין זה גר תושב, ואינו מחסידי אומות העולם אלא מחכמיהם.</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''1''' ''Adam HaRishon'' was commanded in six things: concerning idolatry, blasphemy, spilling of blood, forbidden relations, robbery, and justice. However they received Even though all these though were received into our hands, from ''Moshe Rabbenu'', and the knowledge was imparted to intelect naturally inclines towards them – from the principles a general reading of the words of Torah, they could can see that they were commanded in these. [G-d] added to Noah added [the commandment] concerning a torn limb, as it is written "From the flesh, its life is in the blood, do not eat" (Genesis 9:4). This makes seven commandments. This is how it was matters stood in the world until Avraham. Avraham came and was commanded other things beyond this, in circumcision and he prayed the morning prayers. Yitzchak began tithing, and added the afternoon prayers. Yaakov added [the prohibition of not eating] the sciatic nerve and prayed the evening prayers. In Egypt, Amram was commanded other things, until ''Moshe Rabbenu'' came and completed [the giving] of the Torah, by his hand.
:See also: [[Chart of Maimonides' Noahide Laws]]</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>א</b>&nbsp; על שישה דברים נצטווה אדם הראשון: על עבודה זרה, ועל ברכת השם, ועל שפיכות דמים, ועל גילוי עריות, ועל הגזל, ועל הדינים. אף על פי שכולן קבלה הן בידינו ממשה רבינו, והדעת נוטה להן, מכלל דברי התורה, ייראה שעל אלו נצטוו. הוסיף לנח אבר מן החי, שנאמר "אך בשר, בנפשו דמו לא תאכלו" (בראשית ט,ד). נמצאו שבע מצוות. וכן היה הדבר בכל העולם, עד אברהם נצטווה יתר על אלו במילה, והוא התפלל שחרית. ויצחק הפריש מעשר, והוסיף תפילה אחרת לפנות היום. ויעקוב הוסיף גיד הנשה, והתפלל ערבית. ובמצריים נצטווה עמרם במצוות יתרות, עד שבא משה רבינו ונשלמה תורה על ידו.</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''4''' A Noahide that murdered someone, even if it was an unborn child – he is given capital punishment [in retribution] for its [death]. Even if the person killed was terminally ill, or bound and placed before a lion, or allowed him to die of starvation – since he caused someone to die in some manner, he is given capital punishment. Even if someone is killed by kills a pursuer, that could have been saved by [the action of] even one of his limbs, he is given capital punishment, whereas this differs from Jewish law.</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>ד</b>&nbsp; בן נח שהרג נפש, אפילו עובר במעי אימו, נהרג עליו. וכן אם הרג טריפה, או שכפתו ונתנו לפני הארי, או שהניחו ברעב עד שמת, הואיל והמית מכל מקום, נהרג. וכן אם הרג רודף שיכול להצילו באחד מאבריו, נהרג עליו, מה שאין כן בישראל.</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top">A Noahide who is forced by compulsion to transgress one of the commandments given to him, he is permitted to transgress. Even if forced to serve idolatry, he may serve, according to [principle] that they are not commanded on ''[[Kiddush Hashem]]''. And a minor, deaf-mute or foofool, are never punished, because they are not children of commandments [bound by law].</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big><b>ב</b>&nbsp;בן נח שאנסו אנס לעבור על אחת ממצוותיו, מותר לו לעבור: אפילו נאנס לעבוד עבודה זרה, עובד, לפי שאינן מצווין על קידוש השם. ולעולם אין עונשין מהן לא קטן, ולא חירש, ולא שוטה, לפי שאינן בני מצוות.</big></div></td>
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Maimonides' Law of Noahides

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