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Parshas Mishpatim

Pesukim: 118 [Siman:עזיאל ]

Haftorah: Yermiyahu 34:8-22, 33:25-26

Rishon

1. The laws of an Eved Ivri:

• His terms of service and release: These are the laws that you shall place before them: When you purchase a Jewish slave [Eved Ivri], he shall work for six years and in the seventh year he is to be freed. If he came alone he is to leave alone, while if he came with a wife he is to leave with a wife. If the slave is given a wife by his master, then she and the children are to remain with the master, while he is to go free.
• If the slave does not want to leave: If the slave states that he enjoys working for his master and does not want to go free, then the master is to take him to the judges and bring him to the doorpost and make a hole through his ear using a peg, and he shall work for him forever.

2. The laws of an Ama Ivria:

• If one sells his daughter as a Jewish maidservant [Ama Ivriya] her conditions of release are not like that of other slaves. She cannot be sold. He is encouraged to marry her, or to have his son marry her, and give her the regular marital rights maintained by a wife. He must provide her with food, clothing, and conjugal rights. If the above is not performed, she shall go free.

3. Cases involving injury and homicide:

• Murder: One who hits a man and murders him is to be put to death. If it was unintentional, he is to flee to an area of refuge.
• Hitting one’s parents: One who hits his parents is to be put to death.
• Kidnapping: One who kidnaps a person and sells him is to be put to death.
• Cursing one’s parents: One who curses his parents is to be put to death.
• Injury: One who injures a person is to pay restitution for damages caused.

Sheiyni

• Killing a slave: One who kills his slave will be avenged.
• Killing a fetus: One who kills a fetus, shall be penalized.
• If there will be a fatality, Then he shall give a life in place of a life. An eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound.
• Injuring a slave: One who injures the eyes or teeth of a slave is required to set the slave free.
• One’s animal killed: If one’s ox kills a man or woman, the ox is to be stoned and not have its meat eaten, while the owner is to be set free. If, however, the owner knew of the ox’s murderous nature and was warned, then also the owner is to die. If the ox killed a slave, he is to pay 30 Shekalim to the master of the slave, and the ox is to be stoned.

4. Cases involving monetary damage:

• Pit damages: If one digs a pit, and leaves it uncovered, he must pay for damages if an animal falls in and dies.
• Animal damages: If one’s ox gores and injures another ox, he is to pay half the damages. If, however, this ox had a history of goring which was known to the owner, the owner must pay for the full damages.
• Stealing animals: If a man steals an ox or sheep and slaughters or sells it, he is to pay restitution of five times the amount of the ox and four times the amount of the sheep.
• Robbing a home: If one catches a burglar in the act of stealing in one’s home, one may kill him.
• A robber who does not have ability to pay restitution, is to be sold as a slave.
• One who steals must pay double the amount of the item he stole.

Shelishi

• Property damage caused by animala: If one’s animal ate the food in another person’s yard, the owner must pay.
• Fire damage: If one’s fire spreads and causes property damage to another, the person who lit the fire must pay.
• Caretaker who lost an object: If a caretaker of an item claims the item was lost or stolen from him, he is to take an oath that he did not take the item. [This applies by a Shomer Chinam-one who was guarding for free, however if he was a Shomer Sechar-guarding for payment, then even] if the item was stolen he must pay for it, although if something happened beyond his control, he is exempt.
• Borrower lost object: If a borrowed item became damaged, the borrower must pay, unless the owner was with him.

5. Miscellaneous laws:

• Statutory rape: If one seduces an unmmaried virgin, he is to marry her as a wife, and if her father refuses he must pay her father.
• Witches: Do not allow a witch to live.
• Bestiality: One who lies with an animal is to be put to death.
• Idolatry: One who slaughters to other G-ds shall be destroyed.
• Verbal abuse against converts, widows and orphans: Do not oppress a convert, widow or orphan as if you do Hashem will hear their cry and take His wrath out on you, turning your wives to widows and sons to orphans.
• Loans: If you lend money to a Jew you may not collect interest on the loan. You may also not press them to pay. If you collect clothing as collateral of a debt, you shall return it by sundown.

Revi’i

• You may not curse a judge or curse a leader amongst your people.
• You shall not delay the tithe produce or the Terumah.
• You are to give Hashem your firstborn. The newborn animal is to be given to Hashem on the 8^th
• Treifa meat: You may not eat meat of a Treifa animal. Rather, throw it to the dogs.

6. Laws involving the judicial system:

• Don’t listen to meritless reports.
• Don’t join a false witness in testimony.
• Don’t follow the majority to do evil.
• Do not show compassion in judgment to the weak and poor.

7. Miscellaneous laws:

• Hashavas Aveida: Return a lost animal to its owner even if it belongs to your enemy.
• Chamor Sonacha: Help your enemy’s animal unload if it has a heavy burden.

Chamishi

• Do not tilt the judgment of a case against a destitute person.
• Lying: Distance yourself from lying.
• Do not kill the innocent.
• Bribery: Do not take a bribe.
• Do not oppress a convert.
• Shemita: Plant your field for six years and in the seventh year, leave your field for the destitute and animals to eat from.
• Shabbos: One shall work for six days and rest on Shabbos, you and your household.
• Do not mention other deities on your lips.
• Aliya Leregel: Celebrate with me three times a year. Guard the festival of Matzos for seven days, eat Matzos, and do not come to see me empty handed. By the festival of harvest and of the gathering [you are also to visit me]. Three times a year, all your males are to come see the face of G-d.
• Do not slaughter my sacrifice over Chametz and do not let the fat of my festive offering remain overnight.
• Bikurim: The first fruits of your lands you shall bring to me.
• Basar Bechalav: Do not cook a young animal in its mother’s milk.

Shishi

8. Hashem warns Bnei Yisrael to heed the commands of his angel:

• I will send my angel before you, to guide you and guard you on the way to the promised land. Beware not to transgress his words for he will not forgive you. If you obey him, then I will destroy all your enemies. My angel will be sent before you and destroy all the seven nations of Canaan.
• Do not bow to their gods and do not serve them. Destroy their gods and their statues.

9. Blessings to be received:

• Serve Hashem your G-d and He will bless your bread and water and remove illnesses from amongst you.

Shevi’i

• No women will have a miscarriage or be infertile in your land. I will fill the number of your days.
• I will send fear before you, and send the wasp, to drive out all your enemies in the land of Canaan. I will not destroy them all in one year, lest the land become desolate and filled with wild animals, rather I will expel them little by little.
• I will give you borders from the reed sea until the Mediterranean.
• Do not make a peace treaty with those nations, lest they remain in your land and bring you to sin, to serve their gods.

10. Details of Matan Torah:

• Hashem told Moshe that he, Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and the seventy elders of Israel are to prostrate themselves from a distance. Moshe alone is to ascend to G-d, and not anyone else.
• Naaseh Venishma: Moshe told all the words of G-d to the nation and they said “We shall do.”
• Building an altar, bringing sacrifices and sprinkling blood: Moshe awoke in the morning and built an altar under the mountain and twelve monuments, corresponding to the 12 tribes. The youth were sent to offer sacrifices on the altar for G-d. Moshe took half the blood and placed it in a bowl, and the other half he threw onto the altar. Moshe then took the Torah and read it to the congregation, and they replied “Everything that Hashem has asked we will do and listen.” Moshe then took the blood and sprinkled it on the nation, as part of the covenant.
• Ascending the mountain and looking at Hashem: Moshe, Aaron and the seventy leaders ascended the mountain and they saw Hashem, and that under His feet was a sapphire brick, like the purity of the sky. Hashem did not take vengeance against these nobles [even though] they gazed at G-d and ate and drank.
• Moshe ascends to receive the Luchos: Hashem told Moshe to ascend the mountain and receive the stone Luchos with the commandments written on them. Moshe rose together with Yehoshua, and Moshe ascended the mountain of G-d. He instructed the leaders to remain put until they return, and that in the interim Aaron and Chur would act as the leaders to deal with any issues that occur. Moshe ascended the mountain and it was covered by a cloud. Moshe remained in the cloud for six days and on the seventh day Hashem called him from within the cloud. Hashem appeared like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain, before the Jewish people. Moshe remained there for 40 days and 40 nights.

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