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Chapter 1: The Mitzvos

Number of Mitzvos:

There are a total of Fourty one Mitzvos in Parshas Shoftim; Fourteen positive commands and Twenty seven negative commands. The following are the commands in the order listed by the Sefer Hachinuch.

A. Positive:

1. Mitzvah 491/Positive 203: To appoint judges and police in every Jewish city.
2. Mitzvah 492/Positive 204: To Listen to the words of the Beis Din Hagadol.
3. Mitzvah 493/Positive 205: To appoint a king over us.
4. Mitzvah 494/Positive 206: For the king to write his own personal Sefer Torah.
5. Mitzvah 495/Positive 207: To give the arm, cheek and stomach of an animal to the Kohen.
6. Mitzvah 496/Positive 208: To separate Teruma Gedola.
7. Mitzvah 497/Positive 209: To give the first sharing of wool from sheep to the Kohen.
8. Mitzvah 498/Positive 210: For the Kohanim and Levites to set up shifts and rotations of Avoda.
9. Mitzvah 499/Positive 211: To listen to a Navi.
10. Mitzvah 500/Positive 212: To separate Arei Miklat.
11. Mitzvah 501/Positive 213: To repay Eidim Zomimim just like they desired to do.
12. Mitzvah 502/Positive 214: To anoint a Kohen during times of war to speak to the soldiers.
13. Mitzvah 503/Positive 215: To give an option of surrender and peace to a city where the war waged is optional.
14. Mitzvah 504/Positive 216: To break the neck of the Egla Arufa.

B. Negative:

1. Mitzvah 505/Negative 289: Not to plant a tree in the Mikdash.
2. Mitzvah 506/Negative 290: Not to build a Matzeiva.
3. Mitzvah 507/Negative 291: Not to sacrifice a Karban that has a Mum.
4. Mitzvah 508/Negative 292: Not to argue on the Gedolei Yisrael.
5. Mitzvah 509/Negative 293: Not to appoint a non-Jew or Ger as a king.
6. Mitzvah 510/Negative 294: A king may not have many horses.
7. Mitzvah 511/Negative 295: Not to live in Egypt.
8. Mitzvah 512/Negative 296: Not to have to too many wives.
9. Mitzvah 513/Negative 297: Shevet Levi may not receive a portion in Eretz Yisrael.
10. Mitzvah 514/Negative 298: Shevet Levi may not take any spoilage from war.
11. Mitzvah 515/Negative 299: A king may not have more gold and silver than necessary.
12. Mitzvah 516/Negative 300: Not to eat do Kesima-actions to tell the future – psychics.
13. Mitzvah 517/Negative 301: Not to perform magic.
14. Mitzvah 518/Negative 302: Not to perform Chaver-Charms.
15. Mitzvah 519/Negative 303: Not to seek the service of an Ov .
16. Mitzvah 520/Negative 304: Not to seek the service of a Yidoni.
17. Mitzvah 521/Negative 305: Not to seek the dead.
18. Mitzvah 522/Negative 306: Not to say a false prophesy in name of G-d.
19. Mitzvah 523/Negative 307: Not to prophesize in name of idolatry.
20. Mitzvah 524/Negative 308: Not to fear a false prophet and to kill him.
21. Mitzvah 525/Negative 309: Not to steal property by changing the line of the border.
22. Mitzvah 526/Negative 310: Not to accept a single witness for testimony.
23. Mitzvah 527/Negative 311: Not to have mercy on one who is obligated to pay fines and damages.
24. Mitzvah 528/Negative 312: Not to fear the enemy during war.
25. Mitzvah 529/Negative 313: Not to allow to live any soul of the seven Canaanite nations.
26. Mitzvah 530/Negative 314: Not to destroy trees that surrounds a city under siege.
27. Mitzvah 531/Negative 315: Not to cultivate the channel where the Egla Arufa was killed.

Chapter 2: Outline of the Parsha

Pesukim: 97 [Siman:סלוא]

Rishon

1. Appointing honest judges and police:
   • The Mitzvah to appoint judges and police in all one’s cities.
   • The judges are to judge appropriately and may not take bribes. 
2. Number of miscellaneous commandments:
   • Not to plant a tree in the Mikdash.
   • Not to build a Matzeiva.
   • Not to sacrifice a Karban that has a Mum.
   • To kill a Jew who is an idol worshiper.
   • Not to accept testimony from one witness.
   • To Listen to the words of the Beis Din Hagadol.
   • Not to argue on the Gedolei Yisrael. 

     Sheiyni

3. Mitzvos relating to appointing a king:
   • It is a Mitzvah to appoint a king over us.
   • One may not appoint a non-Jew or Ger as a king.
   • A king may not have many horses.
   • A king may not have to too many wives.
   • A king may not have more gold and silver than necessary.
   • The king is to write his own personal Sefer Torah. 

     Shelishi

4. Mitzvos relating to Shevet Levi and Kohanim:
   • Shevet Levi may not receive a portion in Eretz Yisrael.
   • One is to give the arm, cheek and stomach of an animal to the Kohen.
   • They are to receive Teruma Gedola.
   • One is to give the first sharing of wool from sheep to the Kohen. 

     Revi’i

5. Mitzvos relating to not resembling the Canaanite nations:
   • Not to eat do Kesima-actions to tell the future – psychics.
   • Not to perform magic.
   • Not to perform Chaver-Charms.
   • Not to seek the service of an Ov .
   • Not to seek the service of a Yidoni.
   • Not to seek the dead. 

     Chamishi

6. Mitzvos relating to a Navi.
   • One must listen to a Navi.
   • To kill a false prophet.
   • How to tell if one is a false prophet. 
7. Mitzvos relating to Ir Miklat:
   • Upon arrival to Eretz Yisrael Arei Miklat are to be separated.
   • Each city is to be placed in an equal distance.
   • An accidental murderer, such as one who killed while wood chopping, is to seek refuge there.
   • When the borders will expand another three cities are to be added.
   • An intentional murderer cannot seek refuge in the city and he is to be extradited and killed. 

     Shishi

8. Miscelaneous Mitzvos:
   • One may not steal property by changing the line of the border.
   • One may not to accept a single witness for testimony.
   • To repay Eidim Zomimim just like they desired to do. 
9. Laws relating to war:
   • The speech of the Mashuach Milchama.
   • Not to fear the enemy during war.
   • For all those who recently married, built a home or vineyard to return.
   • Those who have fear may not go to battle.
   • Guards 

     Shevi’i

• The Kohanim and Levites to set up shifts and rotations of Avoda. 

• The nation is to give an option of surrender and peace to a city of whom war will be waged against.
• Every male is to be killed if they do not accept peace.
• From the Canaanite nations, not one soul is to be allowed to survive.
• One may not destroy a fruit tree even when placing asiege on a city. 
  1. The Mitzvah of Egla Arufa:
     • If a corpse is found, the elders measure to which city it is closest.
     • The elders of that city are to bring a calf who has never done work.
     • The calf’s neck is to be snapped near a river and that area is to never be cultivated.
     • They are to wash their hands in the river and state that they were not involved in the murder.