King David wrote in Psalms 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” In the New Covenant Paul wrote in Romans 7:12 “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” Are Christians then under the Law? No, for Paul tells us later in Romans 7:6 “we have died to Law and are now alive to the Spirit.” The Law to the spiritual man can give insight and wisdom. With that in mind here are the commandments that are in the Older Testament as they were understood by the Rabbis of Israel.

1. We are required to believe that God exists (Exodus 20:2)

• To acknowledge His unity (Deut. 6:4)
• To love God (Deut. 6:13)
• To fear God (Deut. 6:13)
• To serve God (Exodus 23:25)
• To cleave to Him (Deut. 10:20)
• To swear only by His Name (Deut. 10:20)
• To imitate God (Deut 28:9)
• To Sanctify His Name (Lev. 22:32)
• To recite “The Shema” each morning and evening (Note the Shema means “hear” and refers to these portions of Scripture Deut. 6:4-9, Deut. 11:13-21; Num. 15:37-41)
• To study the Law and teach it to others (Deut. 6:7)
• To bind tefillin on his head (Tefillin also known as phylacteries were leather straps utilized in prayer Matt. 23:5; Deut. 6:8)
• To bind tefillin on his arm (Deut. 6:8)
• He should wear fringes on His garment (Num. 15:38)
• He should place a mezuzah on his door (Mezuzah means “doorpost” and is small “box” placed on the doorpost containing the Shema Deut. 6:4-9, Deut. 11:13-21)
• We are to assemble every 7th year to hear the law read (Deut. 31:12)
• Our king must write a special copy of the Torah for himself (Deut. 17:18)
• Everyone must have a Torah scroll (Note this is a rabbinical interpretation) (Deut. 31:19)
• To praise God after eating (Deut. 8:10)
• The People of God should build a Temple (Exodus 25:8)

• They should respect the Temple (Lev. 19:30)
• The Temple must be guarded at all times (Num. 18:4)
• Levites should perform their duties in the Temple (Num. 18:23)
• The priests must wash hands and feet before entering the Temple (Exodus 30: 19)
• The priests must light the candelabrum daily (Exodus 27:21)
• The priests are required to bless Israel (Num. 6:23)
• The Priests must set the shewbread and frankincense before the Ark (Exodus 25:30)
• The Priests must bum incense on the golden altar (Exodus 30: 7)
• The Priests must keep the fire burning continually on the altar (Lev. 6:6)
• The Priests must remove the ashes daily (Lev. 6:3)
• Ritually unclean persons must be kept out of the Temple (Num.5:2)
• Israel should honor its priests (Lev. 21:8)
• The priests must be dressed in special priestly garments (Ex 28:2)
• The priests should carry the ark on their shoulders (Num. 7:9)
• The holy anointing oil must be according to its special formula (Exodus 30:31)
• The priestly families should officiate in rotation (Deut. 18:6-8)
• In honor of certain close relatives, the priests should make themselves ritually unclean (Lev. 21:2-3)
• The high priest may marry only a virgin (Lev. 21:13)
• The sacrifices must be offered twice daily (Num. 28:3)
• The high priest must offer a meal offering twice daily (Lev. 6:13)
• An additional sacrifice should be offered even’ Saturday (Num. 28:9)
• An additional sacrifice must be offered on the first of every month (Num. 28:11)
• An additional sacrifice must be offered on each of the 7 days of Passover (Lev. 23 :36)
• On the 2nd day of Passover a meal offering of the first barley must be brought (Lev. 23: 10)
• On Shavuot (Pentecost) an additional sacrifice must be offered (Num. 28:26-27)
• On Shavuot two loaves of bread must be presented as a wave offering (Lev. 23: 17)
• additional sacrifice must be made on the Feast of Trumpets (Num. 29:1-2)
• An additional sacrifice must be made on the day of Atonement (Num. 29:7-8)
• Avodah or special service must be performed on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16)
• An additional sacrifice must be brought on Tabernacle (Num. 29:13)
• An additional sacrifice must be brought on the 8th day of Tabernacles (Num. 29:36)
• Every male must make a pilgrimage to the Temple 3 times a year (Exodus 23:14)
• Every male must be at the Temple during the 3 pilgrim festivals (Ex. 34:23, Dt. 16:16)
• Every male should rejoice on the festivals (Deut. 16:14)
• On the 14th of Nisan one should kill the pascal lamb (Exodus 12:6)
• The pascal lamb must be roasted and eaten on the 15th of Nisan (Exodus 12:8)
• Those who were ritually impure in Nisan should kill the pascal lamb on the 14th of Iyar (Num. 9:1l)
• The pascal lamb is to be eaten with matzah and bitter herbs (Num. 9:11, Ex. 12:8)
• Trumpets should be sounded during festive sacrifices and also in times of tribulation (Num. 10:10)
• Cattle to be sacrificed must be at least 8 days old (Lev. 22:27)
• Cattle to be offered must be without blemish (Lev. 22:21)
• All offerings must be salted (Lev. 2: 13)
• It is a religious duty to perform the ritual of the burnt offering (Lev. 1:2)
• It is religious duty to perform the sin offering (Lev. 6:18)
• ItÄs a religious duty to perform the guilt offering (Lev. 7: l)
• It is a religious duty to perform the peace offering (Lev. 3: l)
• It is a religious duty to perform the meal offering (Lev. 6:7)
• Should the Sanhedrin err in a decision its members must bring a sin offering (Lev. 4:13)
• A person who commits sin unwittingly must bring an offering (Lev. 4:27)
• If in doubt as to whether one has transgressed such a commandment a guilt offering must be brought (Lev. 5:17-18)
• For stealing or swearing falsely a guilt offering must be brought (Lev. 5: 15, 21-25)
• In special circumstances the sin offering can be according to one’s means (Lev. 5:1-l l)
• One must confess one’s sins before God and repent of them (Num. 5:6-7)
• A man who has a seminal discharge must bring a sacrifice (Lev. 15:13-15)
• A woman who has a vaginal discharge must bring a sacrifice (Lev. 15:28-29)
• A woman must bring a sacrifice after she gives birth (Lev. 12:6)
• A leper must bring a sacrifice after he has been cleansed (Lev. 14:10)
• One must tithe one’s cattle (Lev. 27:32)
• The first born of clean cattle are holy and must be sacrificed (Exodus 13:2)
• The first born of man must be redeemed. (Ex. 22:28, Nu. 1:8-15)
• The firstling of the ass must be redeemed (Exodus 34:20)
• If the firstling of the ass is not redeemed its neck must be broken (Exodus 13:13)
• Animals set aside as offerings must be brought to Jerusalem without delay (Dt. 12:5-6)
• These animals may be offered only in the Temple (Deut. 12:14)
• Offerings from outside the land of Israel may also be brought to the Temple (Dt. 12:26)
• Sanctified animals which have become blemished must be redeemed (Deut. 12:15)
• A beast exchanged for an offering is also holy (Lev. 27:33)
• The priests should eat the remainder of the meal offering (Lev. 6:9)
• The priests should eat the flesh of sin and guilt offerings (Exodus 29:33)
• Consecrated flesh which has become ritually unclean must be burned (Lev. 7:19)
• Consecrated flesh which was not eaten within its appointed time must be burned (Lev. 7:17)

92.    A Nazirite must let his hair grow during the period of his separation (Num. 6:5)

• When the period of separation is over for the Nazirite he must shave his head and bring his sacrifice (Num. 6:18)
• A man must honor his vows and his oaths (Deut. 23:24)
• A Judge can annul vows and oaths only in accordance with the law (Num. 30:3)
• Anyone who touches a carcass becomes ritually unclean (Lev. 11:8, 24)
• Anyone who touches one of the eight species of reptiles becomes ritually unclean (Lev. 11:29-31)
• Food becomes unclean when it comes in contact with a ritually unclean object. (Lev. 11:34)
• Menstruous women are ritually impure (Lev. 15: 19)
• Women lying in after childbirth are ritually unclean (Lev. 12:2)
• A leper is ritually unclean (Lev. 13:3)
• A leprous garment is ritually unclean (Lev. 13:51)
• A leprous house is ritually unclean (Lev. 14:44)
• A man having a running issue is unclean (Lev. 15:2)
• Semen is unclean (Lev. 15:16)
• A woman suffering from a running issue is unclean (Lev. 15: 19)
• A human corpse is ritually unclean (Num. 19: 14)
• The purification water for the woman purifies the unclean but it makes the clean ritually unclean (Num. 19:13,21)
• To become cleansed of leprosy one must follow the process of ritual purification (Lev. 14:2)
• It is a blessing to become ritually clean by immersion (Lev. 15:16)
• To be cleansed of leprosy one must also shave off one’s hair (Lev. 14:9)
• Until cleansed the leper must be bareheaded with clothing in disarray so as to be easily distinguishable (Lev. 13:45)
• The ashes of the red heifer are to be used in the process of ritual purification (Num. 19:2-9)
• If a person undertakes to give his own value to the Temple, he must do so (Lev. 27:2-8)
• Should a man declare an unclean beast as a donation to the Temple he must give its value as fixed by the priest. (Lev. 27:11-12)
• The same is true for a house (Lev. 27: 14)
• The same is true for a field (Lev. 27: 16, 22-3)
• If one unwittingly derives benefit from Temple property full restitution plus a fifth must be made (Lev. 5: 16)
• The fruit of the fourth year’s growth of trees is holy and may be eaten only in Jerusalem (Lev. 19:24)
• When you reap your fields, you must leave the corners (Lev. 19: 19)
• the gleanings, (Lev. 19:9)
• The forgotten sheaves, (Deut. 24:19)
• the misformed bunches of grapes, (Lev. 19:10)
• and the gleanings of the grapes for the poor (Lev. 19:10)
• The first fruits must be separated and brought to the Temple (Ex. 23:19)
• The great heave offering must be given to the priests (Deut. 18:4)
• You must give a tithe of your produce to the Levites (Lev. 27:30)
• A second tithe must be separated which is to be eaten only in Jerusalem (Dt. 14:22)
• The Levites must give a tenth of their tithe to the priests (Num. 18:26)
• In the third and sixth years of the seven year cycle you should separate a tithe for the poor instead of the second tithe (Deut. 14:28)
• A declaration must be recited when separating the various tithes (Deut. 26: 13)
• A declaration must also be made when bringing the first fruits to the Temple (Dt. 26:5)
• The first portion of the dough must be given to the priests (Num. 15:20)
• In the seventh year everything that grows is ownerless and available to all (Ex. 23:11)
• On the seventh year the fields must lie fallow and you may not till the ground (Ex. 34:10)
• You must sanctify the year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:10)
• On the day of Atonement of the Jubilee year you must sound the shofar and set all Hebrew slaves free (Lev. 25:9)
• In the Jubilee year all land is to be returned to its ancestral owners, (Lev. 25:24)
• and generally, in a walled city the seller has the right to buy back a house within a year of the sale (Lev. 25:29-30)
• Starting from the entry into the land of Israel, the years of the Jubilee must be counted and announced yearly and septennially (Lev. 25:8)
• In the seventh year all debts are to be annulled but (Deut. 15:3)
• one may exact a debt owed by a foreigner (Deut. 15:3)
• When you slaughter an animal, you must give the priest his share (Deut. 18:3)
• The priest must receive a share of the first of your fleece (Deut. 18:4)
• When a man makes a special vow, you must distinguish between that which belongs to the Temple and that which goes to the priests (Lev. 27:21, 28)
• To be fit for consumption, beast and fowl must be slaughtered according to the law and if they are not of a domesticated species (Deut. 12:21)
• Their blood must be covered with earth after slaughter. (Lev. 17: 13)
• Set the parent bird free when taking the nest (Deut. 22:7)

149. Examine a beast to determine whether it is permitted for consumption (Lev. 11:2)

150. Examine a fowl to determine whether it is permitted for consumption (Deut. 14:11)

151. Examine locusts to determine whether they are permitted for consumption (Lev. 11:21)

152. Examine fish to determine whether it is permitted for consumption (Lev. 11:9)

1.  The Sanhedrin should sanctify the first day of every month and reckon the years and the seasons (Ex. 12:2, Dt. 16:1)
2.  You must rest on the Sabbath Day (Ex. 23:12)
3.  The Sabbath must be declared holy at its onset and termination (Ex. 20:8)
4.   On the 14th of Nisan all leaven must be removed from your possession (Ex. 12:15)
5.   On the 15th of Nisan the story of the Exodus from Egypt must be told (Ex. 13:8)

158.  On the 15th of Nisan you must eat Matzah (Ex. 12:18)

159.  On the first day of Passover you must rest (Ex. 12: 16)

1. On the last day of Passover, you must rest (Ex. 12: 16)
2. Starting from the 16th of Nisan you shall count 49 days (Lev. 23:35)
3. You must rest on Shavuot (Pentecost) (Lev. 23)
4. You must rest on the day of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24)
5. On the Day of Atonement, you must rest (Lev. 16:29, 31)
6. On the day of Atonement, you must fast (Lev. 16:29)

166. You must rest on the first day of Tabernacles (Lev. 23 :35)

167. You must rest on the last day of Tabernacles (Lev. 23 :36)

168.  On Tabernacles you are to dwell in booths (Lev. 23:42)

1. On Tabernacles you are to take the four species (Lev. 23 :40)
2. On the day of Trumpets you are to hear the sound of the shofar (rams horn) (Num. 29:1)
3. Every male should give half a shekel to the Temple annually (Ex. 30: 12-13)
4. You must obey a prophet ((Deut. 18: 15)
5. You must appoint a King (Deut. 17: 15)

174.   You must obey the Sanhedrin (Deut. 17:11)

1. In the case of division yield to the majority except in certain cases (Ex. 23 :2)
2. Judges and officials shall be appointed in every town (Deut. 16:18)
3. Your judges shall judge the people impartially (Lev. 19:15)
4. Whoever is aware of evidence must come to court to testify (Lev. 5:1)
5. Witnesses shall be examined thoroughly and, (Deut. 13:15)
6. if found false shall have done to them what they intended to do to the accused (Dt. 1 9: 1 9)
7. When a person is found murdered and the murderer is unknown the ritual of decapitating the heifer must be performed (Deut. 21 :4)
8. Six cities of refuge should be established (Deut. 19:3)
9. The Levites who have no ancestral share in the land shall be given cities to live in (Num. 35:2)
10. You must build a fence around your rood and remove potential hazards from your home (Deut. 22:8)
11. Idolatry and its appurtenances must be destroyed (Deut. 12:2, 7:5)
12. A city which has become perverted must be treated according to the law (Dt. 13:7)
13. You are commanded to destroy the seven Canaanite nations (Deut. 20: 1 7)
14. 
    You are to blot out the memory of Amalek (Deut. 25: 1 9)
15. You are to remember what Amalek did to Israel (Deut. 25:17)
16. The regulations of war are to be observed (Deut. 20:11-12)
17. A priest should be appointed for special duties in time of war (Deut. 20:2)
18. The military camp must be kept in a sanitary condition (Deut. 23:14-15)
19. Every soldier must be properly equipped to keep conditions sanitary (Deut. 23:14)
20. Stolen property must be properly restored to its owner (Lev. 5:23)
21. You are to give charity to the poor (Lev. 25:35, Deut. 15:8)
22. When a Hebrew slave goes free the owner must give him gifts (Deut. 15:14)
23. Lend to the poor without interest (Ex. 22:24)
24. You may lend to the foreigner at interest (Deut. 23:21)
25. Restore a pledge to his owner if he needs it (Deut. 24:13, Ex. 22:25)
26. Pay the worker his wages on time (Deut. 24: 15)
27. Permit him to eat the produce with which he is working (Deut. 23:25-26)
28. You must help unload an animal when necessary (Ex. 23:5)
29. and also help load man or beast (Deut. 22:4)
30. Lost property must be restored to its owner (Deut. 22: l, Ex. 23:4)
31. You are required to reprove the sinner (Lev.19:17)
32. but you must love your fellow as yourself (Lev. 19:18)
33. You are commanded to love the proselyte (Deut. 10: 19)
34. Your weights and measures must be accurate (Lev. 19:36)

209.    Respect the wise (Lev. 19:32)

210.    honor, (Ex. 20: 12)

211.    and fear your parents (Lev. 19:3)

• You should perpetuate the human race (Gen. I:28)
• by marrying according to the law (Deut. 24:l)
• A bridegoom is to rejoice with his bride for one year (Deut. 24:5)
• Male children must be circumcised (Gen. 17:10; Lev. 12:3)
• Should a man die childless his brother must either marry his widow (Deut. 25:5)
• or release her (Deut. 25:9)
• He who violates a virgin must marry her and may never divorce her (Deut. 22:29)
• If a man unjustly accuses his wife of premarital promiscuity he shall be flogged, and may never divorce her (Deut. 22:18-19)
• The seducer must be punished according to the law (Ex. 22:15-23)
• The female captive must be treated in accordance with her special regulations (Deut. 21:11)
• Divorce can be executed only be means of a written document (Deut. 24:1)
• A woman suspected of adultery has to submit to the required test (Num. 5: 15-27)
• When required by the law you must administer the punishment of flogging (Deut. 25:2)
• and you must exile the unwitting homicide (Num. 35:25)
• Capital punishment shall be by the sword (Ex. 2 1 :20)
• strangulation (Ex. 21 : 16)
• fire (Lev. 20: 14)
• or stoning as specified (Deut. 22:24)
• In some cases the body of the executed shall be hanged (Deut. 21:22)
• but it must be brought to burial the same day (Deut. 21 :23)
• Hebrew slaves must be treated according to the special laws for them (Ex. 21 :2)
• The master should marry his Hebrew maidservant (Ex. 21 :8)
• or redeem her (Ex. 21 :8)
• The alien slave must be treated according to the regulations applying to him (Lev. 25:46)
• The applicable law must be administered in the case of injury caused by a person (Ex. 21:18)
• an animal (Ex. 21 :28)
• or a pit (Ex. 21:33-34)
• Thieves must be punished (Ex. 21:37-22:3)
• You must render judgement in cases of trespass by cattle (Ex. 22:4)
• arson (Ex. 22:5)
• embezzlement by an unpaid guardian (Ex. 22:6-8)
• and in claims against a paid guardian, a hirer (Ex.22:9-12) or a borrower (Ex. 22: 13)
• Judgement must also be rendered in disputes arising out of sales (Lev. 25: 14)
• inheritance (Num. 27:8)
• and other matters generally (Ex. 22:8)
• You are required to rescue the persecuted even if it means killing his oppressor (Deut. 25: 12)
• It is forbidden to believe in the existence of any but the one God (Ex. 20:3)
• You may not make images for yourself (Ex. 20:4)
• You may not make images for others to worship (Lev. 19:4)
• You may not make images for any other purpose (Ex. 20:20)
• You must not worship anything but God either in the manner prescribed for His worship (Ex. 20:5)
• or in its own manner of worship (Ex. 20:5)
• Do not sacrifice children to Molech (Lev. 18:21)
• You may not practice necromancy (Lev. 19:31)

257. You may not resort to “familiar spirits” (Lev. 19:31)

258. Neither should you take idolatry or its mythology seriously (Lev. 19:4)

259. It is forbidden to construct a pillar (Deut. 16:22)

260. or dais even for the worship of God (Lev. 20:1)

• or to plant trees in the Temple (Deut. 16:21)
• You may not swear by idols or instigate an idolater to do so (Ex. 23:13)
• nor may you encourage or persuade any non-Jew (Ex. 23: 1 3)
• or Jew to worship idols (Deut. 13:12)
• You must not listen to or love anyone who disseminates idolatry (Deut. 13:9)

266.   nor should you withhold yourself from hating him (Deut 13:9)

• Do not pity such a person (Deut. 13:9)
• If somebody tries to convert you to idolatry do not defend him (Deut. 13:9)
• or conceal the fact (Deut. 13:9)
• It is forbidden to derive any benefit from the ornaments of idols (Deut. 7:25)
• You may not rebuild that which has been destroyed as a punishment for idolatry (Deut. 13:16)
• nor may you have any benefit from its wealth (Deut. 13:18)
• Do not use anything connected with idols or idolatry (Deut. 7 :26)
• It is forbidden to prophesy in the name of idols (Deut. 18:20)
• or prophesy falsely in the name of God (Deut. 18:20)
• Do not listen to the one who prophesies for idols (Deut. 13:3-4, Deut. 13:4)
• and do not fear the false prophet or hinder his execution (Deut. 18:22)
• You must not imitate the ways of idolaters or practice their customs (Lev. 20:23)
• divination (Lev. 19:26, Deut. 18: 10)
• soothsaying (Deut. 1 8: 10)
• enchanting (Deut. 18:10-11)
• sorcery (Deut. 18:10-11)
• charming (Deut. 18:10-11)
• consulting ghosts (Deut. 18: 10-11)
• familiar spirits (Deut. 18:10-11)
• and necromancy are forbidden (Deut. 18: 10-11)
• Women must not wear male clothing (Deut. 22:5)
• nor men that of women (Deut. 22:5)
• Do not tattoo yourself in the manner of the idolaters (Lev. 19:28)
• You may not wear garments made of both wool and linen (Deut. 22:11)
• nor may you shave (with a razor) the sides of your head (Lev. 19:27)
• or your beard (Lev. 19:27)
• Do not lacerate yourself over your dead (Deut. 16:1, Deut. 14:l, Also Lev. 19:28)
• It is forbidden to return to Egypt to dwell there permanently (Deut. 17: 16)
• or to indulge the impure thoughts or sights (Num. 15:39)
• You may not make a pact with the seven Canaanite nations (Ex. 23:32, Deut. 7:2)
• or save the life of any member of them (Deut. 20: 16)
• Do not show mercy to idolaters (Deut. 7:2)
• Or permit them to dwell in the land of Israel (Ex. 23:33)
• or intermarry with them (Deut. 7:3)
• A Jewess may not many an Ammonite or Moabite even if he converts to Judaism (Deut. 23 :4)
• but should not refuse (for reasons of genealogy alone) a descendent of Esau (Deut. 23 :8)
• or an Egyptian who are proselytes (Deut. 23:8)
• It is prohibited to make peace with the Ammonite or Moabite nations (Deut. 23 :7)
• The destruction of fruit trees even in times of war is forbidden as is wanton waste at any time (Deut. 20: 19)
• Do not fear the enemy (Deut. 7:21)