Chapter 9 opens with a list of the Seven Noahide Commandments. The chapter then describes the history of this covenant and proceeds to define the observance of these commandments.
What is idolatry? What is the meaning of "cursing
How does a society pursue justice? How does a society form courts of law? Are judges paid? How are the commandments enforced? Should there be other branches of government? Do courts enact laws and regulations? May courts or governments establish armies? What about taxes to pay for public services?
Not all societies are organized as republics. What about monarchies? Tribal societies? Feudal societies? Nomads?
These commandments do not mention education. Who is responsible for schools and education? If schooling is mandatory, until what age? What constitutes the core curriculum? I believe, though, that the Lubavitcher Rebbe has outlined the core curriculum. See what he has said concerning Education Day, U.S.A.
I plan to continue to translate Chapters 9 and 10
The Laws Concerning Moshiach, as translated and annotated by Sichos In English in 1991, is a rendering of Chapters 11 and 12. I saved a copy of their web page, and it resides on my web site. Since saving their web page, I have improved the readability, made some corrections, and added a few of my own notes.
My own translation of Chapters 11 and 12 are available from the links in the upper
1. Adam [and Eve] were commanded concerning seven things,
concerning idol worship,
and concerning cursing G-d,
and concerning murder,
and concerning sexual immorality,
and concerning theft,
and concerning the establishment of courts of law.
. . .
. . .
9. . . . We [Jews] do not allow them [Noahites] to establish a new religion
or to create commandments of their own which originate in their own minds.
Instead, either a Noahite becomes a righteous convert and accepts all the commandments [in
or he/she should remain with the instructions designated for him/her
and not add or subtract.
. . .
Chapter 9, Law 1
and Eve - Actually, Eve had not yet been created. She learned about her obligation to observe the Seven Commandments from Adam.
seven things - six prohibitions and one positive commandment, establishing courts of law.
murder - Erroneously translated as killing – manslaughter. Self-defense, for example, is permitted although it is a case of one person killing another.
sexual immorality - adultery, incest, homosexual activity, and bestiality.
Chapter 10, Law 9
in their own minds - based on their own decision; according to their own philosophical outlook.
which originate in their own minds -
all the commandments - the entire body of 613 commandments that every Jew is expected to observe.
the instruction designated for him/her - The Seven Noahide Commandments as enumerated above.
not add or subtract - both adding and subtracting derive from their own philosophy instead of the Torah's philosophy/outlook.
• Judaism Looks at the World
An electronic introduction to the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah.
• You can find an English translation of Chapters 9 and 10 of the Laws of Kings and Their Wars, translated by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky in their book, The Path of the Righteous Gentile.
• The definitive code for Noahites' behavior is now available in English —
The Divine Code: The Guide to Observing G-d's Will for Mankind,
Revealed from Mount Sinai in the Torah of Moses