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Mishpatim

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Mishpatim (משפטים – Hebrew for “laws”) is the eighteenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 21:1–24:18. Jews in the Diaspora read it the eighteenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in February.

Summary

God told Moses to give the people a series of laws (see "Commandments" below), which some scholars call the Covenant Code. (Exodus 21–23.)

God invited Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders to bow to God from afar. (Ex. 24:1.) Moses repeated the commandments to the people, who answered: “All the things that the LORD has commanded we will do!” (Ex. 24:3.) Moses then wrote the commandments down. (Ex. 24:4.) He set up an altar and some young Israelite men offered sacrifices. (Ex. 24:4–5.) Moses read the covenant aloud to the people, who once again affirmed that they would follow it. (Ex. 24:7.) Moses took blood from the sacrifices and dashed it on the people. (Ex. 24:8.)

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel then ascended, saw God, ate, and drank. (Ex. 24:9–11.)

Moses and Joshua arose, and Moses ascended Mount Sinai, leaving Aaron and Hur in charge of legal matters. (Ex. 24:13–14.) A cloud covered the mountain, hiding the Presence of the LORD for six days, appearing to the Israelites as a fire on the top of the mountain. (Ex. 24:15–17.) Moses went inside the cloud and remained on the mountain 40 days and nights. (Ex. 24:18.)

Commandments

According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 23 positive and 30 negative commandments in the parshah:

  • Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws Ex. 21:2
  • Betroth the Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8
  • Redeem Jewish maidservants Ex. 21:8
  • The master must not sell his Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8
  • Not to withhold food, clothing, or sexual relations from one's wife Ex. 21:10
  • The courts must execute by strangulation those who deserve it Ex. 21:12
  • Not to strike one's father or mother Ex. 21:15
  • The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another's property Ex. 21:18–19
  • The court must carry out the death penalty of the sword Ex. 21:20
  • The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox Ex. 21:28
  • Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned Ex. 21:28
  • The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit Ex. 21:33
  • The court must implement punitive measures against the thief Ex. 21:37
  • The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating Ex. 22:4
  • The court must judge the damages incurred by fire Ex. 22:5
  • The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard Ex. 22:6
  • The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier Ex. 22:8
  • The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard Ex. 22:9
  • The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower Ex. 22:13
  • The court must fine one who seduces a maiden Ex. 22:15–16
  • The court must not let the sorcerer live Ex. 22:17
  • Not to insult or harm a sincere convert with words Ex. 22:20
  • Not to cheat a sincere convert monetarily Ex. 22:20
  • Not to afflict any orphan or widow Ex. 22:21
  • Lend to the poor and destitute Ex. 22:24
  • Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it Ex. 22:24
  • Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note Ex. 22:24
  • Not to curse judges Ex. 22:27
  • Not to blaspheme Ex. 22:27
  • Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin Ex. 22:27
  • Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order Ex. 22:28
  • Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded Ex. 22:30
  • Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present Ex. 23:1
  • Transgressors must not testify Ex. 23:1
  • The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required Ex. 23:2
  • A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases Ex. 23:2
  • Decide by majority in case of disagreement Ex. 23:2
  • Not to pity a poor man in judgment Ex. 23:3
  • Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it Ex. 23:5
celebrating Sukkot

Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is Jeremiah 34:8–22 & 33:25–26.

Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:


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