Murder, Theft, and Jealousy

32: Not to Murder

You shall not murder. (Shemos 20:13)

Every person is like an entire universe and must be treated with respect and honor. This law includes the mitzvah to rescue people from danger and also the mitzvah to guard one’s own life through safety and health precautions. Included in this are all the rules of traffic safety, taking precautions against fire, and observing building codes for safety (Rav Avigdor Miller, A Nation Is Born, p. 281).

Even hastening the death of a dying person by one moment is included in this prohibition, because every moment of life is sacred.A person who is taking care of a sick or dying relative, rachmana litzlan, must ask shailos wherever relevant to know what to do at crucial moments.

33: Not to Kidnap

You shall not kidnap. (Shemos 20:13)

The prohibition against kidnapping is one of the Ten Commandments. If one kidnaps a person and then forces him to serve him or sells him to others, he is liable to a death penalty.

The severity of the punishment one receives for removing another person from his natural environment can serve as a reminder of how important it is for a person to utilize his own natural environment properly.

We learn from this that Hashem places us in the environment that is best for us and we must view it as such.

34–35: Not to Steal or Rob

You shall not steal, you shall not deny falsely, and you shall not lie to one another... You shall not cheat your fellow man and you shall not rob.(Vayikra 19:11–13)

We are prohibited from stealing any object or any money that belongs to someone else. Geneivah, stealing, is usually done secretly, while gezeilah, robbing, refers to taking another’s possessions openly, by force. Both are prohibited, even if it is done as a joke or with the intention of returning the item later on.

One may also not buy stolen goods. The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 4:3) says that this may be an even more severe transgression than other forms of theft because it is more difficult to return the stolen item to the true owner.

Even stealing a small amount can at times be considered like taking a life.

If one disturbs someone else’s sleep, he is considered a robber who may not be able to return his theft (Rav Miller, Kingdom of Cohanim, p. 202).

36: Not to Deny Money that You Owe Others

37: Not to Delay in Returning Money You Received from Others

You shall not cheat your fellow man. (Vayikra 19:13)

38: Not to Delay in Paying a Worker on time

You shall not keep a worker’s wage with you overnight. (Vayikra 19:13)

Murder, Theft, and Jealousy

These three mitzvos, 36–38, are all found in the section of Parashas Kedoshim that deals with our monetary obligations towards others. We are prohibited from denying that we received a loan or that we owe someone money for work that he did (mitzvah 36). We are obligated to pay it on time, or, if this is impossible, to approach the lender and ask for an extension (mitzvah 37). Finally, when we have a worker we are obligated to pay him his wages promptly (mitzvah 38).

The Chafetz Chaim strongly urges us to arrange a price in advance so as to avoid problems later on (Sefas Tamim, ch. 5).

39: Not to Testify Falsely Against Others

Do not bear false witness against your fellow man. (Shemos 20:13)

This commandment, not to bear false witness, is the ninth of the Ten Commandments.

As we know, we are commanded to always be mindful of Hashem’s presence. If we remember that Hashem is constantly watching us, we will never bear false witness against a fellow Jew, as it says in Koheles, “Don’t be hasty with your mouth...[for] you are in Hashem’s presence” (Koheles 5:1).

Whatever we say is like a testimony in Hashem’s presence. The first halachah in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim is “Shivisi Hashem l’negdi samid - I place Hashem constantly before me” (Tehillim 16:7). Hashem is everywhere and everything we say goes on record.

The Midrash explains that this is a parallel to the fourth commandment, which is “Remember the Shabbos”—i.e., to testify that Hashem is the Creator of the universe. Just as we testify to the truth that Hashem is the Creator, we are to refrain from testifying falsely against Hashem and against people.

40–41: Not to Covet or Desire Another’s Possessions

Do not be jealous of your neighbor’s house, his wife, his servant or maidservant, his ox or his donkey... (Shemos 20:14)

This fundamental law, not to covet things which belong to others, is the last of the Ten Commandments. One who desires something that belongs to someone else and then pushes the other person to sell it to him transgresses this prohibition, even if he pays the other person a lot of money.

According to the Chafetz Chaim, a son-in-law who extorts more money or gifts from his in-laws before the wedding than what was originally agreed upon transgresses this prohibition.

Do not covet your friend’s wife, and do not desire his house, his field, his servant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is his. (Devarim 5:18)

In the second listing of the asseres hadibros in Devarim, the last commandment is worded slightly differently. Instead of the term “lo sachmod,” it says, “lo sisaveh.” This tells us that not only may we not force another person to give us his property, but it is also prohibited to make plans to take that property, even if our plans do not come to action.

Rabbi Elazar HaKappar said: Jealousy, desire, and honor remove a person from this world. (Avos 4:21)

Rabbi Avigdor Miller points out that the first character trait listed here, and thus the worst of the three, is envy (A Nation Is Born, p. 284). However, we should utilize this powerful emotion for the positive by emulating other people’s mitzvah observance and Torah knowledge (Bava Basra 22a).

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