The mitzvot of the Torah, parsha by parsha

Deuteronomy

The mitzvot of Shoftim

After Sefer HaChinuch · by a Levite of Barcelona

Mitzvot in the parsha: 41 Positive: 14 Negative: 27

The first mitzvah of the parsha

491. To appoint judges and officers

Deuteronomy 16:18

The root of the mitzvah

When judges and leaders are held in awe and honour by the people, the whole faith grows stronger. At first people act honestly out of fear, but in time they understand that this is the way of truth and choose it out of love. Long habit becomes a second nature, and a people accustomed to the right path becomes bound to the good, and that is what is pleasing before God.

  1. 491

    To appoint judges and officers

    Positive Deuteronomy 16:18

  2. 492

    To not plant any tree idols

    Negative Deuteronomy 16:21

  3. 493

    To not erect a matsevah

    Negative Deuteronomy 16:22

  4. 494

    To not offer a sacrifice of an animal with a temporary blemish

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:1

  5. 495

    To listen to the voice of the court at all times

    Positive Deuteronomy 17:10

  6. 496

    To not stray from their words

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:11

  7. 497

    To appoint a king from Israel

    Positive Deuteronomy 17:15

  8. 498

    To not establish a foreign king over us

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:15

  9. 499

    That the king not amass many horses

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:16

  10. 500

    To not ever dwell in the Land of Egypt

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:16

  11. 501

    That the king not amass many wives

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:17

  12. 502

    That the king not amass much silver and gold for himself

    Negative Deuteronomy 17:17

  13. 503

    That the king write a second Torah scroll for himself

    Positive Deuteronomy 17:18

  14. 504

    That the tribe of Levi not inherit in the Land of Israel

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:1

  15. 505

    That the tribe of Levi not take a portion in the spoils

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:1

  16. 506

    To give the foreleg, the jaw and the maw to the priest

    Positive Deuteronomy 18:3

  17. 507

    To separate the great tithe for the priest

    Positive Deuteronomy 18:4

  18. 508

    To give the first shearing to the priest

    Positive Deuteronomy 18:4

  19. 509

    That the priests and the Levites work in the Temple in shifts

    Positive Deuteronomy 18:6

  20. 510

    To not engage in clairvoyance

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  21. 511

    To not do magic

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  22. 512

    To not invoke a charm

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  23. 513

    To not ask a master of ov

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  24. 514

    To not ask a yidaaoni

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  25. 515

    To not inquire of the dead

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:10

  26. 516

    The commandment to heed a true prophet

    Positive Deuteronomy 18:15

  27. 517

    To not prophecy falsely

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:20

  28. 518

    To not prophesy in the name of idolatry

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:20

  29. 519

    That we not fear from the killing of a false prophet

    Negative Deuteronomy 18:22

  30. 520

    The commandment to prepare six cities of refuge

    Positive Deuteronomy 19:3

  31. 521

    To not show pity upon the killer or injurer

    Negative Deuteronomy 19:21

  32. 522

    To not remove a landmark

    Negative Deuteronomy 19:14

  33. 523

    To not establish a matter of testimony with one witness

    Negative Deuteronomy 19:15

  34. 524

    To do to the collusive witness like he colluded

    Positive Deuteronomy 19:19

  35. 525

    To not be terrified or to be afraid in war

    Negative Deuteronomy 20:8

  36. 526

    The commandment to anoint a priest for war

    Positive Deuteronomy 20:5

  37. 527

    To send peace to the cities that we besiege

    Positive Deuteronomy 20:10

  38. 528

    To not keep alive a soul of the seven nations

    Negative Deuteronomy 20:16

  39. 529

    To not destroy fruit trees

    Negative Deuteronomy 20:19

  40. 530

    To behead the calf in the riverbed

    Positive Deuteronomy 21:1

  41. 531

    To not work or sow in that land

    Negative Deuteronomy 21:4