Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, the Rambam teaches us the crucial halachos of how we must distance ourselves from idolaters and avoid showing them favor, so that we do not, chas v'shalom, learn from their ways or give them a permanent foothold in Eretz Yisrael. We will learn the strict prohibitions against making covenants with them, showing them unearned mercy, or praising them, alongside the severe prohibition of selling or renting them land in Eretz Yisrael.
At the same time, the Rambam guides us in the ways of peace, showing where the Chachamim permitted certain interactions—like supporting their poor or greeting them—for the sake of darkei shalom. We will also learn the definition of a ger toshav and how these halachos apply depending on whether Klal Yisrael is in exile or has sovereignty over the land.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
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אִסּוּר כְּרִיתַת בְּרִית עִם עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְדִין הַמּוֹסְרִיםHalacha 1 · The Prohibition of Making Covenants with Idolaters and the Law of Jewish Traitors
אֵיןWe do notכּוֹרְתִיןmakeבְּרִיתa covenantלְשׁבְעָהwith the sevenעֲמָמִיןnationsכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂהthat we makeעִמָּהֶןwith themשָׁלוֹםpeaceוְנָנִיחַand we leaveאוֹתָםthemלַעֲבֹדto worshipעֲבוֹדָהworshipזָרָהforeignשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimז7ב2"לֹא"Do notתִכְרֹתmakeלָהֶםwith themבְּרִית"a covenant"אֶלָּאratherיַחְזְרוּthey must turn backמֵעֲבוֹדָתָםfrom their worshipאוֹorיֵהָרְגוּ.be slainוְאָסוּרand it is forbiddenלְרַחֵםto have mercyעֲלֵיהֶםupon themשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimז7ב2"וְלֹא"and do notתְחָנֵּם".show them favor"לְפִיכָךְthereforeאִםifרָאָהone sawמֵהֶםof themאוֹבֵדperishingאוֹorטוֹבֵעַdrowningבַּנָּהָרin the riverלֹאhe shall notיַעֲלֶנּוּ.bring him upרָאָהוּif he saw himנָטוּיtendingלָמוּתto dieלֹאhe shall notיַצִּילֶנּוּ.save himאֲבָלbutלְאַבְּדוֹto destroy himבְּיָדוֹwith his handאוֹorלְדָחֳפוֹto push himלַבּוֹרinto the pitוְכַיּוֹצֵאand the likeבָּזֶהof thisאָסוּרis forbiddenמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאֵינוֹthat he does notעוֹשֶׂהmakeעִמָּנוּwith usמִלְחָמָה.warבַּמֶּהIn whatדְּבָרִיםwordsאֲמוּרִיםare these saidבְּשִׁבְעָהregarding the sevenעֲמָמִיןnationsאֲבָלbutהַמּוֹסְרִיםthe informantsוְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסִיןand the apikorsimמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלof Israelהָיָהit wasדִּיןthe lawלְאַבְּדָןto destroy themבְּיָדby handוּלְהוֹרִידָןand to cast them downעַדuntilבְּאֵרthe pit ofשַׁחַתdestructionמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereמְצֵרִיםdistressingלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Israelוּמְסִירִיןand turning awayאֶת—הָעָםthe peopleמֵאַחֲרֵיfrom afterה':Hashem
This halacha outlines the prohibition of establishing peace treaties that permit idolatry, the restriction against saving non-belligerent idolaters, and the severe measures once taken against Jewish heretics and informants.
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אִסּוּר רְפוּאַת עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּרְפוּאַת גֵּר תּוֹשָׁבHalacha 2 · The Prohibition of Healing Idolaters and the Permission to Heal a Ger Toshav
מִכָּאןFrom hereאַתָּהyouלָמֵדlearnשֶׁאָסוּרthat it is forbiddenלְרַפְּאוֹתto healעַכּוּ"םan idolaterאֲפִלּוּevenבְּשָׂכָר.for a wageוְאִםand ifהָיָהhe wasמִתְיָרֵאafraidמֵהֶןof themאוֹorשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasחוֹשֵׁשׁconcernedמִשּׁוּםbecause ofאֵיבָהill feelingמְרַפֵּאhe may healבְּשָׂכָרfor a wageאֲבָלbutבְּחִנָּםfor freeאָסוּר.it is forbiddenוְגֵרand a residentתּוֹשָׁבconvertהוֹאִילsinceוְאַתָּהand youמְצֻוֶּהare commandedלְהַחֲיוֹתוֹto sustain himמְרַפְּאִיםwe healאוֹתוֹhimבְּחִנָּם:for free
This halacha outlines the restrictions on providing medical treatment to idolaters versus the obligation to heal a resident convert.
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אִסּוּר מְכִירַת וּשְׂכִירוּת בָּתִּים וְשָׂדוֹת לְעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵלHalacha 3 · Prohibition of Selling and Renting Houses and Fields to Idolaters in Eretz Yisrael
אֵיןWe do notמוֹכְרִיןsellלָהֶםto themבָּתִּיםhousesוְשָׂדוֹתand fieldsבְּאֶרֶץin the Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל.Yisraelוּבְסוּרְיָאand in Syriaמוֹכְרִיןwe sellלָהֶםto themבָּתִּיםhousesאֲבָלbutלֹאnotשָׂדוֹת.fieldsוּמַשְׂכִּירִיןand we rentלָהֶםto themבָּתִּיםhousesבְּאֶרֶץin the Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוּבִלְבַדprovidedשֶׁלֹּאthat notיַעֲשׂוּthey will makeשְׁכוּנָהa neighborhoodוְאֵיןand there is noשְׁכוּנָהneighborhoodפָּחוֹתlessמִשְּׁלֹשָׁה.than threeוְאֵיןand we do notמַשְׂכִּירִיןrentלָהֶםto themשָׂדוֹת.fieldsוּבְסוּרְיָאand in Syriaמַשְׂכִּירִיןwe rentלָהֶםto themשָׂדוֹת.fieldsוּמִפְּנֵיand because ofמָהwhatהֶחְמִירוּdid they make stringentבְּשָׂדֶה,regarding a fieldמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁיֵּשׁthere isבָּהּin itשְׁתַּיִם,two thingsמַפְקִיעָהּit exempts itמִןfromהַמַּעַשְׂרוֹתthe tithesוְנוֹתֵןand it givesלָהֶםto themחֲנִיָּהa resting placeבַּקַּרְקַע.in the landוּמֻתָּרand it is permittedלִמְכֹּרto sellלָהֶםto themבָּתִּיםhousesוְשָׂדוֹתand fieldsבְּחוּצָהoutsideלָאָרֶץof the Landמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאֵינָהּit is notאַרְצֵנוּ:our land
This halacha details the restrictions on selling or renting real estate to idolaters in Eretz Yisrael, Syria, and the Diaspora.
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אִסּוּר הַשְׂכָּרַת בָּתִּים לְעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וְאִסּוּר חֲנִיָּה בַּקַּרְקַעHalacha 4 · Prohibition of Renting Dwellings to Idolaters and Giving Them a Resting Place in the Land
אַףEvenבְּמָקוֹםin a placeשֶׁהִתִּירוּthat they permittedלְהַשְׂכִּירto rentלֹאnotלְבֵיתfor a house ofדִּירָהdwellingהִתִּירוּdid they permitמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat heמַכְנִיסbringsלְתוֹכָהּinto itעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidדבריםDevarimז7כו26"לֹא"Do notתָבִיאbringתוֹעֵבָהan abominationאֶלintoבֵּיתֶךָ".your house"אֲבָלbutמַשְׂכִּירone may rentלָהֶןto themבָּתִּיםhousesלַעֲשׂוֹתָןto make themאוֹצָר.a storehouseוְאֵיןand we do notמוֹכְרִיןsellלָהֶןto themפֵּרוֹתfruitsוּתְבוּאָהand grainוְכַיּוֹצֵאand similarבָּהֶןto themבַּמְחֻבָּרin that which is attachedלַקַּרְקַע.to the groundאֲבָלbutמוֹכֵרsellהוּאhe mayמִשֶּׁיָקֹץfrom when it is cutאוֹorמוֹכֵרhe may sellלוֹto himעַלonמְנָתconditionלָקֹץto cutוְקוֹצֵץ.and he cutsוּמִפְּנֵיand because ofמָהwhatאֵיןdo we notמוֹכְרִיןsellלָהֶןto themשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרbecause it is saidדבריםDevarimז7ב2"וְלֹא"and do notתְחָנֵּם"show them favor"לֹאdo notתִּתֵּןgiveלָהֶםthemחֲנִיָּהan encampmentבַּקַּרְקַעin the landשֶׁאִםfor ifלֹאnotיִהְיֶהthere will beלָהֶםto themקַרְקַעlandיְשִׁיבָתָןtheir dwellingיְשִׁיבַתa dwelling ofעַרְאַיtemporaryהִיא.it isוְכֵןand soאָסוּרit is forbiddenלְסַפֵּרto speakבְּשִׁבְחָןin their praiseוַאֲפִלּוּand evenלוֹמַרto sayכַּמָּהhowנָאֶהbeautiful isעוֹבֵדworshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsזֶהthisבְּצוּרָתוֹ.in his formקַלlightוָחֹמֶרand heavyשֶׁיְּסַפֵּרthat he should speakבְּשֶׁבַחin praise ofמַעֲשָׂיוhis deedsאוֹorשֶׁיְּחַבֵּבthat he should hold dearדָּבָרa matterמִדִּבְרֵיהֶםfrom their wordsשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוְלֹאand do notתְחָנֵּםshow them favorלֹאnotיִהְיֶהshall there beלָהֶםto themחֵןfavorבְּעֵינֶיךָ,in your eyesמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁגּוֹרֵםthat it causesלְהִדַּבֵּקto clingעִמּוֹwith himוְלִלְמֹדand to learnמִמַּעֲשָׂיוfrom his deedsהָרָעִים.the badוְאָסוּרand it is forbiddenלִתֵּןto giveלָהֶםto themמַתְּנַתa gift ofחִנָּםfreeאֲבָלbutנוֹתֵןgiveהוּאhe mayלְגֵרto a residentתּוֹשָׁבalienשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimיד14כא21"לַגֵּר"to the strangerאֲשֶׁרwho isבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָin your gatesתִּתְּנֶנָּהyou shall give itוַאֲכָלָהּand he shall eat itאוֹorמָכֹרsellלְנָכְרִי",to a non-Jew"בִּמְכִירָהby saleוְלֹאand notבִּנְתִינָה:by giving
This halacha details the restrictions on renting homes, selling land-attached produce, praising idolaters, and giving them free gifts.
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מְפַרְנְסִים עֲנִיֵּי עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹםHalacha 5 · Supporting Poor Idolaters and Greeting Them for the Sake of Peace
מְפַרְנְסִיםWe supportעֲנִיֵּיthe poor ofעוֹבְדֵיworshipers ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsעִםwithעֲנִיֵּיthe poor ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִפְּנֵיbecause ofדַּרְכֵיthe ways ofשָׁלוֹם.peaceוְאֵיןand we do notמְמַחִיןpreventבִּידֵיthe hands ofעֲנִיֵּיthe poor ofעוֹבְדֵיworshipers ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsבְּלֶקֶטfrom leketשִׁכְחָהshich'chahוּפֵאָהand pe'ahמִפְּנֵיbecause ofדַּרְכֵיthe ways ofשָׁלוֹם.peaceוְשׁוֹאֲלִיםand we inquireבִּשְׁלוֹמָםof their welfareוַאֲפִלּוּand evenבְּיוֹםon the day ofחַגָּםtheir festivalמִפְּנֵיbecause ofדַּרְכֵיthe ways ofשָׁלוֹם.peaceוְאֵיןbut we do notכּוֹפְלִיןdoubleלָהֶןto themשָׁלוֹםpeaceלְעוֹלָם.everוְלֹאand notיִכָּנֵסshall he enterלְבֵיתוֹinto the houseשֶׁלofעוֹבֵדa worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsבְּיוֹםon the day ofחַגּוֹhis festivalלָתֵתto giveלוֹto himשָׁלוֹם.peaceמְצָאוֹif he found himבַּשּׁוּקin the marketplaceנוֹתֵןhe givesלוֹto himשָׁלוֹםpeaceבְּשָׂפָהwith a lipרָפָהweakוּבְכֹבֶדand with heaviness ofרֹאשׁ:head
This halacha outlines the Rabbinic enactments established for the sake of peace, allowing support for poor idolaters and greeting them respectfully.
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אִסּוּר יְשִׁיבַת עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְדִין גֵּר תּוֹשָׁבHalacha 6 · The Prohibition of Allowing Idolaters to Dwell in Eretz Yisrael and the Laws of a Ger Toshav
אֵיןNotכָּלallהַדְּבָרִיםthe mattersהָאֵלּוּtheseאֲמוּרִיםare saidאֶלָּאexceptבִּזְמַןin a timeשֶׁגָּלוּthat are exiledיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְבֵיןamongהָעוֹבְדֵיthe worshippers ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsאוֹorשֶׁיַּדthat the hand ofעַכּוּ"םidolatersתַּקִּיפָהis powerfulעַלoverיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֲבָלbutבִּזְמַןin a timeשֶׁיַּדthat the hand ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתַּקִּיפָהis powerfulעֲלֵיהֶםover themאָסוּרit is forbiddenלָנוּfor usלְהַנִּיחַto allowעוֹבְדֵיworshippers ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsבֵּינֵינוּ.among usוַאֲפִלּוּand evenיוֹשֵׁבone who dwellsיְשִׁיבַתa dwelling ofעַרְאַיtemporaryאוֹorעוֹבֵרone who passesמִמָּקוֹםfrom placeלְמָקוֹםto placeבִּסְחוֹרָהwith merchandiseלֹאnotיַעֲבֹרshall he passבְּאַרְצֵנוּin our landאֶלָּאexceptעַדuntilשֶׁיְּקַבֵּלthat he acceptsעָלָיוupon himselfשֶׁבַעsevenמִצְוֹתmitzvotשֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּthat were commandedבְּנֵיthe children ofנֹחַNoachשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosכג23לג33"לֹאnotיֵשְׁבוּshall they dwellבְּאַרְצְךָ"in your landאֲפִלּוּevenלְפִיforשָׁעָה.an hourוְאִםand ifקִבֵּלhe acceptedעָלָיוupon himselfשֶׁבַעsevenמִצְוֹתmitzvotהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisגֵּרis a gerתּוֹשָׁב.toshavוְאֵיןand we do notמְקַבְּלִיןacceptגֵּרa gerתּוֹשָׁבtoshavאֶלָּאexceptבִּזְמַןin a timeשֶׁהַיּוֹבֵלthat the Jubileeנוֹהֵגis practicedאֲבָלbutשֶׁלֹּאnotבִּזְמַןin the time ofהַיּוֹבֵלthe Jubileeאֵיןwe do notמְקַבְּלִיןacceptאֶלָּאexceptגֵּרa gerצֶדֶקtzedekבִּלְבַד:alone
This halacha outlines the strict prohibition against allowing unrepentant idolaters to reside in or even pass through Eretz Yisrael when Jewish authority is established, unless they accept the seven Noahide laws.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The chapter begins by forbidding covenants with idolaters or showing them mercy, which includes saving them from danger, though we do not actively harm them; conversely, we are commanded to eradicate Jewish traitors and apikorsim who lead others astray. The Rambam details the prohibitions against providing free medical care to idolaters, selling or renting them homes or fields in Eretz Yisrael, and selling them unharvested produce, all derived from the prohibition of giving them a resting place in the land or praising them. Finally, the Rambam explains that while we support their poor and greet them for the sake of peace, when Klal Yisrael is in power, we may not allow any idolater to dwell in our land unless they accept the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach and become a ger toshav, which is only accepted when the Jubilee Year is observed.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The Torah is teaching us a profound lesson about the sanctity of our spiritual environment. The prohibition of "lo techaneim", not giving idolaters a resting place in the land, and not praising their ways, is not just a physical boundary; it is a spiritual shield. The Rambam explains that when we praise their deeds or hold their words dear, it causes us to draw close to them and learn from their ways. What we allow to take root in our surroundings, and what we allow ourselves to admire, ultimately shapes who we are.
In our daily lives, we are constantly exposed to values, lifestyles, and philosophies that run completely contrary to Torah and yiras Shamayim. It is so easy to slip into admiring the secular world's achievements, their culture, or their outlook on life. But the Torah warns us: do not give these foreign ideas a "resting place" in your mind. Do not let them become beautiful in your eyes, because what you admire, you will eventually imitate.
We must guard our homes and our minds as sacred spaces. Just as we are careful not to bring an abomination into our physical homes, we must be equally vigilant about what we bring into our hearts. Our admiration and our praise must be reserved for holiness, for Torah, and for those who dedicate their lives to serving Hashem.
Today, make a conscious effort to guard your speech and your thoughts from praising secular values or lifestyles. Instead, loudly and warmly praise a mitzvah, a good middah, or a Torah concept in front of your family, ensuring that only holiness has a permanent resting place in your home.