1I have seen fit to divide this work into fourteen books.
2FIRST BOOK. I include in it all the precepts which constitute the very essence and principle of the faith taught by Moses, our teacher, and which it is necessary for one to know at the outset; as for example, acceptance of the unity of God, and the prohibition of idolatry. I have called this book: the Book of Knowledge.
3SECOND BOOK. I include in it all the precepts which are to be continuously observed, and which we have been bidden to keep, in order that we may always love God and be ever mindful of Him. Such precepts are the recital of the Shema and of prayers, the wearing of phylacteries, the recital of the blessings. Included in this group is the rite of Circumcision, because this is a sign in our flesh, serving as a constant reminder, even when phylacteries and fringes of the garment, etc. are not being worn. I have called this book: The Book of Love.
4THIRD BOOK. I include therein all the precepts to be fulfilled at stated periods, such as Sabbaths and Festivals. I have called this book: The Book of Seasons.
5FOURTH BOOK. I include therein the precepts that refer to marital relations, such as marriage and divorce, levirate marriage and the form of release from the obligation of a levirate marriage. I have called this book: The Book of Women.
6FIFTH BOOK. I include in it precepts having reference to illicit sexual unions, and those that relate to forbidden foods; because, in these two regards, the Omnipresent sanctified us and separated us from the nations, and of both classes of precepts it is said, “And I have set you apart from the peoples” (Lev. 20:26), “.... who have set you apart from the peoples” (Lev. 20:24). I have called this book: The Book of Holiness.
7SIXTH BOOK. I include in it precepts binding on one who has incurred an obligation by utterances, e.g., by taking oaths or making vows. I have called this book: The Book of Specific Utterance.
8SEVENTH BOOK. I include in it precepts relating to cultivation of the soil; such as Sabbatical years and Jubilees, tithes, heave-offerings, (priests’ dues of the crops), and other precepts connected with these and akin to them. I have called this book: The Book of Seeds.
9EIGHTH BOOK. I include therein precepts relating to the erection of the Sanctuary and to the regular public sacrifices. I have called this book: The Book of Service.
10NINTH BOOK. I include therein precepts that refer to sacrifices brought by private individuals. I have called this book: The Book of Sacrifices.
11TENTH BOOK. I include therein precepts relating to things ritually clean or unclean. I have called this book: The Book of Purity.
12ELEVENTH BOOK. I include therein precepts referring to civil relations which from the outset cause damage to property or injury to the person. I have called this book: The Book of Torts.
13TWELFTH BOOK. I include in it precepts referring to sales and (other modes of) acquisition. I have called this book: The Book of Acquisition.
14THIRTEENTH BOOK. I include in it precepts referring to civil relations in cases that do not, from the outset, cause damage, such as Bailments, Debts, Claims and Denials. I have called this book: The Book of Judgments.
15FOURTEENTH BOOK. I include therein precepts, the fulfilment of which is assigned to the Sanhedrin, as for example, infliction of capital punishment, reception of evidence, administration of the laws affecting the sovereign, and wars. I have called this book: The Book of Judges.
16The following is the division of groups of laws in this work, arranged according to the subject matter of the books, as also of the precepts appertaining to the topics in each of these groups.
17BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE Its Halachoth (groups of laws) are five, in the following order: laws concerning the foundations of the Torah; laws concerning ethical behaviour; laws concerning the study of the Torah; laws concerning idolatry and institutions of the gentiles; laws concerning Repentance.
18LAWS CONCERNING THE FOUNDATION OF THE TORAH.
These comprise ten precepts; of which, six are affirmative, and four are negative precepts, as follows: 1) To know that there is a God; 2) Not to entertain the thought that there is any other god but the Eternal; 3) To acknowledge His Unity; 4) To love Him; 5) To revere Him; 6) To hallow His name; 7) Not to desecrate His name; 8) Not to destroy things upon which His name is called; 9) To hear and accept the message of the prophet who speaks in His name; 10) Not to test Him.
19LAWS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR.
These comprise eleven precepts; of which, five are affirmative, and six are negative precepts. They are as follows: 1) To imitate His ways; 2) To cleave to those who know Him; 3) To love associates; 4) To love strangers; 5) Not to hate brothers; 6) To administer rebuke; 7) Not to put any one to shame; 8) Not to afflict the feeble and wretched; 9) Not to go about tale-bearing; 10) Not to avenge; 11) Not to bear a grudge.
20LAWS CONCERNING THE STUDY OF THE TORAH.
These comprise two affirmative precepts; first, to learn Torah; second, to show honour to its teachers and to those versed in the knowledge of it.
21LAWS CONCERNING IDOLATRY AND THE INSTITUTIONS OF HEATHEN NATIONS.
These comprise fifty-one precepts; of which, two are affirmative, and forty-nine, negative precepts. They are as follows: 1) Not to turn to idolatry; 2) Not to indulge in evil thoughts or sights; 3) Not to blaspheme; 4) Not to worship an idol in the customary mode; 5) Not to prostrate oneself before it; 6) Not to make a graven image for oneself; 7) Not to fashion a graven image, even for others; 8) Not to make images even for ornaments; 9) Not to draw others away after idol-worship; 10) To burn a city that has become idolatrous; 11) Not to rebuild such a city; 12) Not to use any of its property; 13) Not to entice an individual to idol worship; 14) Not to love the enticer; 15) Not to give up hating him; 16) Not to save him; 17) Not to urge pleas in his favour; 18) Not to refrain from urging pleas against him; 19) Not to prophesy in the name of an idol; 20) Not to listen to, and accept a message from, one who prophesies in its name; 21) Not to prophesy falsely even in the name of God; 22) Not to fear putting a false prophet to death; 23) Not to swear in the name of an idol; 24) Not to practise consultation of ghosts; 25) Not to practise consultation of familiar spirits; 26) Not to pass (anyone through the fire) to Molech; 27) Not to set up a pillar (for worship); 28) Not to prostrate oneself on a figured stone; 29) Not to plant an Asherah (grove for worship); 30) To destroy an idol and everything made for its sake; 31) Not to make use of an idol or articles subsidiary to its service; 32) Not to make use of the ornamental adjunct of anything worshipped; 33) Not to make a covenant with idolaters; 34) Not to show them favour; 35) That they should not settle in our land; 36) Not to adopt their customs, nor their mode of dress; 37) Not to practise enchantment; 38) Not to practise divination; 39) Not to practise soothsaying; 40) Not to practise charming; 41) Not to seek counsel of the dead; 42) Not to enquire of a ghost; 43) Not to enquire of a familiar spirit; 44) Not to practise witchcraft; 45) Not to round the corners of the head; 46) Not to remove the corners of the beard; 47) That a man shall not put on a woman's attire; 48) That a woman shall not put on a man's attire; 49) Not to tattoo the body; 50) Not to cut one's flesh (for the dead); 51) Not to make a bald spot for the dead.
22LAWS CONCERNING REPENTANCE.
These are comprised in one affirmative precept, namely that the sinner shall repent of his sin and confess.
23The precepts included in this book are thus seventy-five, of which sixteen are affirmative, and fifty-nine negative precepts.
Sefaria: The Mishneh Torah by Maimonides. trans. by Moses Hyamson, 1937-1949 · Public domain · sefaria.org