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The Mesorah
Mankind's Obligations to The Creator
From Gan Eden, Through The Flood of Noach,
Into the Times of Torah M'Sinai,
and Leading Up To Yemos HaMashiach
and How We Know What These Obligations Are
(All Years are listed according to the Jewish reckoning)
Creation (The Year 1) until Noach
A. Adam (1-930)
Adam and Eve in The Garden: One Commandment:
We know of this one commandment because it is stated explicitly in the text of
the Five Books of Moses:
"...of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat...."
Bereshis (Genesis) 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of
life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil... 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die.'
B. Adam, Eve, their Children, and all of Mankind, after the First Sin, and
until After The Flood of Noach: Six Commandments:
1) No BLASPHEMY (No
one was allowed to direct a curse at The Creator of the Heavens and the
Earth.)
2) No IDOLATRY (No
one was allowed to worship anything that is NOT The Creator of the
Universe. This law includes prohibitions against any physical idols, as
well any cultic practices. This law also obligated all mankind to seek
an understanding of the One G-d of Israel and His true nature.)
3)
No MURDER (No one was to be
involved in either murder or suicide.)
4)
No ILLICIT INTERCOURSE (No one
was to be involved in adultery, incest, homosexuality or bestiality; the entire
Torah purview on sexuality has to be taken into account when defining this
"law".)
5) No THEFT (No
one was to be involved in the wrongful misappropriation of another's
personal property.)
7)
Setting up and adherence to COURTS OF LAW (All
mankind was obligated to pursue social justice, and prohibit any miscarriage of
justice.)
B1. Shes (130-1042)
B2. Enosh (235-1140)
B3. Keinan (325-1235)
B4. Mahalalel (395-1290)
B5. Yered (460-1422)
B6. Chanoch (622-987)
B7. Methuselah (687-1656)
B8. Lemech (874-1651)
C. Noach (1056-2006)
After the Flood, and Additional Commandment was Added (#6 below), Thus
Totaling Seven Laws:
The Seven Laws of the Sons of Noach:
1) No BLASPHEMY (No
Bnei Noach are allowed to direct a curse at The Creator of the Heavens and the
Earth.)
2) No IDOLATRY (No
Bnei Noach is allowed to worship anything that is NOT The Creator of the
Universe. This law includes prohibitions against any physical idols, as
well any cultic practices. This law also obligates the Bnei Noach to seek
an understanding of the One G-d of Israel and His true nature.)
3)
No MURDER (No Bnei Noach should be
involved in either murder or suicide.)
4)
No ILLICIT INTERCOURSE (No Bnei Noach
should be involved in adultery, incest, homosexuality or bestiality; the entire
Torah purview on sexuality has to be taken into account when defining this
"law".)
5) No THEFT (No
Bnei Noach should be involved in the wrongful misappropriation of another's
personal property.)
6) No
EATING THE LIMB OF A LIVING CREATURE
(All
Bnei Noach should promote the ethical treatment of animals, as well as
appreciate the miracle of nature.)
Bereshis (Genesis) 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth
shall be for food for you; as the green herb have I given you all.
7)
Setting up and adherence to COURTS OF LAW (All
Bnei Noach should pursue social justice, and prohibit any miscarriage of
justice.)
C1. Shem (1558-2158)
The Mabul (Flood of Noach): 1656
C2. Arpachshad (1658-2096)
C3. Shelach (1693-2126)
C4. Ever (1723-2187)
C5. Peleg (1757-1996)
The Haflagah ("Dispersion" of Mankind at The Tower of Bavel):
1996
C6. Re'u (1787-2026)
C7. Serug (1819-2049)
C8. Nachor (1849-1997)
C9. Terach (1878-2083)
D. Avraham (1948-2123)
D1. Sarah (1958-2085)
D1a. Hagar: Yishmael
Avraham Teaches His Generation G-d's Will: 2000
E. Yitzchak (2048-2228)
E1. Rivka (2085-2207): Esav
F. Yaakov (2108-2255)
F1. Rachel (2117-2207)
F1a. Bilhah
F2. Leah (2171-2216)
F2a. Zilpah
G. Levi (2194-2331)
G1. Kehos (2225-2358 +/-)**
G2. Amram (2250-2387 +/-)**
**according to Shemos 6:18, 6:20, and Rashbam, Bava Basra 121b
G2a. Yocheved (2238-2489 - Seder Olam, Chapter 8)
H. Moshe (2368-2488)
Mattan Torah (The Giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai): 6th Sivan 2448
I. Yehoshua b. Nun (2488-2516)
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