Hakdama Rambam 8

Hakdama Rambam 8

5 categories of Laws in Torah

Therefore the types of laws that were established in the Torah, upon these principles that we have prefaced, are divided into five divisions:

The first division are explanations transmitted from the mouth of Moshe and they have a hint in Scripture and it it possible to extrapolate them by way of reasoning. And about this there is no disagreement; if one says, "So has it been transmitted to me," there is nothing to say about it.

The second division are the laws about which it is said, a 'law of Moshe from Sinai.' And there are no proofs about them as we have mentioned. Likewise here, none disagree with [such a law].

Multiple Choice

What is the 1st category of laws?

• Laws transmitted from Moshe but can also be learnt from hints or logically derived from Pesukim

• Laws transmitted from Moshe which have no hint in Pesukim or logical derivation

Multiple Choice

What is the 2nd category of laws?

• Laws transmitted from Moshe but can also be learnt from hints or logically derived from Pesukim

• Laws transmitted from Moshe which have no hint in Pesukim or logical derivation

Multiple Choice

What do the first two categories of laws have in common?

• There is no disagreement about those laws

• They were taught privately to Yehoshua by Moshe

3rd category of laws

The third division are the laws that they extrapolated by the ways of reasoning and a disagreement about them occurred, as we have mentioned – and the law was decided in them according to the majority. And this happens, when the investigation is given to divergence. And because of this, they say (Yevamot 76b), "If it is a [transmitted] law, we will accept it; but if it is a law [that is deduced], there is a rebuttal."

Multiple Choice

What is the 3rd category of laws?

• Laws transmitted from Moshe but can also be learnt from hints or logically derived from Pesukim

• Laws transmitted from Moshe which have no hint in Pesukim or logical derivation

• Laws derived by the way of logic, and there can be disagreement about them

Multiple Choice

How is the Halacha decided with this category of laws?

• by majority opinion

• by whoever heard the law from Moshe