Day #108–Rambam DAILY Sefer HaMitzvos

today is day number 108 of our daily study of ramam sefer mitzvahs and in the three chapters of David missionary we're in the laws of Oaths chapters 10 11 and 12. and we have one Mitzvah today a positive commandment so far since we started we've had a bunch of prohibitions this is a positive commandment this is the positive commandment to swear to make an oath hold on a second we've had so many prohibitions against making oats well yeah here so let me just give a background you have to be really really really careful to not make an oath if you can avoid it we go to Great Lengths to avoid taking an oath even when we know that we're able to back it up even when we know that whatever it is that we'd be swearing to is true but because of how serious oats are we go to Great Lengths to avoid taking an oath making an oath however in a case where it would be necessary to do so such as in a legal setting so then there is a positive commandment which I'll introduce right here and right now positive commandment number seven to swear in hashem's name and in hashem's name alone that means when it is necessary if you can avoid it avoid it but when it is necessary to make an oath then we must only swear in hashem's name not God forbid in the name of any other deity not even a lofty being like an angel or a star or a constellation we only swear in the name of Hashem that is our positive commandment interestingly the Abba mentions that when a Jew swears in the name of Moses our teacher that's okay because it's obvious that his intent is he's swearing in the name of he who sent Maisha or the god worshiped by Moshe then it's obvious we don't mean Maisha we mean Hashem interestingly enough so intent does make a major difference here but again we try not to make an oath because how serious it is but when we do make an oath then there's a Mitzvah that governs the proper way the only proper way of doing so and that is in hashem's name we'll see you and I'm making no Oaths that's why by the way I I often I say I'll see you tomorrow God willing maybe I should even say um I'll be recording a video tomorrow without a vow I make no commitment or promises to do so that's that's why we speak that way just uh practical tip to point out okay so without a vow without an oath no promises I'll be making another video uh on the next section of daily rambam safer mitzvahs God willing