THE TALMUDIC LAW.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPEOTATOR.".1
SIR,—In your review of "Mr. Deutsch and the Talmud," at p.795, and about 27 lines from the bottom of the first column, you give a list of the seven commandments considered by the Jews to be binding on the Gentiles. These are known as the Noachite laws. You name, however, the sixth prohibition "injustice ;" you should have said " untruth " or "falsehood." The unfortunate use of the word " against " instead of "towards," in our version of the Decalogue, has very generally contracted the sense of an important commandment in the minds of English-speaking people. To "bear false witness" is, of course, only another form of ex- pression for the pithy English verb "to lie ;" and the command clearly means that we should not " lie " towards (or in our intercourse with) our neighbour. But as we repeat it, numbers of people are led to construe it into an injunction not to forswear themselves in a court of justice to the detriment of their neighbour. In this way, the simple injunction not to speak " falsely " has, I suppose, got to have the sense you give it,—not to do "injustice." —I am, Sir, &c.,
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