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Commandment Profile:
+212) To have multiple children | |
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| Application to gentiles: |
Required |
| Mandated punishment for violation: |
From Heaven |
| Brief description: |
For every man to have, at minimum, one son and one daughter who are themselves able to reproduce, so at the very least to replace their parents in the next generation. The spirit and intent of this commandment, however, is to have as many children as possible, without limit. Examples: - Not to use birth control or family planning.
- To divorce one’s wife after ten years of marriage if there are no children, to allow remarriage to others and therefore the possiblity of having children.
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| Category: |
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| Biblical source(s) (Rambam): |
Gen. 1:28; 9:7 |
| Biblical source (Sefer HaChinuch): |
Gen. 1:28 |
| Number in Sefer HaChinuch: |
1 |
Sources explaining relevance to gentiles:
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- Rashi, Bereishis 9:7
One who fails to reproduce is like a murderer; addressed to Noah and his descendants.
- Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 59b
Gentiles are not now commanded in priah urviah, although they were before Matan Torah.
- Tosafos, Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 59b, “V’ha Priah Urviah…”
Gentiles seemingly are commanded in priah urviah, including prohibition on wasting seed (objecting to contrary opinion in the Gemarra).
- R. Aharon HaLevi, Sefer HaChinuch, #1
Priah urviah is required for yishuv haolam as per Isaiah 45:18 (the mandate for the Noahide Laws, thus forming part of a gentile’s general obligations rather than one of the specific 7 laws).
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