The Eighth Commandment
Hadawar hashemini הדּבר השּׁמיני
Thou shalt not steal. (2M 20:15(12))
Question: What does the eighth commandment order us?
Answer: The eighth commandment forbids stealing generally, but this should be understood in a wide sense. The following prohibitions arise from this commandment
Robbery - gezila גּזלה, stealing things from someone else in a provable violent way.
Theft - geneva גּנבה, secretly stealing things for someone else.
Fraud - avel עול appropriation of anything in a dishonest way for example the usage of fake money, usage of an inaccurate measure or weight during a sale, the sale of sloppily done products, avoidance of repaying debt with help of a fake identity, failure to fulfill promises and obligations (for example testaments), hiding criminals and their stolen goods.
Sacrilege - khilul kodesh חלוּל קדשׁ or the improper use of something that is consecrated to God or contents of his Temple.
Bribery - shokhad שׁחד or taking bribes from the dependent, subordinated or defendants, when the protection of these people is for the wrong reason. Protecting a guilty person from judgement and the accusation which results in the punishment of an innocent person.
Parasitism - melekhet remiya atzlut מלאכת רמיה עצלוּת or recieving a salary or wages for work that you did not do. This is classed as stealing the salary or wage.
It is forbidden for someone who is able to work to live at the expense of someone else and to live from charity or public money.
Extortion - neshekh נשׁך or collection of debts or other claims in a illegal or violent way.
Misusage of someone else's work or property for your own profit, such as when a creditor burdenes a debtor with expensive interest.
Forcing someone to be dependant on you and forcing them to do excessive hard work or to overcharge someone on taxes, rents or charges.
Question: What else does the eighth commandment order us?
Answer:
Not to be greedy - shinat betza שׂנאת בּצﬠ
To love the truth - ahavat haemet אהבת האמת
Fairness - mishpat tzedek משׁפּט צדק
Strenuous fulfillment of duties and diligence - asot beemuna veahavat hamelakha עשׂוֹת בּאמוּנה ואהבתה המלאכה
Verses of Holy Scripture that support the eighth commandment:
Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another. And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, so that thou profane the name of thy God: I am יהוה. Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (3M 19: 11-13)
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am יהוה your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (3M 19: 35-36)
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (5M 16:19)