A covenant is defined as an agreement. Hashem gave Noah and all his descendants (B'nei Noach or "children of Noah") seven commandments that they are to obey. These seven commandments are symbolized by the seven colors of the rainbow. These Seven Commandments (mitzvot) are not arbitrary laws, but rather Hashem's plan for mankind. Adherence to this moral code guarantees harmony among ourselves, with the rest of Creation, and with Hashem.

Non-Jews who (1) reject all idolatrous ideas and accept the kingship of the One Hashem, (2) accept the priesthood of the Jewish people as the guardians and teachers of Torah, and (3) commit to following the seven commandments revealed to Noah are called B'nei Noach (aka Noachides) or "Children of Noah." The Rambam's, Rav Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides), commentary in The Laws of Kings 8:11 reads: "Anyone who accepts upon himself the fulfillment of these Seven Mitzvot [commandments] and is precise in their observance is considered one of the righteous among the nations and will merit a share in the World to Come."

B'nei Noach are permitted to keep any of the 613 mitzvot given to the Jews with these exceptions:
1) Observing Shabbat in the same manner as the Jews;
2) Observing the Jewish holy days in the same manner as the Jews;
3) Studying the parts of the Mishnah/Talmud that are not related to the B'nei Noach mitzvot;
4) Writing a Torah Scroll;
5) Receiving an aliyah;
6) Making, writing, or wearing tefillin

Law #1 Prohibition of idolatry and Law #2 Prohibition of blasphemy
This can be derived from Genesis 4:26 - 'And as for Seth, to him also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. Then to call in the Name of Hashem became profaned. This is a reference to the beginnings of idolatry, which in and of itself is a form of blasphemy. This verse is saying that calling out in prayer to anything but Hashem profanes Hashem's name (Blasphemy). These people call to idols - whether natural phenomena or actual wood and stone.

Idolatry
1. Against entertaining the thought that there exists a deity except Hashem. (Exodus 20:3)
2. Against making any graven image. (Exodus 20:4)
3. Against making idols for use by others. (Exodus 20:4)
4. Against making any forbidden statues. (Exodus 20:20)
5. Against bowing to any idol. (Exodus 20:5)
6. Against worshipping idols in any of their customary manners of worship. (Exodus 20:5)
7. Against causing our children to pass [through the fire] in the worship of Molech. (Leviticus 18:21)
8. Against practicing Ov (sorcery). (Leviticus 19:26)
9. Against practicing Yiddoni (fortune-telling). (Leviticus 19:31)
10. Against turning to idolatry. (Leviticus 19:4)

Blasphemy
1. To acknowledge the existence of Hashem. (Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6)
2. To fear Hashem. (Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20)
3. To pray to Hashem. (Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 6:13)
4. To sanctify Hashem's name. (Leviticus 22:32)
5. Against desecrating Hashem's name. (Leviticus 22:32)
6. To study the Torah. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
7. To honor the scholars, and to revere one's teacher. (Leviticus 19:32)
8. Against blaspheming. (Leviticus 22:32)

Law #3 Prohibition of theft
Clearly stated in Genesis 6:11 as one of the direct reasons for the flood....'and the earth became filled with robbery'. Can also be derived from Eve taking the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Hashem instructed them not to eat of it...i.e. it was His property. When they did eat, they in effect stole the fruit and received their due punishment.

1. Against stealing.  (Leviticus 19:11)
2. Against committing robbery. (Leviticus 19:11)
3. Against shifting a landmark. (Deuteronomy 19:14)
4. Against cheating. (Leviticus 19:13)
5. Against repudiating a claim of money owed. (Leviticus 19:13)
6. Against overcharging. (Leviticus 19:13)
7. Against coveting. (Exodus 20:14)
8. Against desiring. (Deuteronomy 5:18)
9. A laborer shall be allowed to eat of the fruits among which he works. (Deuteronomy 23:25-26)
10. Against a laborer eating of such fruit. (Deuteronomy 23:26)
11. Against a laborer taking of such fruit home. (Deuteronomy 23:25)
12. Against kidnapping. (Exodus 20:13)
13. Against the use of false weights & measures. (Leviticus 19:35)
14. Against the possession of false weights & measures. (Deuteronomy 25:13-14)
15. That one shall be exact in the use of weights and measures. (Leviticus 19:36)
16. That the robber shall return the stolen object. (Leviticus 5:23)

Law #4 Prohibition of murder
This one is pretty simple. Cain kills Abel...Cain is punished. And again in Genesis 4:23-24 Lamech rues over the punishment he will receive for committing an accidental murder. Also Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed...' This also is a reference to the establishment of courts....if one commits murder, then it is up to the courts to convict and punish.

1. Against any person murdering anyone. (Exodus 20:13)

Law #5 Prohibition of sexual misconduct
This is derived primarily from the relationship between Adam and Eve. Eve is created as a 'helpmate' to Adam. Together, they are given the command to 'be fruitful and multiply' Genesis 1:28. Thus, sexual conduct within a husband/wife relationship is sanctified and all other types of sexual conduct are not sanctified. There are several examples of the consequences of this: the serpent's attempted seduction of Eve...In Lamech's wives Adah and Zillah (it is derived that at that time men would take 2 wives...one to bear them children and the other for fun. Zillah was the one for fun as evidence by her giving birth to Tubal-Cain where Genesis 4:22 says And Zillah too. A Midrash brings down that it was through Tubal-Cain that Lamech came to slay Cain...and then in his grief, killed Tubal-Cain. (In Genesis 23 Lamech says: Have I slain a man by my wound and a child by my bruise? Lamech was blind ...the man was Cain (a target identify by Tubal-Cain) and the child, Tubal-Cain himself.) Then in chapter 6, we see that as a result of the 'sons of rulers' who take whatever women they chose, Hashem issues the decree that in 120 years, He will destroy mankind Genesis 6:3. And again in Genesis 6:12 '...for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth'.

1. Against having union with his mother. (Leviticus 18:7)
2. Against having union with his sister. (Leviticus 18:9)
3.) Against having union with the wife of his father. (Leviticus 18:8)
4. Against having union with another man's wife. (Leviticus 18:20)
5. Against copulating with a beast. (Leviticus 18:23)
6. Against a woman copulating with a beast. (Leviticus 18:23)
7. Against lying carnally with a male. (Leviticus 18:22)
8. Against lying carnally with his father. (Leviticus 18:7)
9. Against lying carnally with his father's brother. (Leviticus 18:14)
10. Against engaging in erotic conduct that may lead to a prohibited union. (Leviticus 18:6)

Law #6 Prohibition of failing to establish courts of justice
From Genesis 1:28 '...and rule over the fish of the sea, the bird of the sky and every living thing that moves on the earth.' Also we see throughout that Hashem acts as a court when He chooses to intervene. Also, we see in chapter 6 that a hierarchy of people had been established. Although those rulers were evil, as the chapter delineates, the idea of the system is good in two ways...one it emulates Hashem's court and two, later on Moses (with Hashem's permission) sets up a justice system so that a single individual is not faced with all the legal questions (and also to help prevent a single person from becoming a tyrant). Also Genesis 9:6...see above in Prohibition of murder.

1. To appoint judges and officers in each and every community. (Deuteronomy 16:18)
2. To treat the litigants equally before the law. (Leviticus 19:15)
3. To inquire diligently into the testimony of a witness. (Deuteronomy 13:15)
4. Against the wanton miscarriage of justice by the court. (Leviticus 19:15)
5. Against the judge accepting a bribe or gift from a litigant. (Exodus 23:8)
6. Against the judge showing marks of honor to but one litigant. (Leviticus 19:15)
7. Against the judge acting in fear of a litigant's threats. (Deuteronomy 1:17)
8. Against the judge, out of compassion, favoring a poor litigant. (Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15)
9. Against the judge discriminating against the litigant because he is a sinner. (Exodus 23:6)
10. Against the judge, out of softness, putting aside the penalty of a mauler or killer. (Leviticus 19:15)
11. Against the judge discriminating against a stranger or an orphan. (Deuteronomy 24:17)
12. Against the judge hearing one litigant in the absence of another. (Exodus 23:1)
13. Against appointing a judge who lacks knowledge of the Law. (Deuteronomy 1:17)
14. Against incrimination by circumstantial evidence. (Exodus 23:7)
15. Against punishing for a crime committed under duress. (Deuteronomy 22:26)
16. That the court is to administer the death penalty by the sword.  (Exodus 21:20; Leviticus 26:25)
17. Against anyone taking the law into his own hands to kill the perpetrator of a capital crime.  (Numbers 35:12)
18. To testify in court. (Leviticus 5:1)
19. Against testifying falsely. (Exodus 20:13)

Law #7 Prohibition of eating live meat
This law is clearly stated in Genesis 9:4 'But flesh, with its soul its blood you shall not eat.'

1. Against eating a limb severed from a living animal, beast, or fowl. (Deuteronomy 12:23)
2. Against eating the flesh of any animal which was torn by a wild beast which, in part, prohibits the eating of such flesh as was torn off an animal while it was still alive. (Deuteronomy 14:21)

Maimonides - Mishneh Torah (Sefer Shoftim: Laws of Kings) [source]
Chapter 8
9. Any non-Jew who does not accept the Noachide mitzvot receives capital punishment if he is within Jewish jurisdiction.

10. The Torah and mitzvot were given as an inheritance only to Israel but anyone from the Nations who wishes to convert may do so. Non-Jews are not compelled to accept the Torah and mitzvot but are compelled to accept the Noachide mitzvot. Those who go before three Torah Scholars and formally accept the Noachide mitzvot are considered Ger Toshavim.

11. Everyone who accepts the Noachide mitzvot and is careful to follow them is called a Chasidei Umot HaOlam (Righteous of the Nations of the World) and has a portion in the World to Come. This only applies to those who follow the mitzvot because Hashem commanded it of them. If anyone follows the mitzvot for any other reason, he is not considered a Ger Toshav or Chasidei Umot HaOlam but is only a Chochmei Umot HaOlam (Wise of the Nations of the World).

Chapter 9
1. Adam HaRishon was commanded six things:
    1.Prohibition of idolatry
    2. Prohibition of blasphemy
    3. Prohibition of murder
    4. Prohibition of sexual immorality
    5. Prohibition of theft
    6. Establishment of courts of justice

To these mitzvot, Hashem added the prohibition of eating live meat after the Flood. This makes seven mitzvot in total and this is how matters stood until Abraham. Abraham was given further mitzvot (circumcision, Shachrit prayers) as was Isaac (tithing, Mincha prayers) and Jacob (prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve, Maariv prayers). While in Egypt, Amram was also given further mitzvot until Moses came and the complete Torah and mitzvots were given.

2. A Noachide who serves idolatry in the normal way is liable. All those who serve idolatry and would be given capital punishment by a bet din (Jewish Court), a Noahide is also given capital punishment. All who a bet din would not give capital punishment, neither is a Noahide given capital punishment. Even though a Noachide would not be executed for these forms of worship, he is forbidden to engage in them. He is further forbidden from erecting a monument, holy tree, or images of people and the like even as decorations.

3. A Noachide who curses Hashem's Name, whether by the particular Name of Hashem, or another name in any language is liable.

4. A Noachide who murdered someone (even a fetus) is given capital punishment. A Noachide is liable for capital punishment if he kills a terminally ill person, binds and places a person before a lion, or permits a person to die of starvation. If a Noachide kills a pursuer if the pursuer could have been stopped by wounding the pursuer, the Noachide is given capital punishment.

5. Six illicit relations are forbidden to a Noachide: his mother, wife of his father, a marries woman, his maternal sister, a male, or a beast.

6. A Noachide is liable for relations with his mother even though she was seduced or raped by his father and never married his father. He is liable for homosexuality and beastiality. He is given capital punishment but the animal is not killed.

7. A Noachide is not liable for capital punishment if he engages in a sexual relation with his "neighbor's wife" as long as the wife is a non-Jew and has not consummated her marriage. If the Noachide engages in a sexual relation with a Jewish woman who is engaged, underwent a marriage ceremony (without consummation of the marriage), or a married Jewish woman, the Noachide is liable for capital punishment.

8. If a Noachide has sexual relations with the wife of his servant after the marriage has been consumated, he is liable for capital punishment.

9. A Noachide is liable for capital punishment if he steals from a Jew or non-Jew. This is enforced for one who forcibly robs or steals money, a kidnapper, and employer who withholds the wages of a worker, and a worker who eats of his employers produce not during working hours.

10. A Noachide is liable for breaking the law of eating live meat if any amount of blood is present.

11. A Noachide is liable for breaking this law from meat that is separated from a domestic or wild animal. He is however not liable for a "torn limb" from a bird.

12. If a domestic animal is slaughtered according to kashrut laws, if it moves convulsively, the meat is forbidden for a Noachide for this falls under the mitzvot against eating blood ("torn limb").

13. Everything that is prohibited in Jewish law concerning a "torn limb" is also prohibited according to Noachide mitzvot. In addition, Noachide mitzvot under this category includes domestic and wild animals whether kosher or non-kosher species. Also, meat from an animal who moved convulsively after being slaughtered in a kosher manner is forbidden to a Noachide.

14. Noachides are commanded to establish judges and magistrates in every major city to judge according to the other six Noachide mitzvot and to warn the nation regarding the mitzvot observance. A Noachide who breaks any of the seven mitzvot is liable to capital punishment.

Chapter 10
1. A Noachide who inadvertently violates one of the mitzvot is exempt from punishment except for inadvertent killer. In this case, if the inadvertent killer was killed by an avenger, the avenger must not be put to death by the courts. If a Noachide inadvertently trespasses one of the mitzvot out of ignorance of the mitzvot, he is liable for it is considered as an intentional act since he failed to learn the mitzvot.

2. A Noachide who is forced by compulsion to transgress one of the mitzvot given to him, he is permitted to transgress - even in the case of idolatry. A minor, deaf-mute, or fool, is never punished because they are not bound by the mitzvot.

3. A Noachide that converts is circumcised and immerses in a mikvah. He is considered a Jew and if he requests to return to the status of a Ger Toshav, he is not permitted to do so. He is subject to all mitzvot and punishments of the Jewish people. If a Noachide was a minor when he was converted, he may return to being a Ger Toshav when he reaches the age of majority. However, if he fails to go before a bet din and register his objection (and become a Ger Toshav), at the time he reaches the age of majority, he may not do so at a later date. If a Jew has relations with a young girl who was converted, she is entitled to all monies specified by the ketubah or fines resulting from rape or seduction when she reaches the age of majority and does not object to her conversion. If she objects, she obtains monies she is entitled to as a Ger Toshav.

4. Any Noachide that curses Hashem, serves idolatry, has illicit relations with the wife of a non-Jew, or killed his friend and converts, he is exempt from the punishments. If he kills a Jew or has illicit relations with the wife of a Jew and converts, he is still liable for the punishments.

5. Capital punishment for Noachides is decapitation except when he has illicit relations with a Jewish wife or a betrothed Jew, then he is stoned to death. If he has illicit relations with a Jewish woman who has gone through a marriage ceremony but has not yet consummated the marriage, he is strangled to death.

6. Noachides are forbidden from cross-breeding animals and grafting trees. If a Noachide strikes a Jew and injures him, although the Noachide is liable to capital punishment, the Noachide is not killed.

7. The mitzvot of circumcision was given to Abraham and his seed. Noachides are permitted to circumcise their sons but there is no obligation.

8. The descendants of Abraham and Hagar (Ishmael) and Abraham and Keturah (another name for Hagar) are all obligated to circumcise their sons on the eighth day. Today, this would include all Semitic peoples since these descendants have mixed with other Semitic peoples.

9. Noachides are not to observe Shabbat in the same manner as the Jews, not to observe the holidays in the same manner as the Jews, not study the parts of Torah that are not applicable to the Noachide mitzvot. Noachides are also forbidden from making their own religion. If a Noachide is witnessed doing any of these things, he is to restrained and told he is liable to capital punishment; however, he is not put to death.

10. Noachides are permitted to keep the other mitzvot given to Moses (except as innumerated in verse 9 as well as tefillin or writing a Sefer Torah). Noachides who follow the mitzvot are permitted to give charity to the Jews. For those non-Jews who do not follow the mitzvot, charity is not permitted to be given to Israel, their charity is to be given to non-Jews.

11. Noachides are obligated to follow the courts of law in Israel while they are in Israel.

12. Noachides are to be judged by their laws within the courts of Israel.

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