Negative Commandment #42

Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

42. It is a negative commandment “do not withhold food, clothing, or relations from one’s wife”

As it states in Shemos (Exodus) 21:10, “He shall not withhold sh’a’ra, kesusa, or onasa.” Sh’a’ra means to provide food for her. Kesusa means to provide clothing to her. Onasa means to provide relations with her. A man who withholds one of these things from his wife has transgressed this negative commandment. According to the law of the Sages, seven more things are also required. They are: the principal payment of her marriage contract, to provide for her healing, to redeem her if she is taken captive, to bury her, to sustain her when she is a widow to be able to sit in the house, to sustain her daughters after his death until they get married, and the rights of her sons to be provided by the marriage contract. By law of the Sages, he merits the work of her hands, in exchange for her food, possessions, and his duty to redeem her if taken captive. He merits objects she finds to avoid hatred. He inherits everything she has when she passes away in exchange for providing for her burial. The man is required to provide food for minor sons and daughters.

This applies in all places and at all times.

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