Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Choshen Mishpat/359

Paragraph 1- One is prohibited from robbing or withholding from a Jew or gentile, even if it is a minute amount. If it is something that people do not care about, it would be permitted, such as taking from a package or a fence to brush one’s teeth. Even that is prohibited by the Yerushalmi, as a pious character trait.

Paragraph 2- One is prohibited from robbing, even on the condition to pay back something better. There are those who say this is only where the repayment is not in existence because if it is in existence since it is better than what he is taking, it is to the benefit of the owner and he can have another person acquire it on behalf of the owner.

Paragraph 3- One who robs another is as if he has taken his soul, even it if is a minute amount.

Paragraph 4- Even if one is in danger of dying and needs to rob another in order to save himself, he can only take it with the intention to pay back. See later 380:3.

Paragraph 5- Even one who borrows without consent of the owner is called a robber.

Paragraph 6- If one grabs collateral from a borrower without the court’s permission, he is a robber, even if the borrower owes him. It goes without saying that he is a robber if he enters the other’s home and takes collateral.

Paragraph 7- What is a robber? One who takes money from a person by force, such as where he grabs movable items from the owner’s hand, he enters the owner’s domain without permission and takes vessels from there, he takes hold of the owner’s slave or animal and uses them or he went down to the owner’s field and consumed its fruits and anything similar.

Paragraph 8- What is withholding? One who has another’s money enter his possession with the owner’s consent and once the owner claims the money he forcefully hides the money or does not return it, such as where he has a loan or rental from another and such other party claims it but is unable to remove it because the possessor is strong and tough.

Paragraph 9- If one forces another to sell what is his and he pays for it, although what he did is prohibited he does not have the status of a robber who be biblically disqualified, but would be rabbinically disqualified.

Paragraph 10- If one desires the slave, maidservant, house or vessels of another or anything else that he can purchase from him, and he pressures him with friends and insists until he purchases it, he has violated, “do not covet.” If one desires the house, wife or vessels of another or anything similar, once he thought internally how he would acquire such a thing and he desires the matter in his heart, he has violated the negative commandment of “do not desire.” Desire is only in the heart.

Paragraph 11- Desire leads to coveting and coveting leads to robbery because if the owner did not want to sell even if the buyer increases the price and pressures with friends, it will lead to robbery, as the verse states, “and they coveted the houses and stole them.” If the owners stand in front of the robber to rescue their money or stop the theft, it will lead to murder. One should go and learn from the incident of Achav and Navos.

Paragraph 12- We can thus learn that one who desires violates one negative commandment and one who acquires the item he desired and pressured the owner to sell violates two negative commandments. That is why the verse states both “do not covet” and “do not desire.” If he steals, he violates three negative commandments.