The Talmud, The Steinsaltz Edition, Volume 18: Tractate Sanhedrin Part IV
The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition makes Judaism's great compendium of tradition, law, and legend accessible in modern En-glish for the first time.         Accepted as the authoritative basis for all subsequent codifications of Jewish law and practice, the multivolume Babylonian Talmud has been studied constantly by Jewish communities throughout the world since its completion in the sixth century.         Yet, for most people, the complexity of the  Talmud's Hebrew and Aramaic text is an impenetrable barrier to its riches. Furthermore, the Talmud's unique system of logic and      argumentation often baffles even experienced readers.         The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition makes it possible at last for everyone to read the Talmud, because it's more than just a translation. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz becomes your personal instructor, guiding you through the intricate paths of Talmudic logic and thought. His extensive introductions and commentaries clarify the text by providing all the background information needed to follow it, while his illustrated marginal notes supply fascinating insight into daily life in Talmudic times.         Tractate Sanhedrin, Part IV, covers chapter seven of the tractate and continues the discussion of judicial procedures in criminal cases. It outlines four modes of execution, followed by a fascinating discussion of the seven commandments given to Noah, known as the Noahide commandments. In Jewish theology, only Jews are bound by the commandments set forth in the Torah. Non-Jews are bidden to observe the seven commandments given to Noah and his children after the Flood. These include the injunction to believe in one God and to establish a court system, as well as prohibitions against incest, murder, and cruelty to animals. In contemporary terms, the Noah-ide code forms the basis for discussions about the existence of "natural law" and whether society can establish a universal standard of morality.