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The 4th command of the Laws of Noah concerns Forbidden
Intercourse.
Only
text in light-blue are from authoritive sources originally
compiled specifically to express the absolute obligations upon the nations of the world. Anything else represents either
my own elucidations of the law at hand or related information. Related information consists of texts not originally
written specifically for the nations of the world, but which I am inclined to think are logical necessities
for strengthening observance of the Laws of Noah.
The following is the codification of the Sanhedrin's clarification of this prohibition
as put forth by RAMBAM in the Mishneh Torah, in Sefer Shoftim, Hilkhoth Melakhim u'Milhamotheihem 9:7-11 [5-8]
9:7 [5] There are six types of sexual acts forbidden to a ben Noah: Intercourse with one's mother, with one's father's wife (who is not one's mother, ei: step mom), with another
man's wife, with one's sister who has the same mother, with another male, with an animal -- as it is written:
"Therefore, a man should leave his father..."
(Genesis 2:24)
his father's wife, (a woman other than one's
own mother; this is because a man and his wife are considered "one flesh;" thus, one's father and any wife
of his father are considered "one flesh.")
"...his mother" as
it is literally written in the verse, is excluded from relations which the above verse entails as being permitted.
The phrase "and join with his own wife"
in the above verse entails that intercourse
with his fellow's wife is not included among the relations entailed as permitted by the above verse.
In the above verse, the phrase "with his own
wife" entails that intercourse with a male is not included among the type of intercourse that is permitted.
The phrase "and they become one flesh" excludes cattle, livestock, fowl, etc.. from among types of intercourse
entailed as permitted by the verse, because a one can not produce "one flesh" with such. [Becoming "one flesh" includes the ability to have children. Children are a physical combination of the
man and woman. - This excludes intercourse with non-females and non-humans.]
And it is stated, "My sister, daughter
of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, so she has become to me for a wife." (Genesis 20:13) [This shows that one's maternal half-sister is forbidden by the
Laws of Noah, but not one's paternal half-sister.]
9:8 [6] A ben Noah is worthy of death when he had intercourse with his mother even if she was never married to
his father, but was, instead, raped or seduced by his father. In the context of law, she is considered
his mother in every place.
One is liable for the death penalty for having intercourse with one's father's wife even if one's father already died.
One is liable for the death penalty if he had intercourse with another male [see Homosexuality], whether it was a minor or a mature male, whether with an animal - small or big. When he had intercourse
with an animal, only the ben Noah is to be put to death. The animal is not to be put to death.
9:9 [7] A ben Noah is only put to death for being with his fellow's wife if they had intercourse in the
normal manner (vaginal) AFTER she had already had intercourse at least once with her husband. On the
other hand, if she was only set apart to be his wife, or had only had the marrage ceremony, but the woman and her committed
partner/husband had not yet had intercourse, then one is not liable for the death penalty for having had intercourse with her, as it is stated, "For she has been possessed by her 'possesser'" [The Hebrew word for husband literally means one who possesses.
The word for intercourse literally means to possess.)] (Genesis 20:3)
9:10 When does this hold true? When the ben Noah has intercourse with a non-Jewish woman. If, on the
other had, the ben Noah has intercourse with a Jewish woman in the same circumstances, then the ben Noah is obligated to be
put to death whether or not they had intercourse in the normal (vaginal) manner, or in the abnormal way (anal).
A ben Noah who had intercourse with a Jewish girl between the
ages of twelve and twelve and a half, a girl who has also already been set apart by someone for marrage, such a ban Noah is
liable for the death penalty according to the way a Jew would be put to death in such a case. If the ben Noah had intercourse with her after
she had done the wedding ceremony, but before she had intercourse with the one she married, the ben Noah is liable to die
under death penalty using the same method by which Jew would be executed in such a case. Now, if the ben Noah had intercourse with a Jewish
woman after she had already had intercourse with the one she married, then the ben Noah is put to death in the same way he
would have been put to death had he committed adultry with a non-Jewish woman.
9:11 [8] If a ben Noah sets apart one of his female servants for one of his male servants, then later one the ben Noah
has intercourse with his female servant, he is to be put ot death because of adultery. On the other hand, he is not liable
for the death penalty for such an act if it is not yet known to the public that such and such the female servant is the 'wife of so and so' the
male servant, and is referred to as his wife.
At what time would the ben Noah become permitted to have intercourse
with his female servant? From the time that he separates her and the male slave and uncovers her head in the market
place.
From what point in time is a bahth Noah [a
non-Jewish woman] considered divorced? She is considered divorced form the time that she is removed from
his [her husband's] home and is sent on her own, or, when she chooses to leave his domain and goes
to be on her own. Their divorce is not made in writing. This matter does not depend
on the man's choice alone. At whatever point in time that either he or she decide to separate and go their own individual
ways, they are divorced.
Mishneh Torah, Hilkoth Eesurey Be'a 21:18
"...But these individuals who commit adultry with their hands and release seed -- is it not enough for
them that this is a great prohibition?... and about them it is stated, 'Your hands are filled with blood,' ( Isaiah 1:15); and it is as though he has murdered a living-person."
Mishneh Torah, Hilkoth De'oth 2:13 [7]
"A person should not be a comedian or clown, nor depressed or gloomy -- but happy. The sages of Israel
stated thusly: 'laughter and light-headedness adjust a person to forbidden relations;' So they commanded that a person
should not be lewd with laughter, nor sad and mournful; rather, a person should receive every man with a nice-friendly
countenance."
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