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Seeking list of prohibitions which force one to do an action
Generally speaking, whenever the Torah tells us "do not do X," the context is "do not do a specific action" (don't eat non-Kosher, don't do work on Shabbos, etc.). In a select few prohibitions, however, one is forced to do an action in order to avoid being in violation of the prohibition, or at least has the option of actively doing something to avoid the prohibition. Among that subset, most of the relevant prohibitions have a twin positive commandment; when abiding by the prohibition, one will naturally abide by the twin commandment and thereby be forced to perform an action. These include, off the top of my head (with the mitzvah numbers providing reference within the Sefer HaChinuch):
- Don't take the children first; send the mother then take the children (Devarim 22:6-7; Mitzvos 544-545)
- Return a lost object; don't hide yourself from it (Devarim 22:1-3; Mitzvos 538-539)
- Don't leave an animal struggling under a load; help to remove its burden (Devarim 22:4; Mitzvos 540-541)
- Build a fence around your roof; don't leave dangerous objects lying around (Devarim 22:8; Mitzvos 546-547)
- To appoint a Jewish king; not to appoint a non-Jewish king (Devarim 17:15; Mitzvos 497-498)
- Not to be stingy with those in need; to give Tzedakah or charity loans (Devarim 15:7-11, Shemos 22:24; Mitzvos 66, 478-479)
- Not to free a Jewish slave empty-handed; to send him with gifts (Devarim 15:13-14; Mitzvos 481-482)
The list goes on.
What's striking, however, is just how few prohibitions require an action to avoid violating them, without being paired with a positive commandment as well. To my knowledge, the only case of this is that a guarantor or lender on a loan has the prohibition against being involved in lending on interest, and they can get out of it after the fact by ripping up the loan document (Bava Metzia 62a.8).
Is this particular case the only example of a prohibition that, without having a twin positive commandment, requires one to do an action? If not, what are the other examples?
2 answers
Here are some that I believe fit what you're looking for. Please inform me if I'm mistaken:
- Not to leave any idol worshipers in the land of Israel (Sefer HaMitzvos Lo Sa'aseh § 51; Sefer HaChinuch § 94) (Remove them from the land; the positive mitzvah is to eradicate the seven nations, yet this includes even other nations)
- Not to take steps on the altar (Sefer HaMitzvos Lo Sa'aseh § 80; Sefer HaChinuch § 41) (Build the altar with a ramp)
- Not to lie during testimony (Sefer HaMitzvos Lo Sa'aseh § 285; Sefer HaChinuch § 37) (Testify truthfully; this assumes like the Rishonim that midevar sheker tirchak isn't counted as a mitzvah)
- Not to stand idly while someone's life is in danger (Sefer HaMitzvos Lo Sa'aseh § 297; Sefer HaChinuch § 237) (Save their life)
- For Beis Din not to profane the land by allowing someone to remarry their divorcee (Hasagos HaRamban Shorashim § 5) (Stop him)
Another is (command 46 in the Chinuch) "not to withhold food, clothing, and relations" from one's wife.
Another is (command 348 in the Chinuch) "not to allow a non-Jew who lives in our lands to impose oppressive work upon a Jewish slave who had sold himself to him".
These negative ("don't…") commands require an action (from someone who finds himself in the right circumstances). And as far as I can tell, they have no counterpart positive ("do…") commands.
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