The Lords of the ma’amad, having long known of the evil opinions and
acts of Baruch de Espinoza, have endeavord by various means and
promises, to turn him from his evil ways. But having failed to make him
mend his wicked ways, and, on the contrary, daily receiving more and
more serious information about the abominable heresies which he
practiced and taught and about his monstrous deeds, and having for this
numerous trustworthy witnesses who have deposed and born witness to this
effect in the presence of the said Espinoza, they became convinced of
the truth of the matter; and after all of this has been investigated in
the presence of the honorable chachamin, they have decided, with their
consent, that the said Espinoza should be excommunicated and expelled
from the people of Israel. By the decree of the angels, and by the
command of the holy men, we excommunicate, expel, curse and damn Baruch
de Espinoza, with the consent of God, Blessed be He, and with the
consent of all the Holy Congregation, in front of these holy Scrolls
with the six-hundred-and-thirteen precepts
which are written therein, with the excommunication with which Joshua
banned Jericho, with the curse with which Elisha cursed the boys, and
with all the curses which are written in the Book of the Law. Cursed be
he by day and cursed be he by night; cursed be he when he lies down, and
cursed be he when he rises up; cursed be he when he goes out, and
cursed be he when he comes in. The Lord will not spare him; the anger
and wrath of the Lord will rage against this man, and bring upon him all
the curses which are written in this book, and the Lord will blot out
his name from under heaven, and the Lord will separate him to his injury
from all the tribes of Israel with all the curses of the covenant,
which are written in the Book of the Law. But you who cleave unto the
Lord God are all alive this day. We order that no one should communicate
with him orally or in writing, or show him any favor, or stay with him
under the same roof, or within four ells of him, or read anything
composed or written by him.
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