Nezikin

Nezikin (Hebrew: נזיקין Neziqin, "Damages") or Seder Nezikin (סדר נזיקין, "The Order of Damages") is the fourth Order of the Mishna (also the Tosefta and Talmud). It deals largely with Jewish criminal and civil law and the Jewish court system. Nezikin contains ten volumes (or "tractates"): Bava Kamma (בבא קמא, First Gate) deals with civil matters, largely damages and compensation. 10 chapters. (See also Shomer) Bava Metzia (בבא מציעא, Middle Gate) deals with civil matters, largely torts and property law. 10 chapters. Bava Batra (בבא בתרא, Last Gate) deals with civil matters, largely land ownership. 10 chapters. Sanhedrin (סנהדרין, The Sanhedrin) deals with the rules of court proceedings in the Sanhedrin, the death penalty, and other criminal matters. 11 chapters. Makkot (מכות, Lashes) deals with colluding witnesses, cities of refuge and the punishment of lashes. 3 chapters. Shevu'ot (שבועות, Oaths) deals with the various types of oaths and their consequences. 8 chapters. Eduyot (עדויות, Testimonies) presents case studies of legal disputes in Mishnaic times and the miscellaneous testimonies that illustrate various Sages and principles of halakha. 8 chapters. Avodah Zarah (עבודה זרה, Foreign worship) deals with the laws of interactions between Jews and Gentiles and/or idolaters (from a Jewish perspective). 5 chapters. Avot (אבות, Fathers) is a collection of the Sages' favourite ethical maxims. 6 chapters. Horayot (הוריות, Decisions) deals with the communal sin-offering brought for major errors by the Sanhedrin. 3 chapters. Originally, the first three volumes were counted as one single, very lengthy volume. Since it was the chief repository of "civil" law, it was simply called Massekhet Nezikin ("Tractate Damages"). The traditional reasoning for the order of the volumes of Nezikin is as follows: The Order begins with civil law (the first 3 tractates) because it is considered the cornerstone of righteousness within a Jewish state. Sanhedrin...