2,710. Biblical-Level Oaths

Hilchos Shevuos 11:4

The oath that judges impose on people who must take oaths is called “the oath of judges.” It is given to those obligated in oaths whether under Biblical or rabbinic law.

Hilchos Shevuos 11:5

One might be obligated in an oath under Biblical law: (1) in a case involving movable goods when one admits part of a claim and denies the other part; (2) if one denies entirely in a case involving movable goods but he’s contradicted by a lone witness. These oaths both involve a definite claim and the defendant’s denial; (3) a watchman claims that an object entrusted to him was lost, stolen, died, etc. In such a case one must take an oath out of doubt, since the owner of the object doesn’t know if the watchman is telling the truth. This is a Biblical oath as per Exodus 22:10, “The oath of God will be between them.”