That we not fear from the killing of a false prophet: That we not fear from killing a false prophet (see Mishneh Torah, The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction 14:3) and that we not fear that there be any punishment to us from this. And even if he prophesied about the fulfillment of the commandments — since there is falsehood in his mouth, we do not [receive] a punishment for his death; but rather it is a commandment upon us [to kill him]. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 18:22), “do not be afraid from him.” And the language of Sifrei Devarim 178 is “‘Do not be afraid from him’ — do not prevent yourself from advocating guilt for him.”
This commandment is practiced at the time of the [Temple] when Israel are in their inhabitation; since [only] then is it in our hand to judge capital cases. And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Sanhedrin 2a) that we only judge a false prophet with a court of seventy-one [judges].
שֶׁלֹּא נִירָא מֵהֲרִיגַת נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר – שֶׁלֹּא נִירָא מִלַּהֲרֹג נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר (עי' רמב"ם סנהדרין יד ג), וְלֹא נִפְחַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ בָּזֶה שׁוּם עֹנֶשׁ, וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה מִתְנַבֵּא בְּקִיּוּם הַמִּצְוֹת, אַחַר שֶׁשֶּׁקֶר בְּפִיו אֵין לָנוּ עֹנֶשׁ בְּמִיתָתוֹ, אֲבָל הִיא עָלֵינוּ מִצְוָה, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים יח כב) לֹא תָגוּר מִמֶּנּוּ, וּלְשׁוֹן סִפְרֵי לֹא תָגוּר מִמֶּנּוּ, לֹא תִּמְנַע עַצְמְךָ מִלְּלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה.
That we not fear from the killing of a false prophet: That we not fear from killing a false prophet (see Mishneh Torah, The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction 14:3) and that we not fear that there be any punishment to us from this. And even if he prophesied about the fulfillment of the commandments — since there is falsehood in his mouth, we do not [receive] a punishment for his death; but rather it is a commandment upon us [to kill him]. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 18:22), “do not be afraid from him.” And the language of Sifrei Devarim 178 is “‘Do not be afraid from him’ — do not prevent yourself from advocating guilt for him.”
מִשָּׁרְשֵׁי הַמִּצְוָה. מָה שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי בְּסָמוּךְ בְּמִתְנַבֵּא בְּשֶׁקֶר.
From the roots of the commandment are that which I have written adjacently about one who prophesies falsely.
דִּינֵי הַמִּצְוָה. קְצָרִים, וְהֵם בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין (פרק הנחנקין).
The laws of the commandment are short, and they are in Sanhedrin (in the chapter [entitled] HaNechenakin).
וְנוֹהֶגֶת מִצְוָה זוֹ, בִּזְמַן הַבַּיִת, שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּיִשּׁוּבָן, כִּי אָז בְּיָדֵינוּ לָדוּן דִּינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת, וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין ב א) שֶׁאֵין דָּנִין נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר אֶלָּא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁל שִׁבְעִים וְאֶחָד.
This commandment is practiced at the time of the [Temple] when Israel are in their inhabitation; since [only] then is it in our hand to judge capital cases. And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Sanhedrin 2a) that we only judge a false prophet with a court of seventy-one [judges].