Pisqa’ 178203H:203; JN2:56-57. 1. “But the prophet so defiant as to speak a word in My Name which I did not order him to speak . . .shall die” (Dt.18:20). Where the mode of execution is unspecified by the Torah, we assume strangulation.204See, for example, Pisqa’ 155.1 and Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 5.
2. “Now, if you should say in your heart: how shall we know . . .” (Dt.18:21)? In the future, you will say: How shall we know the truth of the matter? For Jeremiah said: “Look! All the utensils of the House of HASHEM will be deported to Babylonia!” (cf. Jer.27:22). But Hananiah said: “Look! All the utensils of the House of HASHEM will be returned from Babylonia!” (Jer.27:16)—. and I don’t know whom to believe!3. The Teaching states: “When the prophet speaks . . ., and the event never transpires . . ., this is the thing that HASHEM has not spoken” (Dt.18:22). Now, of which prophetic utterance did the All-Present really speak? The one which [the prophet] fore-told and it actually transpired. [But as for the prophet whose prediction did not transpire:] “That prophet has spoken in defiance” (Dt.18:22)— he is therefore held liable to strangulation for intentional transgression, but he bears no liability for inadvertent transgression.
(דברים יח כ) אַךְ הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יָזִיד לְדַבֵּר דָּבָר בִּשְׁמִי וּמֵת – בִּסְתָם מִיתָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה, בְּחֶנֶק.
Pisqa’ 178203H:203; JN2:56-57.
1. “But the prophet so defiant as to speak a word in My Name
which I did not order him to speak . . .shall die” (Dt.18:20).
Where the mode of execution is unspecified by the Torah,
we assume strangulation.204See, for example, Pisqa’ 155.1 and Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 5.
(דברים יח כא) וְכִי תֹאמַר, עֲתִידִים אַתֶּם לוֹמַר אֵיכָה נֵדַע הַדָּבָר; יִרְמְיָה אָמַר: הִנֵּה כְּלֵי בֵית ה׳ הוֹלְכִים בָּבֶלָה (ראו ירמיה כז כב) וַחֲנַנְיָה אוֹמֵר (ירמיה כז טז): ״הִנֵּה כְּלֵי בֵית ה׳ מוּשָׁבִים מִבָּבֶל״, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ לְמִי אֶשְׁמַע! תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יח כב): אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר הַנָּבִיא בְּשֵׁם ה׳ וְלֹא יִהְיֶה הַדָּבָר וְלֹא יָבֹא הוּא הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא דִבְּרוֹ ה׳. אֵיזֶהוּ דָּבָר שֶׁדִּבְּרוֹ הַמָּקוֹם? זֶה שֶׁאוֹמֵר וּבָא. בְּזָדוֹן דִּבְּרוֹ הַנָּבִיא, עַל זָדוֹן הוּא חַיָּב, וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַל שְׁגָגָה.
2. “Now, if you should say in your heart: how shall we know . . .” (Dt.18:21)?
In the future, you will say:
How shall we know the truth of the matter?
For Jeremiah said:
“Look! All the utensils of the House of HASHEM
will be deported to Babylonia!” (cf. Jer.27:22).
But Hananiah said:
“Look! All the utensils of the House of HASHEM
will be returned from Babylonia!” (Jer.27:16)—.
and I don’t know whom to believe!3. The Teaching states:
“When the prophet speaks . . ., and the event never transpires . . .,
this is the thing that HASHEM has not spoken” (Dt.18:22).
Now, of which prophetic utterance
did the All-Present really speak?
The one which [the prophet] fore-told
and it actually transpired.
[But as for the prophet
whose prediction did not transpire:]
“That prophet has spoken in defiance” (Dt.18:22)—
he is therefore held liable to strangulation
for intentional transgression,
but he bears no liability
for inadvertent transgression.
לֹא תָגוּר מִמֶּנּוּ, אַל תִּמְנַע עַצְמְךָ מִלְּלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה.
“Have no fear of him” (Dt.18:22)—
don’t hesitate to testify in court
for the prosecution.