Sanhedrin 89
דְּקֶשֶׁר הָעֶלְיוֹן דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, גָּרוּעַ וְעוֹמֵד.
that the upper knot is mandated by Torah law, then fulfillment of the mitzva is already compromised from the outset when the additional string is tied together with the other threads.
אִי הָכִי, תְּפִילִּין נָמֵי? אִי עֲבַד אַרְבְּעָה בָּתֵּי, וְאַיְיתִי אַחֲרִינָא וְאַנַּח גַּבַּיְיהוּ – הַאי לְחוֹדֵיהּ קָאֵי וְהַאי לְחוֹדֵיהּ קָאֵי. וְאִי עֲבַד חַמְשָׁה בָּתֵּי – גָּרוּעַ וְעוֹמֵד הוּא! הָאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: בַּיִת חִיצוֹן שֶׁאֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה אֶת הָאֲוִיר – פָּסוּל.
The Gemara challenges: If so, the status of phylacteries is also the same. If one crafts phylacteries of the head with four compartments, and he then brings another compartment and places it alongside them, these compartments with which he fulfills the mitzva stand alone and that additional compartment stands alone and does not compromise the fulfillment of the mitzva. And if one crafts phylacteries of the head with five compartments, the fulfillment of the mitzva is already compromised from the outset. The Gemara answers: But doesn’t Rabbi Zeira say: If there is an obstruction which creates an outer compartment of the phylacteries of the head that is not exposed to the air, the phylacteries of the head are unfit for use in the fulfillment of the mitzva? Therefore, adding a fifth compartment to the four compartments of the phylacteries of the head always compromises the fulfillment of the mitzva.
מַתְנִי׳ אֵין מְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ לֹא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁבְּעִירוֹ, וְלֹא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁבְּיַבְנֶה, אֶלָּא מַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וּמְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתוֹ עַד הָרֶגֶל, וּמְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ בָּרֶגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכׇל הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ וְלֹא יְזִידוּן עוֹד״. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵין מְעַנִּין אֶת דִּינוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, אֶלָּא מְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד, וְכוֹתְבִין וְשׁוֹלְחִין שְׁלוּחִין בְּכׇל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת: ״אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי מִתְחַיֵּיב מִיתָה בְּבֵית דִּין״.
MISHNA: One does not execute the rebellious elder, neither in the court that is in his city, nor in the court that is in Yavne, although that was the seat of the Sanhedrin after the destruction of the Second Temple. Rather, one takes him up to the High Court in Jerusalem. And they guard him in incarceration until the pilgrimage Festival, and the court executes him during the pilgrimage Festival, as it is stated: “And all the nation shall hear, and fear, and no longer sin intentionally” (Deuteronomy 17:13); this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Yehuda says: One does not delay administering justice to this individual. Rather, the court executes him immediately, and the judges write reports and dispatch agents to all the places, informing them: So-and-so is liable to be punished with the court-imposed death penalty for disobeying the court.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ לֹא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁבְּעִירוֹ וְלֹא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁבְּיַבְנֶה, אֶלָּא מַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וּמְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתוֹ עַד הָרֶגֶל, וּמְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ בָּרֶגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכׇל הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ״. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא.
GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita (Tosefta 11:3): One does not execute the rebellious elder, neither in the court that is in his city, nor in the court that is in Yavne. Rather, one takes him up to the High Court that is in Jerusalem. And they guard him in incarceration until the pilgrimage Festival, and the court executes him during the pilgrimage Festival, as it is stated: “And all the nation shall hear, and fear” (Deuteronomy 17:13); this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva.
אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: וְכִי נֶאֱמַר ״יִרְאוּ וְיִירָאוּ״? וַהֲלֹא לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא ״יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִירָאוּ״! לָמָּה מְעַנִּין דִּינוֹ שֶׁל זֶה? אֶלָּא, מְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד, וְכוֹתְבִין וְשׁוֹלְחִין בְּכׇל מָקוֹם: ״אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי נִתְחַיֵּיב מִיתָה בְּבֵית דִּין״.
Rabbi Yehuda said to Rabbi Akiva: Is it stated: And all the nation shall see and fear, which would indicate that the entire nation must actually witness his execution? But isn’t it stated only: “And all the nation shall hear and fear,” indicating that merely informing the people of the execution is sufficient? Why delay administering justice to this individual? Rather, the court executes him immediately, and the judges write reports and dispatch agents to all the places informing them: So-and-so was sentenced and found liable to be punished with execution in court.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַרְבָּעָה צְרִיכִין הַכְרָזָה – הַמֵּסִית, וּבֵן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה, וְזָקֵן מַמְרֵא, וְעֵדִים זוֹמְמִין. בְּכוּלְּהוּ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ ״וְכׇל הָעָם״ וְ״כׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל״. בְּעֵדִים זוֹמְמִין כְּתִיב ״וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים״? דְּלָא כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא חֲזוּ לְסָהֲדוּתָא.
The Sages taught: There are four transgressors condemned to be executed whose verdicts require a proclamation to inform the public: One who instigates others to engage in idol worship, and the stubborn and rebellious son, and the rebellious elder, and conspiring witnesses. In all of these cases, it is written concerning them: “And all the nation” (Deuteronomy 17:13), or: “And all Israel” (Deuteronomy 13:12, 21:21), except with regard to conspiring witnesses, where it is written: “And those who remain shall hear and fear” (Deuteronomy 19:20), as not everyone is fit for providing testimony. Therefore, rather than saying that all of the nation or all of Israel must be informed, only those remaining who are not disqualified from providing testimony are those who must heed the verse: “Hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more such evil in the midst of you” (Deuteronomy 19:20).
מַתְנִי׳ נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע, וּמַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ – מִיתָתוֹ בִּידֵי אָדָם.
MISHNA: The false prophet mentioned in the Torah includes one who prophesies that which he did not hear from God and one who prophesies that which was not said to him, even if it was said to another prophet. In those cases, his execution is at the hand of man, through strangulation imposed by the court.
אֲבָל הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ, וְהַמְוַותֵּר עַל דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא, וְנָבִיא שֶׁעָבַר עַל דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ – מִיתָתוֹ בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָנֹכִי אֶדְרֹשׁ מֵעִמּוֹ״.
But with regard to one who suppresses his prophecy because he does not want to share it with the public, and one who contemptuously forgoes the statement of a prophet and refuses to heed it, and a prophet who violated his own statement and failed to perform that which he was commanded to do, his death is at the hand of Heaven, as it is stated: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not hearken unto My words that he shall speak in My name, I will exact it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:19).
הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וְאוֹמֵר: ״כָּךְ אָמְרָה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה״, אֲפִילּוּ כִּוֵּון אֶת הַהֲלָכָה לְטַמֵּא אֶת הַטָּמֵא וּלְטַהֵר אֶת הַטָּהוֹר.
One who prophesies in the name of idol worship and says: This is what the idol said, even if he approximated the correct halakha in the name of the idol to deem ritually impure that which is ritually impure and to deem ritually pure that which is ritually pure, is executed by strangulation.
הַבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לִרְשׁוּת הַבַּעַל לְנִשּׂוּאִין, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִבְעֲלָה, הַבָּא עָלֶיהָ הֲרֵי זֶה בְּחֶנֶק.
In the case of one who engages in intercourse with a married woman once she entered her husband’s domain for the purposes of marriage, even if the marriage was not yet consummated, as she did not yet engage in intercourse with him, one who engages in intercourse with her is executed by strangulation. Before marriage, one who engages in intercourse with her is liable to be executed by stoning.
וְזוֹמְמֵי בַּת כֹּהֵן וּבוֹעֲלָהּ, שֶׁכׇּל הַמּוּזַמִּין מַקְדִּימִין לְאוֹתָהּ מִיתָה, חוּץ מִזּוֹמְמֵי בַּת כֹּהֵן וּבוֹעֲלָהּ.
And conspiring witnesses who testified that the daughter of a priest committed adultery are executed by strangulation, even though were she guilty, she would be executed by burning. And her paramour is also executed by strangulation, as in any case where one engages in intercourse with a married woman. As all those who are rendered conspiring witnesses are led to their deaths via the same mode of execution with which they conspired to have their victim executed, except for conspiring witnesses who testified that the daughter of a priest and her paramour committed adultery. In that case, although the priest’s daughter who commits adultery is executed by burning, the conspiring witnesses who sought to have her executed are executed by strangulation, as is the paramour whom they also conspired to have executed.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה מִיתָתָן בִּידֵי אָדָם, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִיתָתָן בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם. הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע, וּמַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ, וְהַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה – מִיתָתָן בִּידֵי אָדָם. הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ, וְהַמְוַותֵּר עַל דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא, וְנָבִיא שֶׁעָבַר עַל דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ – מִיתָתָן בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם.
GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita about the punishment of those who sin concerning prophecy: With regard to three of them, their execution is at the hand of man, and with regard to three of them, their execution is at the hand of Heaven. In the case of one who prophesies that which he did not hear from God, and one who prophesies that which was not stated to him, and one who prophesies in the name of idol worship, their execution is at the hand of man. In the case of one who suppresses his prophecy, and one who contemptuously forgoes the statement of a prophet, and a prophet who violated his own statement, their execution is at the hand of Heaven.
מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״אַךְ הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יָזִיד לְדַבֵּר דָּבָר בִּשְׁמִי״. זֶה הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע. ״וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוִּיתִיו״ – הָא לַחֲבֵירוֹ צִוִּיתִיו, זֶה הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ. ״וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים״ – זֶה הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. וּכְתִיב: ״וּמֵת הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא״. וְכׇל מִיתָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְּתוֹרָה סְתָם – אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא חֶנֶק.
The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rav Yehuda says that Rav says that it is derived from a verse, as the verse states: “But the prophet who shall sin intentionally to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). The Gemara analyzes the verse: “But the prophet who shall sin intentionally to speak a word in My name”; this is a reference to one who prophesies that which he did not hear. The verse then states: “That I have not commanded him,” from which it is inferred: But I did command another. This is a reference to one who prophesies that which was not stated to him. “Or who shall speak in the name of other gods”; this is a reference to one who prophesies in the name of idol worship. And it is written with regard to all of these: “That prophet shall die.” And every death stated in the Torah without specification is referring to nothing other than strangulation.
הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ, וְהַמְוַותֵּר עַל דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא, וְנָבִיא שֶׁעָבַר עַל דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ – מִיתָתָן בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם. דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמַע״. קְרִי בֵּיהּ: ״לֹא יַשְׁמִיעַ״, וּקְרִי בֵּיהּ: ״לֹא יִשְׁמַע אֶל דְּבָרַי״. וּכְתִיב: ״אָנֹכִי אֶדְרֹשׁ מֵעִמּוֹ״ – בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם.
One who suppresses his prophecy, and one who contemptuously forgoes the statement of a prophet, and a prophet who violated his own statement, their execution is at the hand of Heaven, as it is written: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not hearken [yishma] unto My words that he shall speak in My name, I will exact from him” (Deuteronomy 18:19). The reference is to one who forgoes the statement of a prophet. Read into the verse: Who shall not voice [yashmia]; the reference is to one who suppresses the prophecy. And read into the verse: Shall not heed [yishama]; the reference is to one who violated his own statement. And it is written with regard to all of these: “I will exact from him,” meaning he is liable to receive death at the hand of Heaven.
הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע, כְּגוֹן צִדְקִיָּה בֶן כְּנַעֲנָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶן כְּנַעֲנָה קַרְנֵי בַרְזֶל״. מַאי הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמֶעְבַּד? רוּחַ נָבוֹת אַטְעִיתֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ מִי יְפַתֶּה אֶת אַחְאָב וְיַעַל וְיִפֹּל בְּרָמֹת גִּלְעָד״. ״וַיֵּצֵא הָרוּחַ וַיַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי ה׳ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי אֲפַתֶּנּוּ״. ״וַיֹּאמֶר תְּפַתֶּה וְגַם תּוּכָל צֵא וַעֲשֵׂה כֵן״.
§ The mishna lists among those liable to be executed as a false prophet one who prophesies that which he did not hear. The Gemara comments: For example, Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, who prophesied that Ahab should wage war against the kingdom of Aram and would be successful, as it is written: “And Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made for him horns of iron, and said: So says the Lord: With these shall you gore the Arameans, until they are consumed” (II Chronicles 18:10). The Gemara asks: What was Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, to do? Why was he held responsible? After all, the spirit of Naboth misled him, as it is written: “And the Lord said: Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead…and there came forth the spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will entice him. And He said…You shall entice him, and shall prevail also; go forth, and do so” (I Kings 22:20–22).
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: מַאי ״צֵא״? צֵא מִמְּחִיצָתִי. מַאי רוּחַ? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: רוּחוֹ שֶׁל נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי.
Rav Yehuda says: What is the meaning of the apparently unnecessary term: “Go forth”? Could the Lord not have sufficed with telling the spirit: Do so? The term means: Go forth from My proximity. Since the spirit volunteered to engage in deceit, it was no longer fit to stand in proximity to God. What is the identity of the spirit that undertook to entice Ahab? Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It was the spirit of Naboth the Jezreelite, who was eager to take revenge upon Ahab.
הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמֵידַק, כִּדְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: סִיגְנוֹן אֶחָד עוֹלֶה לְכַמָּה נְבִיאִים, וְאֵין שְׁנֵי נְבִיאִים מִתְנַבְּאִין בְּסִיגְנוֹן אֶחָד.
The Gemara comments: It was incumbent upon Zedekiah to discern between actual prophecies and false prophecies, in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak, as Rabbi Yitzḥak says: A prophetic vision relating to one and the same subject matter [sigenon] may appear to several prophets, but two prophets do not prophesy employing one and the same style of expression.
עוֹבַדְיָה אָמַר: ״זְדוֹן לִבְּךָ הִשִּׁיאֶךָ״. יִרְמְיָה אָמַר: ״תִּפְלַצְתְּךָ הִשִּׁיא אֹתָךְ זְדוֹן לִבֶּךָ״. וְהָנֵי, מִדְּקָאָמְרִי כּוּלְּהוּ כַּהֲדָדֵי, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לָא כְּלוּם קָאָמְרִי.
An example of identical content expressed in different styles is the prophecy where Obadiah said: “The pride of your heart has beguiled you” (Obadiah 1:3), and Jeremiah said a similar message employing slightly different language: “Your terribleness has deceived you, even the pride of your heart” (Jeremiah 49:16). And with regard to these false prophets, from the fact that in their case all the prophets are saying their prophecies like each other, i.e., employing an identical style, conclude from it that they are saying nothing of substance and that it is a false prophecy.
דִּילְמָא לָא הֲוָה יָדַע לֵיהּ לְהָא דְּרַבִּי יִצְחָק? יְהוֹשָׁפָט הֲוָה הָתָם, וְקָאָמַר לְהוּ. דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט הַאֵין פֹּה נָבִיא עוֹד לַה׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָא אִיכָּא כֹּל הָנֵי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִבֵּית אֲבִי אַבָּא: סִיגְנוֹן אֶחָד עוֹלֶה לְכַמָּה נְבִיאִים, וְאֵין שְׁנֵי נְבִיאִים מִתְנַבְּאִים בְּסִיגְנוֹן אֶחָד.
The Gemara asks: Perhaps Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, did not know this statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak, and therefore should not have been held responsible? The Gemara answers: Jehoshaphat, king of Judea, was there, and he said to them that they were false prophets, as it is written: “But Jehoshaphat said: Is there not here besides a prophet of the Lord, that we might inquire of him?” (I Kings 22:7). Ahab said to him: But aren’t there all these prophets here? Why seek others? Jehoshaphat said to Ahab: This is the tradition that I received from the house of the father of my father, the house of David: A prophetic vision relating to one and the same subject matter may appear to several prophets, but two prophets do not prophesy employing one and the same style of expression. They are false prophets, as they employed the same language when stating their prophecy.
הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ: כְּגוֹן חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן עַזּוּר, דְּקָאֵי יִרְמְיָה בְּשׁוּק הָעֶלְיוֹן וְקָאָמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ [צְבָאוֹת] הִנְנִי שֹׁבֵר אֶת קֶשֶׁת עֵילָם״. נָשָׂא חֲנַנְיָה קַל וָחוֹמֶר בְּעַצְמוֹ: מָה עֵילָם שֶׁלֹּא בָּא אֶלָּא לַעֲזוֹר אֶת בָּבֶל אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״הִנְנִי שֹׁבֵר אֶת קֶשֶׁת עֵילָם״, כַּשְׂדִּים עַצְמָן עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. אֲתָא אִיהוּ בְּשׁוּק הַתַּחְתּוֹן אֲמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ וְגוֹ׳ שָׁבַרְתִּי אֶת עֹל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל״.
§ The mishna lists among those liable to be executed as false prophets one who prophesies that which was not stated to him. The Gemara comments: For example, Hananiah, son of Azzur, as Jeremiah was standing in the upper market in Jerusalem and saying: “So says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might” (Jeremiah 49:35). Hananiah raised an a fortiori inference himself: If, with regard to Elam, which came only to assist Babylonia, the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,” all the more so are the Chaldeans, i.e., the Babylonians, themselves, destined to fall. Hananiah came to the lower market and said: “So speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 28:2). As a result, Hananiah, son of Azzur, was killed at the hand of Heaven (Jeremiah 28:16).
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: הַאי לַחֲבֵירוֹ נָמֵי לֹא נֶאֱמַר! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כֵּיוָן דְּאִיתְיְהִיב קַל וָחוֹמֶר לְמִידְרַשׁ, כְּמַאן דְּאִיתְּמַר לֵיהּ דָּמֵי. הוּא נִיהוּ דְּלֹא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ.
Rav Pappa said to Abaye: Referring to this case as one who prophesies that which was not said to him is not precise, as not only was it not said to Hananiah, neither was this prophecy stated to another prophet. Abaye said to him: Since this matter can be inferred by means of an a fortiori inference, it is like a prophecy that was said to Jeremiah, as inferring matters a fortiori is a legitimate manner of derivation. It is Hananiah who misrepresented the prophecy, as it was not stated to him, i.e., to Hananiah, and then he presented the prophecy as though he heard it from God.
הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה: כְּגוֹן נְבִיאֵי הַבַּעַל.
The mishna lists among those liable to be executed as false prophets one who prophesies in the name of idol worship. The Gemara comments: For example, the prophets of the Baal (see I Kings, chapter 18).
הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ: כְּגוֹן יוֹנָה בֶּן אֲמִיתַּי. וְהַמְוַותֵּר עַל דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא: כְּגוֹן
The mishna lists among those liable to receive death at the hand of Heaven one who suppresses his prophecy. The Gemara comments: For example, Jonah, son of Amittai (Jonah 1:1–3). The mishna also lists: And one who forgoes the statement of a prophet. The Gemara comments: For example,
חַבְרֵיהּ דְּמִיכָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאִישׁ אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אָמַר אֶל רֵעֵהוּ בִּדְבַר ה׳ הַכֵּינִי נָא, וַיְמָאֵן הָאִישׁ לְהַכּוֹתוֹ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ [וְגוֹ׳]״.
the colleague of the prophet Micah, son of Imla (see II Chronicles 18:7–8), as it is written: “And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his colleague by the word of the Lord: Strike me, please. And the man refused to strike him” (I Kings 20:35). And it is written: “Then he said to him: Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you leave me, a lion shall slay you. And as soon as he left from him, a lion found him; and slew him” (I Kings 20:36).
וְנָבִיא שֶׁעָבַר עַל דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ: כְּגוֹן עִדּוֹ הַנָּבִיא, דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי כֵן צִוָּה אֹתִי״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ גַּם אֲנִי נָבִיא כָּמוֹךָ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיָּשׇׁב אִתּוֹ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אַרְיֵה״.
The mishna lists among those liable to receive death at the hand of Heaven: And a prophet who violated his own statement. The Gemara comments: For example, Iddo the prophet, who, according to tradition, prophesied the punishment of Jeroboam in Bethel, as it is written: “I will neither eat bread nor drink water in this place, for it so was commanded me by the word of the Lord” (I Kings 13:8–9). And it is written: “And he said to him: I too am a prophet like you; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord, saying: Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water” (I Kings 13:18). And it is written: “And he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water” (I Kings 13:19). And it is written that he died at the hand of Heaven: “And he went, and a lion met him by the way, and killed him” (I Kings 13:24).
תָּנֵי תַּנָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא: הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ לוֹקֶה. אָמַר לֵיהּ: ״מַאן דְּאָכֵיל תַּמְרֵי בְּאַרְבְּלָא לָקֵי? מַאן מַתְרֵי בֵּיהּ? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: חַבְרֵיהּ נְבִיאֵי.
§ A tanna taught a baraita before Rav Ḥisda: One who suppresses his prophecy is flogged. Rav Ḥisda said a parable to him: Is one who eats dates in a sieve flogged? How can he be flogged? Who forewarns him if he eats dates infested with worms that no one sees? Likewise, as no one knows whether the prophet received a prophecy, how can he be forewarned? Abaye said: His fellow prophets forewarn him.
מְנָא יָדְעִי? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: דִּכְתִיב ״כִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה ה׳ [אֱלֹהִים] דָּבָר כִּי אִם גָּלָה סוֹדוֹ״. וְדִילְמָא הֲדַרוּ בֵּיהּ? אִם אִיתָא דְּהָדְרִי בֵּיהּ, אוֹדוֹעֵי הֲווֹ מוֹדְעִי לְכֻלְּהוּ נְבִיאֵי.
The Gemara asks: From where do they know that he received a prophecy? Abaye says: They know, as it is written: “For the Lord God will do nothing, unless He reveals His counsel to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). The Gemara challenges: And perhaps the heavenly court reconsidered with regard to the prophecy, and the prophet is no longer commanded to disseminate the prophecy. The Gemara answers: If it is so that they reconsidered with regard to the prophecy, the heavenly court would have informed all the prophets.
וְהָא יוֹנָה, דַּהֲדַרוּ בֵּיהּ וְלָא אוֹדְעוּהּ? יוֹנָה מֵעִיקָּרָא ״נִינְוֵה נֶהְפָּכֶת״ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ. אִיהוּ לָא יְדַע אִי לְטוֹבָה אִי לְרָעָה.
The Gemara challenges: But in the case of Jonah, they reconsidered it and did not inform them that the people of Nineveh had repented for their sins and were therefore spared the foretold destruction. The Gemara explains: In the case of Jonah, from the outset, the heavenly court told him to say: “Nineveh will be overturned” (Jonah 3:4). Still, he did not know if the sentence would be for the good, as their corruption would be overturned through repentance, or if it would be for the bad, as the city would be overturned through destruction. Therefore, the prophecy was never revoked, but simply fulfilled in accordance with one of its possible interpretations.
הַמְוַותֵּר עַל דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא, מְנָא יָדַע דְּאִיעֲנַשׁ? דִּיהַב לֵיהּ אוֹת. וְהָא מִיכָה, דְּלָא יְהַב לֵיהּ אוֹת, וְאִיעֲנַשׁ? הֵיכָא דְּמוּחְזָק שָׁאנֵי.
The Gemara asks: In the case of one who forgoes the statement of a prophet, from where does he know that the one prophesying is actually a prophet and that he will be punished for failing to comply with the prophecy? The Gemara answers: It is referring to a case where the prophet provides him with a sign indicating that he is a prophet. The Gemara asks: But in the case of Micah, who did not provide him with a sign, and yet he was punished, how could he have known that Micah was a prophet? A case where he has already assumed the presumptive status of a prophet is different, and no sign is necessary.
דְּאִי לָא תֵּימָא הָכִי, אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הֵיכִי שְׁמַע לֵיהּ יִצְחָק? אֵלִיָּהוּ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל, הֵיכִי סָמְכִי עֲלֵיהּ וְעָבְדִי שְׁחוּטֵי חוּץ? אֶלָּא הֵיכָא דְּמוּחְזָק שָׁאנֵי.
The Gemara continues: Since if you do not say so, and claim that even the prophecy of one established as a prophet requires a sign, then in the case of Abraham at Mount Moriah, how did Isaac listen to him and submit to being slaughtered as an offering? Likewise, in the case of Elijah at Mount Carmel, how did the people rely upon him and enable him to engage in the sacrifice of animals slaughtered outside the Temple, which is prohibited? Rather, perforce, a case where he has already assumed the presumptive status of a prophet is different.
״וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם״, אַחַר מַאי?
§ Apropos the binding of Isaac, the Gemara elaborates: It is written: “And it came to pass after these matters [hadevarim] that God tried Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). The Gemara asks: After what matters? How does the binding of Isaac relate to the preceding events?
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן זִימְרָא: אַחַר דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל שָׂטָן, דִּכְתִיב ״וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר שָׂטָן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, זָקֵן זֶה חֲנַנְתּוֹ לְמֵאָה שָׁנָה פְּרִי בֶטֶן, מִכׇּל סְעוּדָה שֶׁעָשָׂה לֹא הָיָה לוֹ תּוֹר אֶחָד אוֹ גּוֹזָל אֶחָד לְהַקְרִיב לְפָנֶיךָ? אָמַר לוֹ: כְּלוּם עָשָׂה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל בְּנוֹ? אִם אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לוֹ ״זְבַח אֶת בִּנְךָ לְפָנַי״ מִיָּד זוֹבְחוֹ. מִיָּד ״וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: This means after the statement [devarav] of Satan, as it is written: “And the child grew, and was weaned, and Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned” (Genesis 21:8). Satan said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, this old man, you favored him with a product of the womb, i.e., a child, at one hundred years of age. From the entire feast that he prepared, did he not have even one dove or one pigeon to sacrifice before You as a thanks-offering? God said to Satan: Did Abraham prepare the feast for any reason but for his son? If I say to him: Sacrifice your son before Me, he would immediately slaughter him. Immediately, after these matters, the verse states: “And God tried Abraham.”
״וַיֹּאמֶר קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ״. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַבָּא: אֵין ״נָא״ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בַּקָּשָׁה. מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁעָמְדוּ עָלָיו מִלְחָמוֹת הַרְבֵּה, וְהָיָה לוֹ גִּבּוֹר אֶחָד וְנִצְּחָן. לְיָמִים עָמְדָה עָלָיו מִלְחָמָה חֲזָקָה. אָמַר לוֹ: בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ, עֲמוֹד לִי בְּמִלְחָמָה זוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ רִאשׁוֹנוֹת אֵין בָּהֶם מַמָּשׁ. אַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לְאַבְרָהָם: נִיסֵּיתִיךָ בְּכַמָּה נִסְיוֹנוֹת וְעָמַדְתָּ בְּכֻלָּן. עַכְשָׁיו עֲמוֹד לִי בְּנִסָּיוֹן זֶה, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ אֵין מַמָּשׁ בָּרִאשׁוֹנִים.
The Torah continues: “And He said: Take, please [na], your son” (Genesis 22:2). Rabbi Shimon bar Abba says: The word na is nothing other than an expression of entreaty. Why did God request rather than command that Abraham take his son? The Gemara cites a parable of a flesh-and-blood king who confronted many wars. And he had one warrior fighting for him, and he overcame his enemies. Over time, there was a fierce war confronting him. The king said to his warrior: I entreat you, stand firm for me in this war, so that others will not say: There is no substance in the first victories, and you are not a true warrior. Likewise, the Holy One, Blessed be He, also said to Abraham: I have tried you with several ordeals, and you have withstood them all. Now, stand firm in this ordeal for Me, so that others will not say: There is no substance in the first ordeals.
״אֶת בִּנְךָ״. שְׁנֵי בָּנִים יֵשׁ לִי. ״אֶת יְחִידְךָ״. זֶה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ וְזֶה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ. ״אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ״. תַּרְוַיְיהוּ רָחֵימְנָא לְהוּ. ״אֶת יִצְחָק״. וְכׇל כָּךְ לָמָּה? כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו.
God said to Abraham: “Please take your son, your only, whom you love, Isaac” (Genesis 22:2). When God said: “Your son,” Abraham said: I have two sons. When God said: “Your only,” Abraham said: This son is an only son to his mother, and that son is an only son to his mother. When God said: “Whom you love,” Abraham said: I love both of them. Then God said: “Isaac.” And why did God prolong His command to that extent? Why did He not say Isaac’s name from the outset? God did so, so that Abraham’s mind would not be confused by the trauma.
קְדָמוֹ שָׂטָן לַדֶּרֶךְ. אָמַר לוֹ: ״הֲנִסָּה דָבָר אֵלֶיךָ תִּלְאֶה… הִנֵּה יִסַּרְתָּ רַבִּים וְיָדַיִם רָפוֹת תְּחַזֵּק. כּוֹשֵׁל יְקִימוּן מִלֶּיךָ… כִּי עַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֵלֶיךָ וַתֵּלֶא״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּי אֵלֵךְ״.
Satan preceded Abraham to the path that he took to bind his son and said to him: “If one ventures a word to you, will you be weary…you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him that was falling…but now it comes upon you, and you are weary” (Job 4:2–5). Do you now regret what you are doing? Abraham said to him in response: “And I will walk with my integrity” (Psalms 26:11).
אָמַר לוֹ: ״הֲלֹא יִרְאָתְךָ כִּסְלָתֶךָ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״זְכׇר נָא מִי הוּא נָקִי אָבָד״. כֵּיוָן דַּחֲזָא דְּלָא קָא שָׁמַיע לֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״וְאֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב״. כָּךְ שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַפַּרְגּוֹד: ״הַשֶּׂה לְעוֹלָה״ וְאֵין יִצְחָק לְעוֹלָה. אָמַר לוֹ: כָּךְ עוֹנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל בַּדַּאי, שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ אָמַר אֱמֶת אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ.
Satan said to Abraham: “Is not your fear of God your foolishness?” (Job 4:6). In other words, your fear will culminate in the slaughter of your son. Abraham said to him: “Remember, please, whoever perished, being innocent” (Job 4:7). God is righteous and His pronouncements are just. Once Satan saw that Abraham was not heeding him, he said to him: “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper thereof” (Job 4:12). This is what I heard from behind the heavenly curtain [pargod], which demarcates between God and the ministering angels: The sheep is to be sacrificed as a burnt-offering, and Isaac is not to be sacrificed as a burnt-offering. Abraham said to him: Perhaps that is so. However, this is the punishment of the liar, that even if he speaks the truth, others do not listen to him. Therefore, I do not believe you and will fulfill that which I was commanded to perform.
רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר: אַחַר דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְיִצְחָק. אָמַר לוֹ יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְיִצְחָק: אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ בְּמִצְוֹת, שֶׁאַתָּה מַלְתָּ בֶּן שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים, וַאֲנִי בֶּן שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה. אָמַר לוֹ: וּבְאֵבֶר אֶחָד אַתָּה מְגָרֶה בִּי? אִם אוֹמֵר לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״זְבַח עַצְמְךָ לְפָנַי״, אֲנִי זוֹבֵחַ. מִיָּד: ״וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם״.
The Gemara cites an alternative explanation of the verse: “And it came to pass after these matters that God tried Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). Rabbi Levi says: This means after the statement of Ishmael to Isaac, during an exchange between them described in the verse: “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar…mocking” (Genesis 21:9). Ishmael said to Isaac: I am greater than you in the fulfillment of mitzvot, as you were circumcised at the age of eight days, without your knowledge and without your consent, and I was circumcised at the age of thirteen years, with both my knowledge and my consent. Isaac said to Ishmael: And do you provoke me with one organ? If the Holy One, Blessed be He, were to say to me: Sacrifice yourself before Me, I would sacrifice myself. Immediately, God tried Abraham, to confirm that Isaac was sincere in his offer to give his life.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נָבִיא שֶׁהִדִּיחַ – בִּסְקִילָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בְּחֶנֶק. מַדִּיחֵי עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת – בִּסְקִילָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בְּחֶנֶק.
§ The Sages taught: A prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning. Rabbi Shimon says: He is executed by strangulation. Those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, are executed by stoning. Rabbi Shimon says: They are executed by strangulation.
נָבִיא שֶׁהִדִּיחַ – בִּסְקִילָה. מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּנַן? אָתְיָא ״הַדָּחָה״ ״הַדָּחָה״ מִמֵּסִית: מָה לְהַלָּן בִּסְקִילָה, אַף כָּאן בִּסְקִילָה.
The Gemara elaborates: A prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning. What is the reason for the opinion of the Rabbis? They derive a verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word incitement written with regard to a prophet who incites others to worship idols from the word incitement written with regard to a layman who instigates others to worship idols. Just as there, the layman who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning, so too here, the prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: מִיתָה כְּתִיבָא בֵּיהּ, וְכׇל מִיתָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְּתוֹרָה סְתָם – אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא חֶנֶק.
And Rabbi Shimon says: With regard to a prophet, the term death is written concerning him. And every death stated in the Torah without specification is referring to nothing other than strangulation.
מַדִּיחֵי עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת בִּסְקִילָה, מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּנַן? גְּמִירִי ״הַדָּחָה״ ״הַדָּחָה״, אוֹ מִמֵּסִית, אוֹ מִנָּבִיא שֶׁהִדִּיחַ.
The Gemara continues: Those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, are executed by stoning. What is the reason for the opinion of the Rabbis? They derive a verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word incitement written with regard to those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, from the word incitement written either with regard to a layman who instigates others to worship idols or from the word incitement written with regard to a prophet who incites others to worship idols. Just as there, the layman who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning, so too here, the prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן גָּמַר ״הַדָּחָה״ ״הַדָּחָה״ מִנָּבִיא.
And Rabbi Shimon derives a verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word incitement written with regard to those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, from the word incitement written with regard to a prophet who incites others to worship idols, who, in his opinion, is executed by strangulation.
וְלִיגְמַר מִמֵּסִית! דָּנִין מֵסִית רַבִּים מִמֵּסִית רַבִּים, וְאֵין דָּנִין מֵסִית רַבִּים מִמֵּסִית יָחִיד. אַדְּרַבָּה, דָּנִין הֶדְיוֹט מֵהֶדְיוֹט, וְאֵין דָּנִין הֶדְיוֹט מִנָּבִיא!
The Gemara challenges: Let him derive the punishment from the punishment of one who is not a prophet who instigates others to worship idols, as those cases are similar. The Gemara answers: Rabbi Shimon derives the punishment for one who instigates the multitudes from the punishment of one who instigates the multitudes, and does not derive the punishment for one who instigates the multitudes from the punishment of one who instigates an individual. The Gemara asks: On the contrary, one derives the punishment for an ordinary person, i.e., one who is not a prophet, who instigates others from the punishment of an ordinary person who incites an idolatrous city, and one does not derive the punishment for an ordinary person who instigates others from the punishment of a prophet who instigates others.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִדִּיחַ – אֵין לְךָ הֶדְיוֹט גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה.
And Rabbi Shimon holds that in this case there is no distinction between prophet and layman; once the prophet has incited others to idol worship, you have no greater example of an ordinary person than that.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא:
Rav Ḥisda says:
