Pisqa’ 86160H:137; JN1:235. 1. “And that prophet” (Dt.13:6)— excluding one who was coerced [by others to assume the role of prophet].
2
אוֹ חֹלֵם הַחֲלוֹם הַהוּא – וְלֹא מֻטְעֶה.
“Or that dreamer of dreams” (Dt.13:6)— excluding one who was deluded161Heb: mut`ah; root: t-`-h, “to wander,” “be lost” or “mistaken.” [by his dreams].
“Shall be put to death, for he taught arbitrarily against HASHEM your God” (Dt.13:6). Now, doesn’t it follow logically? Just as one who falsifies his companion’s words [by corrupt testimony in a capital case] is liable to death,162As per M. Mak. 1:4-6. all the more so should one who falsifies the words of the All-Present [be liable to death].
2. “Who brought you forth from the land of Egypt” (Dt.13:6)— even were His only claim upon you that He brought you forth from the land of Egypt— it would be quite enough!163Cf. Pisqa’ 90.2
“And redeemed you from the house of servitude” (Dt.13:6)— even were His only claim upon you that He redeemed you from the house of servitude— it would be quite enough!
“To lead you to stray from the path” (Dt.13:6). Leading astray164Heb: hadakhah; root: n-d-kh, “impelled,” “banished.” “exiled.” is mentioned here, and leading astray is mentioned further on (Dt.13:11). Just as the leading astray mentioned further on [is punished] by stoning, so, too, the leading astray mentioned here (Dt.13:6) [is punished] by stoning. R. Shimon says: This one’s execution must be by strangulation.
“And you must expunge this evil from among you “(Dt.13:6)— expunge the evil-doer from Israel.166This exegetical intensification of “expunging” appears throughout Sifre. Cf. Pisqa’ot 151, 155, 187, 272, etc.
(דברים יג ו) וְהַנָּבִיא הַהוּא – וְלֹא אָנוּס.
Pisqa’ 86160H:137; JN1:235.
1. “And that prophet” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who was coerced
[by others to assume the role of prophet].
אוֹ חֹלֵם הַחֲלוֹם הַהוּא – וְלֹא מֻטְעֶה.
“Or that dreamer of dreams” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who was deluded 161Heb: mut`ah; root: t-`-h, “to wander,” “be lost” or “mistaken.”
[by his dreams].
יוּמָת כִּי דִבֶּר סָרָה עַל ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וַהֲלֹא דְבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה הַמְזַיֵּף דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוֹ חַיָּב מִיתָה, הַמְזַיֵּף דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל מָקוֹם עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה!
“Shall be put to death, for he taught arbitrarily against HASHEM your God” (Dt.13:6).
Now, doesn’t it follow logically?
Just as one who falsifies
his companion’s words
[by corrupt testimony in a capital case]
is liable to death,162As per M. Mak. 1:4-6.
all the more so
should one who falsifies
the words of the All-Present
[be liable to death].
הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ עָלֶיךָ אֶלָּא שֶׁהוֹצִיאֲךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם – דַּי.
2. “Who brought you forth from the land of Egypt” (Dt.13:6)—
even were His only claim upon you
that He brought you forth
from the land of Egypt—
it would be quite enough! 163Cf. Pisqa’ 90.2
וְהַפֹּדְךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ עָלֶיךָ אֶלָּא שֶׁפְּדָאֲךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים – דַּי.
“And redeemed you from the house of servitude” (Dt.13:6)—
even were His only claim upon you
that He redeemed you
from the house of servitude—
it would be quite enough!
לְהַדִּיחֲךָ מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן הַדָּחָה וְנֶאֶמְרָה לְהַלָּן (דברים יג יא) הַדָּחָה, מָה הַדָּחָה הָאֲמוּרָה לְהַלָּן בִּסְקִילָה – אַף הַדָּחָה הָאֲמוּרָה כָּאן בִּסְקִילָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אֵין מִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה אֶלָּא בְחֶנֶק.
“To lead you to stray from the path” (Dt.13:6).
Leading astray164Heb: hadakhah; root: n-d-kh, “impelled,” “banished.” “exiled.” is mentioned here,
and leading astray is mentioned further on (Dt.13:11).
Just as the leading astray mentioned further on
[is punished] by stoning,
so, too, the leading astray mentioned here (Dt.13:6)
[is punished] by stoning.
R. Shimon says:
This one’s execution must be by strangulation.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: לְהַדִּיחֲךָ מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ – זוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה.
Another word:
“To lead you to stray from the path” (Dt.13:6)—
this [path is the performance of] prescriptions.
אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ – זוֹ מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
“Which HASHEM your God has commanded you” (Dt.13:6)—
this [command concerns avoidance of] proscriptions.
לָלֶכֶת בָּהּ – לֹא הָאוֹמֵר מִקְצָת וּמְשַׁיֵּר מִקְצָת.
“In which you shall walk” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who expounds some [commandments].
while leaving some others [unexplained].165Cf. T. San.14:13
וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּךָ – בַּעֵר עוֹשֵׂה הָרָעוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל.
“And you must expunge this evil from among you “(Dt.13:6)—
expunge the evil-doer from Israel.166This exegetical intensification of “expunging” appears throughout Sifre. Cf. Pisqa’ot 151, 155, 187, 272, etc.