Reeh 13:04 · EXTRA 1

EXTRA · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 13:04

Supplementary classical material for a passuk with no Torah Temimah citation.

The Complete Passuk

לֹ֣א תִשְׁמַ֗ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַנָּבִ֣יא הַה֔וּא א֛וֹ אֶל־חוֹלֵ֥ם הַחֲל֖וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י מְנַסֶּ֞ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָדַ֗עַת הֲיִשְׁכֶ֤ם אֹהֲבִים֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃

You shall not hearken to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams, for Hashem your God is testing you to know whether you love Hashem your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Chabad.org — 13:04

Source Citation

Classical source: Sifrei Devarim 84.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 84

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
לֹא תִשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא — אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּתַּן לוֹ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹת, לֹא תִשְׁמַע לוֹ; כִּי מְנַסֶּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶתְכֶם לָדַעַת הֲיִשְׁכֶם אוֹהֲבִים אֶת ה׳.

English: “You shall not hearken to the words of that prophet” — even though power has been given him to perform a sign, do not listen to him; for Hashem your God is testing you to know whether you love Hashem.

On the daf / in context: Sifrei explains that the successful sign does not authenticate the prophet who calls for apostasy; the sign itself is part of the divine test of loyalty.

Type of Learning

Derash on the purpose clause (Sifrei) — the verse supplies the reason the sign is permitted to occur.

What Is Learned

A prophet who calls for the worship of other gods must be rejected even if his sign comes true; the sign is a test of love for Hashem.