Pisqa’ 841
1
“And the sign or prodigious deed is accomplished” (Dt.13:3).
Said R. Yose the Galilean:
Observe how much the verse puts up with
servants of a foreign cult—
giving them dominion over
the sun, the moon, the stars, and the constellations!
Nevertheless, do not listen to them!
And why not?
“For HASHEM your God is testing you,
to learn if you truly love HASHEM your God” (Dt.13:3-4).
Said R. Akiva:
May Heaven preserve us!
The All-Present would never tamper with
the course of the sun, moon, stars and constellations
to satisfy servants of a foreign cult!
Indeed, the verse is only speaking about
those who began as prophets of truth
and later became prophets of lies,
like Hananiah b. Azzur.2
2
“Do not listen to the words of that prophet”(Dt.13:4)—
or one who later recants.
“Or that dreamer of dreams” (Dt.13:4)—
or one [whose prophecy is]
falsified in light of events.
“For HASHEM your God is testing you,
to learn if you truly love HASHEM your God” (Dt.13:3-4).