Pisqa’ 861
1
“And that prophet” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who was coerced
[by others to assume the role of prophet].
“Or that dreamer of dreams” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who was deluded 2
[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,3
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! 4
“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 astray5 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.
Another word:
“To lead you to stray from the path” (Dt.13:6)—
this [path is the performance of] prescriptions.
“Which HASHEM your God has commanded you” (Dt.13:6)—
this [command concerns avoidance of] proscriptions.
“In which you shall walk” (Dt.13:6)—
excluding one who expounds some [commandments].
while leaving some others [unexplained].6
“And you must expunge this evil from among you “(Dt.13:6)—
expunge the evil-doer from Israel.7
- H:137; JN1:235.
- Heb: mut`ah; root: t-`-h, “to wander,” “be lost” or “mistaken.”
- As per M. Mak. 1:4-6.
- Cf. Pisqa’ 90.2
- Heb: hadakhah; root: n-d-kh, “impelled,” “banished.” “exiled.”
- Cf. T. San.14:13
- This exegetical intensification of “expunging” appears throughout Sifre. Cf. Pisqa’ot 151, 155, 187, 272, etc.