Daily Rambam (1) Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah – Chapter 9: The Eternal Authority of the Torah and the Limits of Prophetic Power (Monday, 6th Adar)

Yesodei haTorah – Chapter 9

Halachah 1 — The Torah Is Eternal and Cannot Be Changed

1. The Torah explicitly states that its commandments are forever, with no possibility of change, addition, or subtraction.
2. Verses such as “Do not add and do not subtract,” “For us and our children forever,” and “It is not in heaven” teach:
   • The Torah must be fulfilled for all generations.
   • No prophet may add new commandments or subtract any.
3. Therefore, if anyone — Jew or gentile — performs miracles and claims:
   • to add a mitzvah,
   • to cancel a mitzvah,
   • to reinterpret a mitzvah against the tradition from Moses, or
   • that the Torah’s mitzvot were temporary,
     he is a false prophet who denies Moses’ prophecy and is executed, because he claimed G-d said what He never said.
4. G-d commanded Moses that the Torah’s laws are eternal, and G-d does not lie.

Halachah 2 — The Role of Prophets After Moses

1. When the Torah says G-d will raise prophets, this does not mean they can establish new laws or a new religion.
2. Their role is to command the people to keep the Torah and warn them against sin — like Malachi, the final prophet, who said: “Remember the Torah of Moses.”
3. A prophet may also give non‑halachic instructions, such as:
   • “Go to this place,”
   • “Do not go there,”
   • “Fight today,”
   • “Do not fight,”
   • “Build this,” or “Do not build.”
     In such cases, it is a mitzvah to obey him.
4. Anyone who violates a prophet’s instruction is liable to death at the hand of Heaven.
5. Likewise:
   • A prophet who disobeys his own prophecy, or
   • A prophet who withholds prophecy when commanded to speak,
     is punished by Heaven, as the Torah says about these three cases: “I will seek retribution from him.”

Halachah 3 — When a Prophet May Temporarily Suspend a Mitzvah

1. A verified prophet may command the temporary suspension of any Torah commandment — whether light or severe — and for that limited time it is a mitzvah to obey him.
2. Tradition teaches: “If a prophet instructs you to transgress a mitzvah temporarily — except idolatry — obey him.”
3. Example: Elijah on Mount Carmel offered a sacrifice outside Jerusalem, even though that is normally a capital offense. Since G-d commanded him for that moment, he was obeyed.
4. If asked how one could violate a Torah law, Elijah would explain:
   • The prohibition applies only to permanent or unauthorized offerings.
   • This situation was a one‑time command from G-d.
5. Any other prophet giving a temporary command must likewise be obeyed.
6. But if he says that a mitzvah is permanently nullified, he is a false prophet and is executed.

Halachah 4 — A Prophet May Not Override the Oral Tradition

1. If a prophet claims to overrule:
   • an oral‑law tradition, or
   • a halachic decision based on the principles received from Moses,

saying, “G-d told me the law is such‑and‑such,” he is a false prophet, even if he performs miracles.

1. The Torah already said: “It is not in heaven” — meaning halachah is not determined through prophecy.
2. But if a prophet says that for a limited time a specific action should be taken, he must be obeyed.

Halachah 5 — No Prophet May Allow Idolatry, Even Temporarily

1. The above rule applies to all mitzvot except idolatry.
2. If a prophet instructs idolatry even temporarily, even if he performs great miracles, he must not be obeyed.
3. The Torah commands:
   • Even if the sign “comes true,”
   • If he says, “Serve other G-ds,”
     → Do not listen; he has spoken falsely against G-d.
4. Such a person is definitely a false prophet — his signs are sorcery — and he is executed.