Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, the Rambam teaches us a fundamental principle of our emunah: the absolute eternity of the Torah. We learn that the Torah given through Moshe Rabbeinu is perfect and unchanging, and that no prophet, whether Jew or non-Jew, can ever add a new mitzvah, take one away, or alter the received Mesorah. The Rambam guides us in how to identify a false prophet who seeks to undermine the Torah, and explains the severe punishment such an individual faces.
At the same time, the Rambam clarifies the true role of a kosher prophet, who comes only to urge the people to keep the Torah, not to start a new religion. We will learn about the unique authority of a prophet to issue temporary directives—even to temporarily suspend a mitzvah, as Eliyahu HaNavi did on Har HaCarmel—and the strict boundaries of this authority, which never applies to the worship of avodah zarah.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
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נִצְחִיּוּת הַתּוֹרָה וְאִסּוּר הַהוֹסָפָה וְהַגִּרָעוֹןHalacha 1 · The Eternity of the Torah and the Prohibition Against Adding or Diminishing Mitzvos
דָּבָרA matterבָּרוּרclearוּמְפֹרָשׁand explicitבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahשֶׁהִיאthat itמִצְוָהis a mitzvahעוֹמֶדֶתstandingלְעוֹלָםforeverוּלְעוֹלְמֵיand for eternity ofעוֹלָמִיםeternitiesאֵיןthere isלָהּto itלֹאnoשִׁנּוּיchangeוְלֹאand noגֵּרָעוֹןdiminishmentוְלֹאand noתּוֹסֶפֶתadditionשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimיג13א1"אֵת—כָּלallהַדָּבָרthe matterאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIמְצַוֶּהcommandאֶתְכֶםyouאֹתוֹitתִשְׁמְרוּןyou shall watchלַעֲשׂוֹתto doלֹאnotתֹסֵףyou shall addעָלָיוupon itוְלֹאand notתִגְרַעyou shall diminishמִמֶּנּוּ".from itוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidדבריםDevarimכט29כח28"וְהַנִּגְלֹתand the revealed thingsלָנוּare for usוּלְבָנֵינוּand for our childrenעַדuntilעוֹלָםforeverלַעֲשׂוֹתto doאֶת—כָּלallדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahהַזֹּאת".thisהָאbeholdלָמַדְתָּyou have learnedשֶׁכָּלthat allדִּבְרֵיthe words ofתּוֹרָהTorahמְצֻוִּיןcommandedאָנוּare weלַעֲשׂוֹתָןto do themעַדuntilעוֹלָם.foreverוְכֵןand soהוּאHeאוֹמֵרsaysחֻקַּתan eternal statuteעוֹלָםforeverלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם.for your generationsוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidדבריםDevarimל30יב12"לֹאnotבַשָּׁמַיִםin heavenהִיא".is itהָאbeholdלָמַדְתָּyou have learnedשֶׁאֵיןthat noנָבִיאprophetרַשַּׁאיis permittedלְחַדֵּשׁto innovateדָּבָרa matterמֵעַתָּה.from now onלְפִיכָךְthereforeאִםifיַעֲמֹדthere will ariseאִישׁa manבֵּיןwhetherמִןfromהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsבֵּיןwhetherמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלfrom Israelוְיַעֲשֶׂהand he performsאוֹתa signוּמוֹפֵתor a wonderוְיֹאמַרand saysשֶׁה'that Hashemשְׁלָחוֹsent himלְהוֹסִיףto addמִצְוָהa mitzvahאוֹorלִגְרֹעַto diminishמִצְוָהa mitzvahאוֹorלְפָרֵשׁto explainבְּמִצְוָהregarding a mitzvahמִןfromהַמִּצְוֹתthe mitzvosפֵּרוּשׁan explanationשֶׁלֹּאthat notשָׁמַעְנוּwe heardמִמּשֶׁה.from Mosheאוֹorשֶׁאָמַרwho saidשֶׁאוֹתָןthat thoseהַמִּצְוֹתthe mitzvosשֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּthat were commandedבָּהֶןin themיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאֵינָןare notלְעוֹלָםforeverוּלְדוֹרֵיand for generations ofדּוֹרוֹתgenerationsאֶלָּאratherמִצְוֹתmitzvosלְפִיaccording toזְמַןtimeהָיוּ.they wereהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisנְבִיאis a prophet ofשֶׁקֶרfalsehoodשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבָּאhe comesלְהַכְחִישׁto denyנְבוּאָתוֹthe prophecyשֶׁלofמשֶׁה.Mosheוּמִיתָתוֹand his deathבְּחֶנֶקis by strangulationעַלforשֶׁהֵזִידthat he willfully sinnedלְדַבֵּרto speakבְּשֵׁםin the name ofה'Hashemאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotצִוָּהוּ.He commanded himשֶׁהוּאfor Heבָּרוּךְblessed isשְׁמוֹHis nameצִוָּהcommandedלְמשֶׁהto Mosheשֶׁהַמִּצְוָהthat the mitzvahהַזֹּאתthisלָנוּis for usוּלְבָנֵינוּand for our childrenעַדuntilעוֹלָםforeverבמדברBamidbarכג23יט19וְ"לֹאand notאִישׁa manאֵלis Godוִיכַזֵּב":that He should lie
This halacha establishes that the Torah is eternal and unchangeable, and that anyone claiming to add, subtract, or alter its mitzvos is a false prophet.
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תַּפְקִיד הַנָּבִיא וְהַחִיּוּב לִשְׁמֹעַ לִדְבָרָיו הָרְשׁוּתHalacha 2 · The Role of a Prophet and the Obligation to Obey His Secular Directives
אִםIfכֵּןsoלָמָּהwhyנֶאֱמַרis it saidבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahדבריםDevarimיח18יח18"נָבִיא"A prophetאָקִיםI will raise upלָהֶםfor themמִקֶּרֶבfrom amongאֲחֵיהֶםtheir brethrenכָּמוֹךָ".like you"לֹאnotלַעֲשׂוֹתto establishדָּתa religionהוּאheבָּאcomesאֶלָּאbutלְצַוּוֹתto commandעַלuponדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahוּלְהַזְהִירand to warnהָעָםthe peopleשֶׁלֹּאthat notיַעַבְרוּthey transgressעָלֶיהָ.against itכְּמוֹasשֶׁאָמַרthat saidהָאַחֲרוֹןthe lastשֶׁבָּהֶןamong themמלאכיMalachiג3כב22"זִכְרוּ"Rememberתּוֹרַתthe Torah ofמשֶׁהMosheעַבְדִּי".My servant"וְכֵןand soאִםifצִוָּנוּhe commanded usבְּדִבְרֵיin matters ofהָרְשׁוּתpermissionכְּגוֹןfor exampleלְכוּgoלְמָקוֹםto a placeפְּלוֹנִיsuch and suchאוֹorאַלdo notתֵּלְכוּ.goעֲשׂוּmakeמִלְחָמָהwarהַיּוֹםtodayאוֹorאַלdo notתַּעֲשׂוּ.makeבְּנוּbuildחוֹמָהa wallזוֹthisאוֹorאַלdo notתִּבְנוּהָ.build itמִצְוָהit is a mitzvahלִשְׁמֹעַto listenלוֹ.to himוְהָעוֹבֵרand the one who transgressesעַלagainstדְּבָרָיוhis wordsחַיָּבis liable forמִיתָהdeathבִּידֵיby the hands ofשָׁמַיִםHeavenשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimיח18יט19"וְהָיָה"And it shall beהָאִישׁthe manאֲשֶׁרwhoלֹאnotיִשְׁמַעwill listenאֶלtoדְּבָרַיMy wordsאֲשֶׁרwhichיְדַבֵּרhe shall speakבִּשְׁמִיin My nameאָנֹכִיIאֶדְרשׁwill requireמֵעִמּוֹ":from him"
This halacha clarifies that a prophet does not come to innovate new laws but to reinforce the Torah, and that we must obey his specific instructions even in mundane matters.
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הַצִּיּוּת לְנָבִיא לַעֲבֹר עַל מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה לְפִי שָׁעָהHalacha 3 · Obeying a Prophet to Transgress Torah Commandments Temporarily
וְכֵןAnd soנָבִיאa prophetשֶׁעָבַרwho transgressedעַלagainstדִּבְרֵיthe words ofעַצְמוֹhimselfוְהַכּוֹבֵשׁand one who suppressesנְבוּאָתוֹhis prophecyחַיָּבis liable forמִיתָהdeathבִּידֵיby the hand ofשָׁמַיִםHeavenוּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּןand regarding the three of themנֶאֱמַרit is saidדבריםDevarimיח18יט19"אָנֹכִיIאֶדְרשׁwill seekמֵעִמּוֹ".from himוְכֵןAnd soאִםifיֹאמַרhe saysלָנוּto usהַנָּבִיאthe prophetשֶׁנּוֹדַעwho is knownלָנוּto usשֶׁהוּאthat he isנָבִיאa prophetלַעֲבֹרto transgressעַלagainstאַחַתoneמִכָּלof allמִצְוֹתthe mitzvosהָאֲמוּרוֹתstatedבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahאוֹorעַלagainstמִצְוֹתmitzvosהַרְבֵּהmanyבֵּיןwhetherקַלּוֹתlightבֵּיןwhetherחֲמוּרוֹתsevereלְפִיaccording toשָׁעָהthe hourמִצְוָהit is a mitzvahלִשְׁמֹעַto listenלוֹ.to himוְכֵןAnd soלָמַדְנוּwe learnedמֵחֲכָמִיםfrom the Sagesרִאשׁוֹנִיםof the early generationsמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַשְּׁמוּעָהthe traditionבְּכָלin allאִםifיֹאמַרhe saysלְךָto youהַנָּבִיאthe prophetעֲבֹרtransgressעַלagainstדִּבְרֵיthe words ofתּוֹרָהthe Torahכְּאֵלִיָּהוּlike Eliyahuבְּהַרon MountהַכַּרְמֶלCarmelשְׁמַעlistenלוֹto himחוּץexceptמֵעֲבוֹדַתfor the worship ofכּוֹכָבִים.starsוְהוּאAnd thisשֶׁיִּהְיֶהis that it must beהַדָּבָרthe matterלְפִיaccording toשָׁעָה.the hourכְּגוֹןfor exampleאֵלִיָּהוּEliyahuבְּהַרon MountהַכַּרְמֶלCarmelשֶׁהִקְרִיבwho offeredעוֹלָהa burnt offeringבַּחוּץoutsideוִירוּשָׁלַיִםand Yerushalayimנִבְחֶרֶתwas chosenלְכָךְfor thisוְהַמַּקְרִיבand one who offersבַּחוּץoutsideחַיָּבis liable forכָּרֵת.karetוּמִפְּנֵיand becauseשֶׁהוּאthat he isנָבִיאa prophetמִצְוָהit is a mitzvahלִשְׁמֹעַto listenלוֹto himוְגַםand alsoבָּזֶהregarding thisנֶאֱמַרit is saidדבריםDevarimיח18טו15"אֵלָיוto himתִּשְׁמָעוּן".you shall listenוְאִלּוּAnd ifשָׁאֲלוּthey had askedאֶת—אֵלִיָּהוּEliyahuוְאָמְרוּand saidלוֹto himהֵיאַךְhowנַעֲקֹרcan we uprootמַהwhatשֶּׁכָּתוּבis writtenבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahדבריםDevarimיב12יג13"פֶּןlestתַּעֲלֶהyou offerעלֹתֶיךָyour burnt offeringsבְּכָלin everyמָקוֹם".placeהָיָהhe would haveאוֹמֵרsaidלֹאnotנֶאֱמַרwas it saidאֶלָּאexceptהַמַּקְרִיבone who offersבַּחוּץoutsideלְעוֹלָםforeverחַיָּבis liable forכָּרֵתkaretכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁצִּוָּהcommandedמשֶׁה.MosheאֲבָלbutאֲנִיIאַקְרִיבwill offerהַיּוֹםtodayבַּחוּץoutsideבִּדְבַרby the word ofה'Hashemכְּדֵיin orderלְהַכְחִישׁto disproveנְבִיאֵיthe prophets ofהַבַּעַל.the BaalוְעַלAnd inהַדֶּרֶךְthe wayהַזֹּאתthisאִםifצִוּוּthey commandedכָּלallהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsלַעֲבֹרto transgressלְפִיaccording toשָׁעָהthe hourמִצְוָהit is a mitzvahלִשְׁמֹעַto listenלָהֶם.to themוְאִםAnd ifאָמְרוּthey saidשֶׁהַדָּבָרthat the matterנֶעֱקַרis uprootedלְעוֹלָםforeverמִיתָתוֹhis deathבְּחֶנֶקis by strangulationשֶׁהַתּוֹרָהfor the TorahאָמְרָהsaidדבריםDevarimכט29כח28"לָנוּfor usוּלְבָנֵינוּand for our childrenעַדuntilעוֹלָם":eternity
This halacha explains that while a prophet can temporarily suspend a Torah commandment as a one-time ruling, any claim to permanently abrogate a mitzvah is a capital offense.
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נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר הַמַּכְחִישׁ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה אוֹ הַמָּסוֹרֶתHalacha 4 · A False Prophet Who Denies the Torah or Oral Tradition
וְכֵןAnd soאִםifעָקַרhe nullifiedדָּבָרa matterמִדְּבָרִיםfrom the mattersשֶׁלָּמַדְנוּthat we learnedמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַשְּׁמוּעָהthe traditionאוֹorשֶׁאָמַרthat he saidבְּדִיןregarding a lawמִדִּינֵיfrom the laws ofתּוֹרָהthe Torahשֶׁה'that Hashemצִוָּהcommandedלוֹhimשֶׁהַדִּיןthat the lawכָּךְsoהוּאisוַהֲלָכָהand the halachaכְּדִבְרֵיis like the words ofפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisנְבִיאis a prophet ofהַשֶּׁקֶרthe falsehoodוְיֵחָנֵק.and he is strangledאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁעָשָׂהthat he performedאוֹת.a signשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבָּאhe comesלְהַכְחִישׁto denyהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahשֶׁאָמְרָהwhich saidדבריםDevarimל30יב12"לֹאnotבַשָּׁמַיִםin heavenהִיא".is itאֲבָלbutלְפִיforשָׁעָהthe hourשׁוֹמְעִיןwe listenלוֹto himבַּכּל:in everything
This halacha establishes that a prophet who attempts to permanently alter the Torah or decide halachic disputes through prophecy is a false prophet.
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אִסּוּר שְׁמִיעָה לְנָבִיא הַמֵּסִית לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָהHalacha 5 · The Prohibition of Listening to a Prophet Who Entices to Idol Worship
בַּמֶּהIn whatדְּבָרִיםwordsאֲמוּרִיםare saidבִּשְׁאָרregarding otherמִצְוֹת.mitzvotאֲבָלbutבַּעֲבוֹדַתregarding worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsאֵיןwe do notשׁוֹמְעִיןlistenלוֹto himוַאֲפִלּוּand evenלְפִיforשָׁעָה.an hourוַאֲפִלּוּand evenעָשָׂהif he performedאוֹתוֹתsignsוּמוֹפְתִיםand wondersגְּדוֹלִיםgreatוְאָמַרand saidשֶׁה'that Hashemצִוָּהוּcommanded himשֶׁתֵּעָבֵדthat there be worshippedעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsהַיּוֹםtodayבִּלְבַדaloneאוֹorבְּשָׁעָהin hourזוֹthisבִּלְבַדaloneהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneדִּבֵּרhas spokenסָרָהperversionעַלagainstה'.Hashemוְעַלand concerningזֶהthisצִוָּהcommandedהַכָּתוּבthe verseוְאָמַרand saidדבריםDevarimיג13ג3"וּבָאand comesהָאוֹתthe signוְהַמּוֹפֵת"and the wonderדבריםDevarimיג13ד4"לֹאdo notתִּשְׁמַעlistenאֶלtoדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַנָּבִיאthe prophetהַהוּא"thatדבריםDevarimיג13ו6"כִּיforדִּבֵּרhe spokeסָרָהperversionעַלagainstה'Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶם".your Godשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבָּאhe comesלְהַכְחִישׁto denyנְבוּאָתוֹthe prophecyשֶׁלofמשֶׁה.Mosheוּלְפִיכָךְand thereforeנֵדַעwe knowבְּוַדַּאיwith certaintyשֶׁהוּאthat he isנְבִיאa prophet ofשֶׁקֶרfalsehoodוְכָלand allמַהthatשֶּׁעָשָׂהhe didבְּלָטwith secret artsוְכִשּׁוּףand sorceryעָשָׂהhe didוְיֵחָנֵק:and he is strangled
This halacha teaches that any prophet who commands even temporary idol worship is immediately exposed as a fraud and must be executed.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The chapter begins by establishing that the Torah is an everlasting statute that can never be changed, meaning anyone who claims Hashem sent him to permanently alter a mitzvah is a false prophet liable to strangulation. The Rambam explains that while a prophet cannot change the Torah, we must obey his personal instructions or his temporary commands to suspend a mitzvah for a short duration, just as Bnei Yisrael obeyed Eliyahu HaNavi on Har HaCarmel. However, if a prophet claims that a law has been permanently nullified, or if he tries to use prophecy to decide a halachic dispute, he is a false prophet. Finally, the Rambam rules that we must never listen to a prophet who tells us to worship avodah zarah, even for a single hour, and anyone who makes such a claim is executed as a false prophet whose signs were merely sorcery.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The central foundation of our entire emunah is that the Torah is eternal. It is not a relic of history, nor is it subject to the changing winds of time. The Rambam teaches us that even if a prophet performs the most breathtaking miracles, if he claims that a mitzvah has been permanently changed or nullified, we pay him no attention. The Torah is "not in heaven" anymore; it was given to us as an everlasting inheritance. This means that the Torah we have today is the exact same blueprint for life that Moshe Rabbeinu received at Sinai, and it remains fully alive and binding in our modern world.
Sometimes, the yetzer hara whispers that the Torah needs to be "updated" to fit the times, or that certain mitzvos are too old-fashioned for our current lifestyle. This sugya reminds us that Hashem's wisdom is infinite and transcends all generations. When we perform a mitzvah, we are not just practicing an ancient ritual; we are connecting to an eternal, unchanging reality. Our commitment to Halacha cannot be shaken by the trends of society or the pressure to conform.
Today, when you perform a mitzvah, whether it is saying a brachah with kavana, putting on tefillin, or speaking gently to a family member, stop for five seconds beforehand. Remind yourself: "I am doing an act that is eternal. This mitzvah has never changed, and by doing it, I am binding my soul to the eternal Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu."