1. It is clear and explicit in the Torah that it1 is God’s commandment, remaining forever2 without change, addition, or substraction,3 as Deuteronomy 13:1 states: “All these matters which I command to you, you shall be careful to perform. You may not add to it or subtract from it,”4 and Deuteronomy 29:28 states: “What is revealed is for us and our children forever, to carry out all the words of this Torah.” This teaches that we are commanded to fulfill all the Torah’s directives forever.5אדָּבָר בָּרוּר וּמְפֹרָשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁהִיא מִצְוָה עוֹמֶדֶת לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים: אֵין לָהּ לֹא שִׁנּוּי וְלֹא גֵּרָעוֹן וְלֹא תוֹסֶפֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "אֵת כָּל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם אֹתוֹ תִשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת לֹא תֹסֵף עָלָיו וְלֹא תִגְרַע מִמֶּנּוּ". וְנֶאֱמַר: "וְהַנִּגְלוֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ עַד עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת". הָא לָמַדְתָּ, שֶׁכָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה מְצֻוִּין אָנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹתָן עַד עוֹלָם.
It is also said: “It is an everlasting statute for all your generations,”6 and Deuteronomy 30:12 states: “It7 is not in the heavens.”8 This teaches that a prophet can no longer add a new precept to the Torah.9וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: "חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם". וְנֶאֱמַר: "לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא", הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֵין נָבִיא רַשַּׁאי לְחַדֵּשׁ דָּבָר מֵעַתָּה.
Therefore, if a person will arise, whether Jew or gentile,10 and perform a sign or wonder and say that God sent him to: a) add a mitzvah, b) subtract a mitzvah,11 c) explain a mitzvah in a manner which differs from the tradition12 received from Moses,13 or d) if he says that the mitzvot commanded to the Jews are not forever, but rather were given for a limited time,14 he is a false prophet. He comes to deny the prophecy of Moses15 and should be executed16 by strangulation,17 because he dared to make statements in God’s name which God never made.18לְפִיכָךְ אִם יַעֲמֹד אִישׁ בֵּין מִן הָאֻמּוֹת בֵּין מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְיַעֲשֶׂה אוֹת וּמוֹפֵת וְיֹאמַר שֶׂה' שְׁלָחוֹ, לְהוֹסִיף מִצְוָה אוֹ לִגְרֹעַ מִצְוָה אוֹ לְפָרֵשׁ בְּמִצְוָה מִן הַמִּצְוֹת פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְנוּ מִמּשֶׁה, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר שֶׁאוֹתָן הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בָהֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָן לְעוֹלָם וּלְדוֹרֵי דּוֹרוֹת אֶלָּא מִצְוֹת לְפִי זְמַן הָיוּ, הֲרֵי זֶה נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר שֶׁהֲרֵי בָא לְהַכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וּמִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק עַל שֶׁהֵזִיד לְדַבֵּר בְּשֵׁם ה' אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוָּהוּ.
God, blessed be His name, commanded Moses that this commandment is for us and our children forever,19 and God is not man that He speak falsely.20שֶׁהוּא בָּרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ צִוָּה לְמשֶׁה שֶׁהַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ עַד עוֹלָם וְלֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב.
2. If so, what is meant by the Torah’s statement Deuteronomy 18:18: “I will appoint a prophet from among their brethren like you, and I will place My words in his mouth and he will speak...”?21 He is not coming to establish a new faith,22 but rather to command the people to fulfill the precepts of the Torah and to warn against its transgression, as evidenced by the final prophet Malachi,23 who proclaimed 3:22, “Remember the Torah of Moses, My servant.”24באִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה "נָבִיא אָקִים לָהֶם מִקֶּרֶב אֲחֵיהֶם כָּמוֹךָ"? לֹא לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּת הוּא בָא אֶלָּא לְצַוּוֹת עַל דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה וּלְהַזְהִיר הָעָם שֶׁלֹּא יַעַבְרוּ עָלֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁבָּהֶם: "זִכְרוּ תּוֹרַת משֶׁה עַבְדִּי".

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

Also, a prophet may command us to do something which is neither permitted nor forbidden by Torah law — for example, “Go to such and such a place,” “Do not go there,”25 “Wage war today,”26 or “Do not do so,”27 “Build a wall,” or “Do not build it.”28וְכֵן אִם צִוָּנוּ בְּדִבְרֵי הָרְשׁוּת, כְּגוֹן: לְכוּ לְמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי אוֹ אַל תֵּלְכוּ; עֲשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה הַיּוֹם אוֹ אַל תַּעֲשׂוּ; בְּנוּ חוֹמָה זוֹ אוֹ אַל תִּבְנוּהָ.
In these instances, it is a mitzvah to listen to him.29 Anyone who violates his directives30 is worthy of death at the hand of God,31 as Deuteronomy 18:19 states: “And a person who will not heed My words which he speaks in My name — I will seek retribution from him.”32מִצְוָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ וְהָעוֹבֵר עַל דְּבָרָיו חַיָּב מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁמִי אָנֹכִי אֶדְרֹשׁ מֵעִמּוֹ".
3. Similarly, a prophet who violated his own prophetic instructions,33 and one who refrains from prophesying,34 are worthy of death at the hand of God,35 since concerning the three of them,36 it is said, “I will seek retribution from him.”37גוְכֵן נָבִיא שֶׁעָבַר עַל דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ וְהַכּוֹבֵשׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ - חַיָּב מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן נֶאֱמַר: "אָנֹכִי אֶדְרֹשׁ מֵעִמּוֹ".
When a prophet — who has already proven himself to be a prophet38 — instructs us to violate one of the mitzvot of the Torah or many mitzvot, whether they be of a severe or light nature, for a limited amount of time,39 it is a mitzvah to listen to him.40וְכֵן אִם יֹאמַר לָנוּ הַנָּבִיא - שֶׁנּוֹדַע לָנוּ שֶׁהוּא נָבִיא - לַעֲבֹר עַל אַחַת מִכָּל מִצְוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה אוֹ עַל מִצְוֹת הַרְבֵּה בֵּין קַלּוֹת בֵּין חֲמוּרוֹת לְפִי שָׁעָה - מִצְוָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ.
The Sages of the early generations taught as part of the oral tradition:41 If a prophet tells you to violate the precepts of the Torah42 as Elijah did on Mount Carmel,43 listen to him with regard to all things except the worship of false gods.44 This applies when his command is temporary in nature.וְכֵן לָמַדְנוּ מֵחֲכָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה: בַּכֹּל, אִם יֹאמַר לְךָ הַנָּבִיא עֲבֹר עַל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה כְּאֵלִיָּהוּ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל שְׁמַע לוֹ, חוּץ מֵעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת; וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַדָּבָר לְפִי שָׁעָה.
For example, on Mount Carmel, Elijah offered a sacrifice outside the Temple’s premises, even though Jerusalem was chosen for such service,45 and one who offers a sacrifice outside the Temple’s premises is liable for karet.46 Since he was already established as a prophet, it was a mitzvah to listen to him. The commandment, “Listen to him,” applies in these circumstances as well.47כְּגוֹן אֵלִיָּהוּ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל שֶׁהִקְרִיב עוֹלָה בַּחוּץ - וִירוּשָׁלַיִם נִבְחֲרָה לְכָךְ וְהַמַּקְרִיב בַּחוּץ חַיָּב כָּרֵת - וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נָבִיא מִצְוָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ. וְגַם בָּזֶה נֶאֱמַר: "אֵלָיו תִּשְׁמָעוּן".
If they would have asked Elijah: How can we violate the Torah’s command48 Deuteronomy 12:13: “ Be careful... lest you offer your burnt offerings everywhere”? He would have told them: “It was only stated that anyone who perpetually offers a sacrifice outside the Temple premises is liable for karet, as Moses said. The present instance, however, is an exception. I am offering a sacrifice today49 outside the Temple at God’s command in order to disprove the prophets of Ba’al.”וְאִלּוּ שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ: הֵיאַךְ נַעֲקֹר מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה "פֶּן תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ בְּכָל מָקוֹם"? הָיָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא הַמַּקְרִיב בַּחוּץ לְעוֹלָם - חַיָּב כָּרֵת כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּה משֶׁה, אֲבָל אֲנִי אַקְרִיב הַיּוֹם בַּחוּץ בִּדְבַר ה' כְּדֵי לְהַכְחִישׁ נְבִיאֵי הַבַּעַל.
Similarly,50 if any other prophet commands us to transgress for a limited time, it is a mitzvah to listen to him.51 If, however, he says that the mitzvah has been nullified forever, he is worthy of execution by strangulation,52 for the Torah has told us: “ It is for us and our children forever.”וְעַל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַזֹּאת אִם צִוּוּ כָּל הַנְּבִיאִים לַעֲבֹר לְפִי שָׁעָה - מִצְוָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לָהֶם. וְאִם אָמְרוּ שֶׁהַדָּבָר נֶעֱקַר לְעוֹלָם - מִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק, שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה אָמְרָה "לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ עַד עוֹלָם".
4. Similarly, if a “prophet” nullifies a concept which was transmitted by the oral tradition,53 or states54 with regard to one of the Torah’s laws that God commanded him to render such and such a judgment, or that such and such is the law regarding a particular instance and the decision follows a certain opinion,55 he is a false prophet and should be executed by strangulation.56דוְכֵן אִם עָקַר דָּבָר מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁלָּמַדְנוּ מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר בְּדִין מִדִּינֵי תוֹרָה שֶׂה' צִוָּה לוֹ שֶׁהַדִּין כָּךְ הוּא וַהֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי פְלוֹנִי - הֲרֵי זֶה נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר וְיֵחָנֵק.
This applies even if he performs a wonder, for he is coming to deny the Torah, of which it is stated: “It is not in the heavens.”57אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשָׂה אוֹת - שֶׁהֲרֵי בָא לְהַכְחִישׁ הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁאָמְרָה "לֹא בַשָּׁמַים הִיא".
If, however, he states that for a limited time we should follow a particular course of behavior, he should be listened to with regard to all things.58אֲבָל לְפִי שָׁעָה שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ בַּכֹּל.
5. When does the above59 apply? With regard to all other mitzvot. Regarding the worship of false gods, however, a prophet should not be listened to, even for a limited time.60 Even if he performs great wonders and miracles and says that God commanded him to worship false gods only on this day or only during this hour, he is considered to have “spoken perversely against God.”61הבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בִּשְׁאָר מִצְוֹת, אֲבָל בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָלּוֹת - אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְפִי שָׁעָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ עָשָׂה אוֹתוֹת וּמוֹפְתִים גְּדוֹלִים וְאָמַר שֶׁה' צִוָּהוּ שֶׁתַּעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָלּוֹת הַיּוֹם בִּלְבַד אוֹ בְּשָׁעָה זוֹ בִּלְבַד - הֲרֵי זֶה דִּבֵּר סָרָה עַל ה'.
Concerning this, the Torah has commanded us, Deuteronomy 13:3-6: “If a sign or miracle is performed... And he tells you, ‘Let us serve other gods...’ Do not listen to the words of this prophet... for he has spoken perversely against God, your Lord.”62 He is coming to deny the prophecy of Moses.63 Therefore, we may definitely conclude that he is a false prophet,64 and everything that he did was performed through sorcery and magic.65 Hence, he should be executed by strangulation.66וְעַל זֶה צִוָּה הַכָּתוּב וְאָמַר: "וּבָא הָאוֹת וְהַמּוֹפֵת לֹא תִשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא כִּי דִבֶּר סָרָה עַל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם", שֶׁהֲרֵי בָא לְהַכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וּלְפִיכָךְ נֵדַע בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁהוּא נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר, וְכָל מַה שֶׁעָשָׂה בְּלָאט וְכִשּׁוּף עָשָׂה וְיֵחָנֵק.