In Parshat Re’eh, Dvarim 13:2-4 we
are commanded:
If a prophet arises among you or a
dreamer of a dream, and he gives you an omen or a miracle, and the omen or the
miracle happens-the one he told you about- saying, “Let us go after other gods
that you do not know, and let us serve them.” Do not listen to the words of
that prophet or the dreamer of the dream, because HaShem, your God is testing
you to know whether you love HaShem, your God, wholeheartedly and with your entire
beings.
Why do we need to be warned not to
follow false prophets? Isn’t it obvious?
If we look at the accounts in
Melachim I, Chapter 22 and throughout the Book of Yirmiyahu, we actually find
that false prophets were a real problem. They even tried to trick the real
prophets.
In Melachim I, we read about Achav,
King of Israel. He did not like the true prophets Eliyahu HaNavi and Michayahu
ben Yimla as they spoke the truth about Achav’s downfall. Achav actually
requested that Michayahu give a good prophecy, even if it meant changing God’s
prophecy and lying. Since Michayahu would only tell the truth, Achav preferred
to jail him and accept the prophecy of the false prophet Tzidkiyahu ben K’nana
who “prophecied” that Achav would win the war. Of course, the prophecies of
Eliyahu and Michayahu came true. If Achav had listened to the true prophets and
sincerely repented, their prophecies would have been cancelled.
Throughout Yirmiyahu’s life, there
were false prophets who tried to show him up including four who were
specifically mentioned by name. The first, Chananya ben Azor prophesied to King
Tzidkiyahu (not related to the false prophets named Tzidkiyahu) that he would
win the war (and just like in the story of King Achav, he didn’t). Two other
false prophets were Achav ben Kulya (not related to King Achav) and Tzidkiyahu
ben Maasiya. The last false prophet who was mentioned by name was Shmaya
HaNachlami.
In a few cases, Yirmiyahu himself
wasn’t sure if these “prophets” were true prophets or false prophets. One
example is in Yirmiyahu 14:13-14:
Then I (Yirmiyahu) said, “Alas My
Lord HaShem/Elokim. Behold, the false prophets say to them, ‘You will not see a
sword, and famine will not befall you; for I will present you a true peace in
this place.’” But God said to me, “These prophets prophecy falsehood in My
Name. I did not send them nor command them nor speak to them. A false vision,
divination, emptiness and the deception of their heart are they prophesying to
you.
Michayahu was jailed by King Achav
for presenting a true prophecy in the Book of Melachim and Yirmiyahu was jailed
by King Tzidkiyahu for declaring that Jerusalem would be destroyed. In both
cases, the kings thought that if they would silence the prophet then his
prophecies would disappear. Unfortunately, Yirmiyahu’s prophecy came true and
the King of Babylonia attacked the Land of Israel.
We learn from here that the truth
can’t be silenced.
Every Shabbat and holiday, before
the Haftara is read, the reader makes two blessing which state “…God has chosen
good prophets and was pleased with their words that were uttered with truth…Blessed
are you HaShem, who chooses the Torah, Moshe, His servant; Israel, His nation;
and the prophets of truth and righteousness.”
May we be as courageous as the true
prophets to speak the truth and always stand up for justice.
