Parashat Re'eh: The tyranny of ‘one’ truth

In a post-prophetic era, where reason and empirical evidence reign, claims of supernatural knowledge are met with skepticism. However, the biblical world operated differently, with prophets offering direct divine guidance on matters of national and personal importance.

Parashat Re'eh highlights a unique challenge: the existence of prophecy made counterfeit prophecy possible. Alongside genuine prophets, false prophets also claimed to speak for God. The Torah warns against these individuals, especially those whose signs appear real and whose words are persuasive. During the final generations of the First Temple, many false prophets assured the populace that they could continue corrupt behavior without facing consequences like conquest or exile.

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The Torah therefore warns against individuals whose signs appear genuine and whose words are deeply persuasive.

While figures like Jeremiah, who proclaimed God's authentic message, faced imprisonment, the comforting words of false prophets found a more receptive audience. Parashat Re'eh issues a stark warning, not just to ignore these false prophets but to prosecute them, even imposing the death penalty when warranted. This is not about deranged individuals but about those who have established genuine prophetic credentials, accurately predicting future events and demonstrating supernatural knowledge.

The Torah insists that even a prophet with a history of truthfulness loses all credibility the moment they instruct the Jewish people to violate the Torah. Such a message contradicts the direct word of God revealed at Sinai. While their earlier signs may have been genuine, their present message is false because it conflicts with foundational religious principles.

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The moment a prophet instructs the Jewish people to violate the Torah, he has contradicted the direct word of God revealed at Sinai.