From: Shoshanna Walker <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
To: b-hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Tanach book order - different in Christian Bibles
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2006 12:22:30 -0500
1. I thought we were talking about the Torah position on this.
2. Before a person could be accepted as a prophet, he would have to
provide some unequivocal sign, the most common being an accurate
predition of the future. See Deuteronomy 18: 21 and 22.
Since it was the Sanhedrin's job to see to it that the Torah was
followed properly, it was their job to make sure that Deuteronomy 18:
21 and 22 was fulfilled properly.
Obviously, not everyone could just come and call himself a prophet.
He had to be chosen by G-d. Sanhedrin was the only body which could
verify that. First an individual would have to be outstanding in
piety and knowledge of Torah. Then, he had to make an accurate
prediction of the future 3 times in the presence of Sanhedrin. If he
does, then his prophecy is assumed to be true, and he is accepted as
a prophet. If even the most minor aspect of his prophecy fails to
come true, then his prophecy is judged to be completely false. In
the case of a false prophet, only Sanhedrin has the authority to
render judgement.
The source for this is various places in the Oral Torah.
Shoshanna
In regular English usage, whether someone is considered a prophet
does not depend on this.
Were any of the prophets who wrote the Hebrew Bible verified by the
Sanhedrin? What is the evidence for this?