Adding and Subtracting from Torah/2

Adding and Detracting from Torah

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Limited to Specific Mitzvot

The prohibition relates only to the realm of worship of Hashem and the prohibition of idolatry.

Sources:R. Yosef KaraDevarim 13:1About R. Yosef Kara, ChizkuniDevarim 4:2Devarim 13:1About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach #2,¹

The exact prohibition – These sources agree that the prohibition relates only to the realm of worship, but offer two variations of the specific addition or detraction which is being forbidden:

• Idolatry –Chizkuni on Devarim 2 asserts that the prohibitions pertain to idolatry, warning both against worshiping additional gods and detracting from the worship of Hashem.²
• Sacrifices –R"Y Kara³ instead, suggest that the prohibition pertains to the sacrificial service, and mandates that one bring sacrifices only from animals or birds.  One should not "add" and sacrifice also children, nor detract and spare the animals.

Context – The two readings are supported by the context of the prohibition:

• Chizkuni notes that the command appears twice in Torah, both times in the context of idolatry. Devarim 4 connects the prohibition with the sin of Baal Peor, while Devarim 13:1 follows a warning against imitating Canaanite idolatrous practices.
• R"Y Kara looks to the broader context of Devarim 13:1, a unit which discusses centralization of worship and proper sacrifices, contrasting these with the child immolation of surrounding nations.

Necessity of law

What about rabbinic laws?

Relationship between "" and ""

Limited to Mitzvah Details

The prohibition refers only to adding to or subtracting from the details of an already existing mitzvah, not to instituting new commands.

Sources:Sifre Devarim13:1About Sifre Devarim, RashiDevarim 4:2Eiruvin 96bRosh HaShanah 33aAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorDevarim 4:2About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RaavadHilkhot Mamrim 2:9About R. Avraham b. David, SemagNegative Commandments 364About R. Moshe of Coucy, ?Meiri?, Sefer HaChinukh, R. Bachya, R"Y Albo

Applicable Only to the Masses

The directive is aimed only at the masses.  Leaders such as prophets or judges are given the right to add to the Torah's commandments.

Sources:Kuzari3:39-41About R. Yehuda HaLevi,

Includes Also Adding Mitzvot

The prohibition includes both adding to the details of a mitzvah and creating an entirely new one.

Sources:?RambamMishneh Torah Minyan HaMitzvot ConclusionHilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 9:1-2Hilkhot Tefillah uBirkat Kohanim 14:12Hilkhot Mamrim 2:9About R. Moshe b. Maimon, RambanDevarim 4:2About R. Moshe b. Nachman, RalbagDevarim 4:2Melakhim I 8:65Devarim Toalot 4:2About R. Levi b. Gershom, Vilna GaonDevarim 13:1About R. Eliyahu of Vilna,  HaKetav VeHaKabbalahDevarim 4:2Devarim 13:1About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg, R. HIrsch (like Rambam), MalbimDevarim 4:2Esther 9:31About R. Meir Leibush Weiser, R. David Zvi HoffmannDevarim 4:2Devarim 13:1About R. David Zvi Hoffmann

¹ See also R"Y Albo who thinks that the initial focus of the mitzvah related only to the worship of Hashem and prohibition of adopting idolatrous forms of worship as one serves God, but that it was expanded to include other similar additions to the details of any individual commandment.

² Chizkuni does not elaborate upon what this would entail, writing only, "לא לגרוע מיראתו".  Today one might suggest that the verse warns against  both polytheism and atheism, but it is doubtful whether atheism existed in the time of Tanakh.

³ See also Chizkuni on Devarim 13.