Mishneh Torah, Rebels 1-3

Sugya Map

• Issue: What is the scope of the Supreme Sanhedrin's authority, and what is the nature of the mitzvah to obey its directives?
• Nafka Mina(s): The source of the lav (negative commandment) for transgressing rabbinic decrees (gezeirot and takkanot); the parameters for the capital punishment of a Zaken Mamre.
• Primary Sources: Devarim 17:10-11; Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1-2.

Text Snapshot

The Rambam states:

"וְכָל הַמּוֹרֶה מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם עוֹבֵר עַל לָאו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "לֹא תָסוּר מִן הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידוּ לְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל". וְאֵין לוֹקִין עַל לָאו זֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּתַּן לְאַזְהָרַת מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין..."¹

"חַיָּב לִשְׁמֹעַ לְדִבְרֵיהֶם בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁלָּמְדוּ אוֹתָן מִפִּי שְׁמוּעָה וְהֵם תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ אוֹתָן מִדַּעְתָּן בְּאֶחָת מִן הַמִּדּוֹת וְנִרְאָה בְּעֵינֵיהֶם שֶׁכָּךְ הוּא הַדִּין. בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ אוֹתָן גֶּדֶר לַתּוֹרָה כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁהַשָּׁעָה צְרִיכָה וְהֵם הַגְּזֵרוֹת וְהַתַּקָּנוֹת וְהַמִּנְהָגִים שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים."²

The phrasing "כל המורה מדבריהם" (who rebels from their words) implies a comprehensive defiance. The Rambam meticulously outlines three categories of directives—Oral Tradition, logical derivations, and rabbinic decrees/customs—to which the lav of "לא תסור" applies equally.

Readings

• Rambam (MT Rebels 1:2): His chiddush is the unified application of the Torah's lav of "לא תסור" to all three categories of Sanhedrin rulings, including rabbinic gezeirot and takkanot. This means defying a rabbinic decree is, in a sense, a transgression of a Torah prohibition.
• Ramban (Devarim 17:11): Contrarily, the Ramban argues that "לא תסור" applies exclusively to matters derived directly from the Torah. He views the obligation to obey divrei sofrim (rabbinic enactments) as stemming from a separate, albeit weighty, rabbinic authority, not directly from this specific Torah lav.

Friction

• Kushya: How can a rabbinic takkanah, instituted as a safeguard, fall under the purview of "על פי התורה אשר יורוך" (according to the Torah which they instruct you), a phrase seemingly reserved for Mosaic law?
• Terutz: The Rambam understands "התורה" here not as the Written Torah alone, but as the entire authoritative corpus emanating from the Sanhedrin, which includes their divinely mandated power to legislate safeguards. The verse's three clauses—"על פי התורה אשר יורוך," "ועל המשפט אשר יאמרו," and "מכל אשר יגידו לך"—are interpreted by the Rambam as referring to the three distinct categories of their authority. The Ohr Sameach notes that the Gemara itself connects "למשפט" to gezeirot, thereby bolstering the Rambam's tripartite interpretation under a singular Torah lav.³

Intertext

• Sanhedrin 87a: Discussions regarding the scope of a Zaken Mamre's liability often focus on matters of halacha l'Moshe miSinai or mid'Oraita. The Rambam's inclusion of takkanot expands the theoretical reach of the lav of lo tasur significantly, even if Zaken Mamre status for takkanot is limited.
• Hilchot Sanhedrin 18:2: The Rambam explains that one is not liable for malkot for transgressing a rabbinic decree because the lav of lo tasur is "נתן לאזהרת מיתת בית דין" (given as a warning for a capital offense), referring to the Zaken Mamre. This principle, that a lav which warns for capital punishment does not carry malkot, applies even when the specific transgression (e.g., violating a takkanah by an ordinary person) does not incur capital punishment.⁴

Psak/Practice

The Rambam's unified understanding of the Sanhedrin's authority is a cornerstone of Jewish law. It elevates divrei sofrim beyond mere recommendations, imbuing them with a Torah-level chiyuv (obligation). This establishes a robust framework for rabbinic legislative power and underscores the profound obligation of the Jewish people to the collective wisdom of its Sages, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the Torah.

Takeaway

The Rambam's position establishes that the divine command "לא תסור" encompasses all Sanhedrin directives—tradition, logical derivation, and rabbinic takkanot—thereby unifying the source of our obligation to Rabbinic authority.

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¹ Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1. ² Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:2. ³ Ohr Sameach on Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:2:1. ⁴ Steinsaltz on Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:2:1; see also Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Sanhedrin 18:2.