Deh'vah'reem (Deuteronomy) 18

Deuteronomy 18:15–18: The Prophet Like Mosheh

Hebrew Text and Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 18:15
יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יָקִים לְךָ נָבִיא מִקִּרְבְּךָ מֵאַחֶיךָ כָּמוֹנִי אֵלָיו תִּשְׁמָעוּן׃
"YHWH your God will raise up for you a prophet from your midst, from your brothers, like me; to him you shall listen."

Deuteronomy 18:18
נָבִיא אָקִים לָהֶם מִקֶּרֶב אֲחֵיהֶם כָּמוֹךָ...
"I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brothers like you..."

True Context and Meaning

• The passage is part of Mosheh's final instructions to Yisra’eyl, promising that YHWH will not leave the people without prophetic guidance after Mosheh’s death.
• The prophet promised will be “from your midst, from your brothers,” indicating someone from within the Yisra’eylite community, not an outsider or foreign figure.
• “Like me” means a prophet who, like Mosheh, serves as a covenant mediator, lawgiver, and leader appointed by YHWH, speaking only the words commanded by YHWH.
• The use of **לָהֶם (lahem, “for them” plural)** in verse 18, along with the subsequent test for prophets in verses 20–22, implies the promise includes multiple prophets over time, not a single one-time figure.
• This is historically fulfilled first by Yehoshua ben Nun, Mosheh’s appointed successor, who led the people according to Torah and under divine commission.

The Spirit of Mosheh Upon Yehoshua

• In Deuteronomy 34:9, it is recorded that Yehoshua was "filled with the spirit of wisdom" because Mosheh laid hands on him, confirming a direct spiritual and leadership transfer.
• Numbers 27:18–23 shows YHWH appointing Yehoshua as leader over the people, further affirming this fulfillment.
• This indicates that the “prophet like me” promise was first and foremost fulfilled by Yehoshua, who led the nation with the same divine authority as Mosheh.
• The prophetic spirit continued through a line of prophets within Yisra’eyl, not through a distant singular figure.

Why This Cannot Refer to Jesus Christ

• Jesus (referred to as JC) was not universally accepted as a prophet by the people of Yisra’eyl in his time, unlike Yehoshua who was publicly appointed and obeyed.
• The teachings attributed to Jesus in Christian texts often contradict Torah law, whereas Deuteronomy 13 forbids accepting a prophet who tries to change the covenant commands.
• The passage emphasizes a prophet speaking exactly what YHWH commands, not one who introduces new laws or abolishes Torah commandments.
• The grammatical and contextual elements of the passage show it refers to ongoing prophetic leadership within the covenant community, not a one-time messianic figure.

Summary

Deuteronomy 18:15–18 promises that YHWH will raise up prophets "like Mosheh" from among the brothers of Yisra’eyl to lead and instruct the people according to the covenant. The immediate and primary fulfillment is Yehoshua ben Nun, empowered by the spirit of Mosheh, with the promise extending to a succession of prophets rather than a single, distant messiah. Christian claims that this passage refers to Jesus Christ are inconsistent with the Hebrew grammar, historical context, and covenantal expectations set forth in the Tanakh.

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