לקוטי שיחות חלק ט׳ - שופטים א

Regarding the verse, “But the prophet…,” the Gemara states: “ ‘And that which I did not command him’—but I commanded it to his fellow—this refers to one who prophesies something that was not said to him.” The Gemara continues: “For example, Chananiah ben Azur.” The general content of his prophecy was derived through a kal vachomer from a prophecy that had been given to another prophet. However, he also added a specific detail, saying, “Within two full years,” and this had not been said.

Now, the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya that regarding death at the hands of Heaven, “he actually dies before sixty years of age, as did Chananiah ben Azur the prophet in Yirmiyahu.”

This requires explanation: What is the source that Chananiah died through death at the hands of Heaven? Perhaps he was liable to death at the hands of man, and he died because, although the four forms of capital punishment administered by Beis Din ceased, the corresponding punishments did not cease.

The explanation is as follows:

Chananiah prophesied concerning something that was to occur within two years. Consequently, until that time had passed, it was impossible to know whether his prophecy was true. Beis Din therefore could not punish him.

This also explains why the Alter Rebbe specifically describes him as “the prophet.” Until then, Chananiah had been a true prophet, and therefore there was no way to determine at that point who was speaking the truth—Chananiah or Yirmiyahu.

Accordingly, when it is stated in Yirmiyahu—and this explains why the Alter Rebbe specifically emphasizes “in Yirmiyahu”—that “he died in that year,” it must be that his death resulted from a liability of death at the hands of Heaven.

One might still ask: Chananiah’s immediate death appears to have been an exceptional case. If so, how can anything be learned from his case regarding others who are liable to death at the hands of Heaven?

To address this, the Alter Rebbe writes that “sometimes, even in cases of death at the hands of Heaven, punishment is exacted immediately.” Thus, this was not something unique to Chananiah; immediate punishment can occur with anyone who is liable to death at the hands of Heaven.