Deuteronomy 13:2

When there may arise among you a false prophet or a dreamer of a profane dream, and he give you a sign or a miracle,

if a prophet arises among you The meaning of among you is that a prophet must be from the nation of Israel. The common thread connecting this passage with the previous passage is the prohibition against idolatry (the burning of children [12: 31] was an idolatrous practice). The word prophet here denotes someone who claims that God , or a messenger of God , spoke to him while awake. The other possibility is that it occurred in a dream. Some say, that the prophet discussed here is likely one of the “thieves of God ’s words” [cf. Jeremiah 23: 30] — to wit: A true prophet announces that a certain miracle will come, to justify him; someone else overhears this, and then asserts that the miracle applies to himself. Others say, that we do not believe him, even if the signal or marvel comes to pass, because he says things that are contrary to logic. In my opinion, the Hebrew words signal and marvel here have the sense of “sign” [and not any supernatural event — Translator]: 1) The words of Isaiah provide evidence for this interpretation. He said “Behold, I, and the children whom God has given me, are for signs and for portents” [Isaiah 8: 18] (the prophet’s own sign was “…just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot…” [Isaiah 20: 3]; the sons’ signs were their names, each being named after an event which was to occur in his lifetime, i.e., “Immanu כ el” [Isaiah 7: 14], “Maher-Shalal-Ḥash-Baz” [Isaiah 8: 3], and “Sh әכ ar-Yashuv” [Isaiah 7: 3]). 2) With respect to plagues, Scripture says “They will serve you as signs and proofs” [28: 46]. Many similar examples exist.

IF THERE ARISE IN THE MIDST OF THEE A PROPHET, OR A DREAMER OF DREAMS. Scripture calls him “a prophet” on the basis of his own claim, for it is he who claims, “G-d spoke with me while I was awake and I am His prophet sent to you [to command] that you [worship idols,” as mentioned in Verse 3]. But it is possible that Scripture alludes to that which is true [that the person does indeed possess certain prophetic powers], for there is a prophetic potential in the souls of some people by which they know of things to come without the person knowing whence it comes to him, but he will isolate himself and [then] a spirit will arrive within him saying, “Thus it will happen to that person in the future in a particular matter.” The philosophers call [that power of prophecy] kahin., a term referring to the power residing in man to be able to foretell the future. It is so explained by Shmuel ibn Tibbon in his list of “Foreign words.” They do not know its cause, but the matter is substantiated in the sight of witnesses. Perhaps the soul in its keenness cleaves to the pure intellect and concentrates on it. Such a person is called “prophet,” because he predicts events, and, therefore, the sign or wonder whereof he spoke comes to pass.