Myśl Żydowska do Psalmów 90:12

As to the statement that "the place is the critical factor," this applies only to capital cases, as explained in the first chapter of Avodah Zarah (8b) and not to the interpretation of Torah, which it is the province of the sages of all generations to explain according to their understanding, whether their explanation constitute the absolute truth or not. It is their judgment which is the critical factor here, as is illustrated in the episode of R. Yehoshua and R. Gamliel, the latter [the Nassi at the time] commanding the former to appear before him with his walking stick and his money on the day that was Yom Kippur according to R. Yehoshua's estimate. (See Rosh Hashanah 25a) And this is the intent of the statement in the first chapter of Bava Bathra (12a): "Amemar said: 'A sage is greater than a prophet, as it is written (Psalms 90:12): "…and a prophet has a heart of wisdom." Which is made secondary to which? The lesser is made secondary to the grater.'" This all stems from the fact that the prophet's power is limited to saying what he has heard; he may not add anything from his own understanding. And if he speaks the truth, we must heed him; if not, we must not heed him. As regards the sage, however, whether he does or does not speak the truth, we must heed him. What follows, however, requires explanation, viz.: Know this to be true, for a great man said something which had been stated in the same manner by a great man before him." According to our interpretation there seems to be no relationship between the subject and the proof. The same applies to what follows: "Perhaps both of them were born under the same constellation." The entire discussion requires extensive interpretation and explanation:

Persons whose mental capacities are not fully developed, and who have not attained intellectual perfection, must not take any notice of these [dreams]. Those who reach that perfection may, through the influence of the divine intellect, obtain knowledge independent of that possessed by them when awake. They are true prophets, as is distinctly stated in Scripture, ve-nabi lebab ḥokmah (Ps. 90:12), “And the true prophet possesseth a heart of wisdom.” This must likewise he noticed.