Ramban on Deuteronomy 18:16:1

כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר שָׁאַלְתָּ וְגוֹ', לֹא הִשְׁלִים הַכָּתוּב בְּכָאן הַשְּׁאֵלָה שֶׁשָּׁאֲלוּ, כִּי בְּאָמְרָם לֹא אֹסֵף לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶת קוֹל ה' לֹא יִזְכּוּ לִנְבִיאִים, אֲבָל כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ (דברים ה':כ"ד) קְרַב אַתָּה וּשְׁמָע אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְאַתְּ תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְנוּ וְעָשִׂינוּ, אָז קִבְּלוּ לְהַאֲמִין בִּנְבִיאָיו וְלִשְׁמֹעַ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה הַשֵּׁם עַל יָדָם. וּלְכָךְ אָמַר בְּכָאן נָבִיא מִקִּרְבְּךָ מֵאַחֶיךָ כָּמֹנִי יָקִים לְךָ ה', וְתַאֲמִין בּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מַאֲמִין בִּי, כִּי כֵן שָׁאַלְתָּ לִהְיוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַשֵּׁם עִמָּכֶם עַל יָדִי וְשֶׁתִּשְׁמְעוּ אֵלַי, אִם כֵּן הַאֲמִינוּ גַּם כֵּן בִּשְׁאָר הַנְּבִיאִים הַבָּאִים אַחֲרַי, כִּי כָמוֹנִי כְּמוֹהֶם. וְזֶה טַעַם הֵטִיבוּ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ, לְהַאֲמִין בִּנְבִיאַי, וְכֵן אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶם לְדֹרֹתָם. וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁהָיְתָה שְׁאֵלָתָם שָׁם לְדוֹרוֹת, וְקַבָּלָתָם שֶׁאָמְרוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ מִמֹּשֶׁה בְּאָמְרָם, וְאַתְּ תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ וְשָׁמַעְנוּ וְעָשִׂינוּ, גַּם כֵּן לְדוֹרוֹת עוֹלָם. וְיִהְיֶה טַעַם וְאַתְּ, כְּמוֹ וְאַתָּה וְכָל נְבִיא הַשֵּׁם כָּמוֹךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי שָׁם: TO ALL THAT THOU DIDST DESIRE etc. Scripture here did not mention the full request that the people had made [at Sinai], since by their saying Let me not hear again the voice of the Eternal²⁰⁷In Verse 16 before us. — they would not have merited [the granting of] prophets. But when they said [to Moses], Go thou near, and hear all that the Eternal our G-d may say; and thou shalt speak unto us all that the Eternal our G-d may speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it²⁰⁸Above, 5:24. — then they undertook upon themselves to believe in His prophets and to hear and to do whatever G-d would command through them. Therefore he said here, A prophet will the Eternal thy G-d raise up unto thee, of thy brethren, like unto me,²⁰⁹Verse 15. and you will believe in him just as you believe in me, for you requested that G-d’s words with you should be through me and that you would hearken to me. If so, believe in the rest of the prophets who come after me, as well, for I and they are identical. This is the sense of [the words of G-d to Moses], “They have well said all that they have spoken²¹⁰Above, 5:25. — to believe in My prophets, and so will I do for them throughout their generations.” It is possible that their request [at Sinai] was for future generations and their stated consent to hear from Moses — in saying, and thou shalt speak unto us … and we will hear it, and do it²⁰⁸Above, 5:24. — was also for everlasting generations, and the meaning of the word ‘v’ath’ (and thou) is “you and every prohpet of G-d like you,” as I have explained it there.²⁰⁸Above, 5:24.