Page 665 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WITCHCRAFT

among the Greeks or barbarians.” “Now this man, as Astrologer—one who observes the heavens, believing
people were in great numbers passing along the road, the heavenly bodies influence men’s lives (Is. 47:13; Da.
and a certain augur was observing an augury by a bird, 1:20; 2:2, 10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15).
and requiring them all to stand still, inquired what they Charmer—those who cast spells; sorcery;
stayed for. Hereupon the augur showed him the bird incantations (De. 18:10).
from whence he took his augury, and told him that if the Consulter with familiar spirits—attempted
bird stayed where he was, they ought all to stand still; communication with the dead whereby the consulter
but that if he got up, and flew onward, they must go comes into contact with deceiving spirits; séances (De.
forward; but that if he flew backward, they must retire 18:10).
again. Mosollam made no reply, but drew his bow, and
shot at the bird, and hit him, and killed him; and as the Enchanter—to use enchantments; spell casting;
augur and some others were very angry, and wished charms; communication with spirits (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7,
imprecations upon him, he answered them thus: How 18; Le. 19:26; Nu. 23:23; 24:1; De. 18:10; 2 Ki. 17:17;
can this bird give us any true information concerning 21:6; 2 Ch. 33:6; Is. 47:9, 12; Je. 27:9).
our march, who could not foresee how to save himself: Familiar spirits—spirits involved with those
for had he been able to foreknow what was future, he attempting to communicate with the dead; deceiving
would not have come to this place, but would have been spirits impersonating the dead; spirits participating in
afraid lest Mosollam the Jew should shoot at him, and witchcraft and those who are in communication with
kill him” (cited from Josephus, Jewish Wars). them (Le. 19:31; 20:6, 27; De. 18:11; 1 Sa. 28:3-9; 2
Reading the sheep’s liver was another popular form Sa. 21:6; 23:24; 1 Ch. 10:13; 2 Ch. 33:6; Is. 8:19; 19:3;
of divination. After requesting the “gods” to inscribe 29:4).
their message upon the entrails of the animal, the Necromancy—the art of revealing future events by
diviner would sacrifice it and examine the organs for pretending communication with the dead (De. 18:11).
deviations from the normal state, shape, and coloring. Observer of times—one who consults the stars; who
The gallbladder was also used for this purpose. There believes the heavenly bodies have a ruling influence
were interpretive texts inscribed in clay made in the over the physical and moral world (De. 18:10; Is. 47:13;
shape of the liver to assist the diviner. Documents found Da. 1:20; 2:2).
in the ancient Elamite kingdom contain the following Prognosticator—one who consults the stars in an
interpretation by a king: “If on the lower part of the attempt to predict the events of men’s lives (Is. 47:13).
naplastu [a section of the liver] a piece is missing, the Soothsaying—one who divines, consults the stars;
god Sin will help my army. If a piece is missing on the predicts the future; fortune telling (Jos. 13:22; Is. 2:6;
right side, problems will develop in my army. If the Da. 2:27; 4:7; 5:7, 11; Mi. 5:12; Ac. 16:16).
piece is missing in the upper part of the usurtu [another Sorcery—the practice of witchcraft; wizardry; magic;
part of the liver] fire will eat the main gate of my divination; enchanting (Ex. 7:11; Is. 47:9, 12; 57:3; Je.
city” (Persians: Masters of Empire, Time-Life, 1995, p. 27:9; Da. 2:2; Mal. 3:5; Ac. 8:9, 11; 13:6, 8; Re. 9:21;
29). Nebuchadnezzar used liver divination to determine 18:23; 21:8; 22:15). Sorcery was “hostile magic” in
whether to attack Rabbath or Jerusalem. “For the king which an individual sought to bring harm to others or to
of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head gain power over them for financial or political
of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows advantage, etc. It used spells or curses. In the following
bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the example a man complains to the gods about a sorceress
liver” (Eze. 21:21). who is cursing his wife: “She stands day and night
A popular form of divination in the Roman Empire before the gods and curses my wife before the gods ...
involved the serpent god Asklepios. This was the She wishes for her death, saying, ‘Let her die!’ O gods,
favored “god” of Pergamos, where one of the seven my lords, why do you listen to this evil talk?” (Collins,
churches of Revelation was located. Asklepios was p. 190).
depicted as a serpent coiled around a staff. The serpents Witch—one who practices witchcraft; worshiper of
were depicted on a monument outside of the Asklepios Satan; nature worshiper; one who practices sorcery and
Temple at Pergamos. Those seeking healing or enchantment (Ex. 22:18; De. 18:10; 1 Sa. 15:23; 2 Ki.
enlightenment slept in the court of the temple, which 9:22; 2 Ch. 33:6; Mi. 5:12; Na. 3:4; Ga. 5:20)
was infested with snakes, hoping the serpent god would
grant healing or revelation. Wizard—sorcerer; conjurer; charmer; enchanter (Le.
The following are the other terms used in the Bible 19:31; 20:6, 27; De. 18:11; 1 Sa. 28:3, 9; 2 Ki. 21:6;
23:24; 2 Ch. 33:6; Is. 8:19; 19:3). [See Astrologer,
to describe various forms of witchcraft:
Capital Punishment, Devils, Idolatry, Mutter, Peep.]

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 665