The numerous references in Scripture to the various forms of occult science, as it is now called, and the strong denunciations against the Israelites’ having anything to do with it show that it was a dangerous reality, however much deception might at times have been associated with it. We read of it first in Genesis 41:8, when Pharaoh called for all the magicians of Egypt and the wise men to interpret his dream. All their resources failing, God’s man in the prison was called forth to show the dream, and this proved the occasion of working out God’s purposes respecting Joseph. Doubtless the above class of men were eminent for their learning, as were those at the court of Babylon, over whom Daniel was made chief (Dan. 4:7,9).
Among those in Egypt there were some at least who were able to exercise powers beyond what they obtained by human learning. When Moses was endeavoring by means of signs to convince Pharaoh of the power of God, the magicians of Egypt were able to turn their rods into serpents and to simulate the first two plagues with their enchantments (Ex. 7:22; 8:7). These plagues were “turning the water into blood” and “bringing up frogs upon the land.” This was beyond mere human power, and certainly the magicians did not work by the power of God; it must therefore have been by the power of Satan. We know not the nature of the enchantments used; the word is lat and signifies “secret, magic arts.” Satan can suggest what incantations to employ, if man is willing, and can exercise his powers as far as permitted by God. After the first two plagues, the power was stopped, and the magicians had to own, when lice were produced, “This is the finger of God.”
In Deuteronomy 18:10-11 there is a list of things bearing on our subject which were denounced by the Lord.
Divination — “Prediction”
A remarkable passage in Ezekiel 21:21-22 gives some instances of how the heathen divined. The king of Babylon had come to two roads, and wanting to know whether he should take the road to Rabbath or the road to Jerusalem, he resorted to divination. First, “he shook his arrows” (as it should be translated). Doubtless two or more arrows were marked each with the name of one of the cities, and, shaken in the quiver, whichever arrow was taken by the right hand decided which road was to be taken. Jerusalem fell to the right hand. Perhaps the king was doubtful, so he consulted with images — teraphim. It is not known how these were used for divination — compare Zechariah 10:2. The king still sought another guide — “he looked in the liver.” By certain set rules, the internal organs of a sacrifice were said to be propitious or the reverse. The king’s use of three sets of prognostications shows that he had no great confidence in his divinations; he may have been often deceived by them previously. How different from an answer from God vouchsafed to Israel!
Astrologers
Astrologers, habar shamaym, are “dividers of the heavens” for astrological purposes (Isa. 47:13). The word for “astrologers” throughout Daniel is a different word, ashshaph, and does not imply any connection with the heavens, but it is rather “sorcerers” or “enchanters,” as we read with reference to Babylon in Isaiah 47:9,12 where a multitude of sorceries and great abundance of enchantments are spoken of. Along with the Babylonish astrologers in Isaiah 47:13 are associated star-gazers, who may have prognosticated events from the altered positions of the planets in respect to the stars. To this is added monthly prognosticators, who probably drew their deductions from the moon. Connected with Babylon is also the word soothsayer, gezar, “to divide, determine fate or destiny” by any pretended means of predicting events.
In the New Testament, besides the case referred to of the damsel possessed by a spirit of Python, we read of others, such as Simon who used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria for a long time (Acts 8:9-11) and Elymas the sorcerer, a Jew who was met with in Cyprus, who perverted the right ways of the Lord (Acts 13:6,8). These used magical arts (called “curious arts” in Acts 19:19) and bewitched the people. Another word is used for sorceries in the Revelation, which refers to drugs, “to stupefy with drugs,” and then for any system of sorcery by incantations (Rev. 9:21; Rev. 18:23; compare Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15). Sorcery is classed with the grossest of sins and is also applied to the professing church in mystical Babylon. The same word is translated “witchcraft” in Galatians 5:20.
G. Morrish,
Concise Bible Dictionary