Topical Bible: Divination: The Jews Prone To

◄ Divination: The Jews Prone To ►

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Divination, the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means, is explicitly condemned in the Scriptures. Despite this, the history of the Israelites reveals a recurring tendency to engage in such practices, often influenced by surrounding pagan cultures.

Biblical Condemnation of Divination

The Mosaic Law clearly prohibits divination. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , it is written: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

Instances of Divination Among the Jews

Despite these prohibitions, the Israelites frequently fell into the practice of divination. This tendency is evident throughout their history, often leading to divine judgment.

1. King Saul and the Witch of Endor: One of the most notable instances is King Saul's consultation with the witch of Endor. In 1 Samuel 28:7-8 , Saul, desperate for guidance before a battle with the Philistines, seeks out a medium, saying, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." This act of desperation and disobedience ultimately leads to his downfall.

2. Manasseh's Reign: King Manasseh of Judah is another example. In 2 Kings 21:6 , it is recorded that "He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger." Manasseh's reign is marked by a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh, incorporating various forms of idolatry and divination.

3. The People of Judah: The prophet Jeremiah also rebukes the people of Judah for their reliance on divination. In Jeremiah 27:9 , he warns, "So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’" Here, divination is linked with false prophecy and misleading the people away from God's true message.

Cultural Influences and Consequences

The Israelites' propensity for divination can be attributed, in part, to the influence of neighboring cultures. The Canaanites, Egyptians, and Babylonians, among others, practiced various forms of divination, which often infiltrated Israelite society. This syncretism led to a dilution of pure worship and a departure from the covenantal relationship with God.

The consequences of engaging in divination were severe. It often resulted in divine judgment, as seen in the Babylonian exile, which was partly a consequence of persistent idolatry and reliance on forbidden practices. The prophets consistently called the people back to exclusive worship of Yahweh, emphasizing the futility and danger of divination.

Prophetic Opposition

The prophets of Israel stood firmly against divination, emphasizing reliance on God's revelation rather than human attempts to control the future. Isaiah 8:19 admonishes, "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" This rhetorical question underscores the absurdity of seeking guidance from any source other than God.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the tension between the Israelites' inclination toward divination and the call to exclusive worship of Yahweh highlights the ongoing struggle between faithfulness and cultural assimilation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 17:17
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 2:6
Therefore you have forsaken your people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
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Library

The Confessions of St. Augustin Index of Subjects
... Distentio, distraction, [362]174 and notes. Divination, the soothsayers used sacrifices
in their, [363]68. ... prone to sin, [670]48, [671]49. ... Jews, the,. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/the confessions of st augustin.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... To the Jews, suffering from their late disasters, and prone to look for God's
interposition in their behalf, the calamity seemed to be a well-deserved judgment ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm