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The Hebrew Bible also gives clear signs that participating or partaking of the occult is wrong for everyone, including non-Jews. What is the occult? It fundamentally means hidden, special knowledge, normally involving the future or the supernatural, and the practices linked with it. Here is the relevant Torah passage that deals with the prohibition.
(9) When you have come into the land which YHWH your Deity is giving to you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. (10) There shall not be found among you one who causes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that uses divination, one who observes times, or one who reads omens, or a sorcerer, (11) or a charmer, or one that consults a ghost or a wizard, or one who enquires of the dead. (12) For everyone who does these things is an abomination to YHWH; and because of these abominations YHWH your Deity is driving them out from before you. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
Again, some may complain that this law was given to Israel, so it has nothing to do with the non-Jews. Unfortunately, this just shows the narrow interpretation of some readers. If we look at the first and last verse of the section I quoted it will be seen that there are implications for everyone.
Verse 9, the first verse quoted above, calls these certain actions of the nations, abominations. Remember that this word means something disgusting, abhorrent, detestable. If it were true that these actions were simply ok for the nations and bad for Israel, the text would have clearly made that distinction. But such a distinction is not there. Instead we see that the things that the nations do are disgusting. Then in verse 12, the last verse I quote, it says that "everyone who does these things is an abomination to YHWH", and it gives no limitation. It doesn't say that "every Israelite who does these things...", but rather "any person whatsoever...". This interpretation is backed up by the way that the verse ends, with the nations being driven out, sent away, evicted because of these abominations. Note, the reason the nations were evicted was these abominations. That shows that these nations are accountable for these actions, and the fact that they are wrong for non-Israelis is evidenced by the fact that the Almighty causes bad consequences, i.e., punishments, to happen because of them.
To conclude, it is obvious that these deeds are wrong for Israel. It is equally obvious that these deeds are wrong for non-Israelis as well, i.e., everyone else.
Now since these deeds are wrong for everyone, it is important for us to know what these deeds are, so that those who fear the Almighty can avoid them. What exactly is divination? Or what is a charmer or a soothsayer? For those who want to look for themselves, I mainly used the following sources to help me understand the terms and the specifications, as well as the biblical text:
There is a good chance that you the reader may have other resources, so in your own research you can check yours out as well. I also looked around at some Noahide websites and jewishencyclopedia.com.
Now, before I get into the specifics, it would be good to show that the scripture itself gives us a general idea of what these practices are meant to do.
If you read Deuteronomy 18, from verse 9 to the end of the chapter, you will see a basic flow to it: "do not do these disgusting practices; the Lord is giving you a prophet". The prophet would give Israel the information it needed. The role of the prophet would be the legitimate way to gain information. But what sort of info? Well, logically, it wouldn't be the sort of thing people normally experience with their brain and five senses. It would be the hidden things, the things beyond our everyday knowledge, things that you would expect the Almighty to know. And that wouldn't just be knowledge of the future, since if you read through the books of the Israelite prophets in the Bible, you'll see they never just spoke on the future. Samuel told Saul that his lost asses were found. Some prophets saw through disguises. Many prophets talked about their present time and how to fix problems at that time. Other prophets did great miracles, like how Elisha helped a widow by advising her to pour her few drops of oil into as many jars as she could find, and those few drops of oil became many many jugs of oil, which she sold and got enough funds to help her out of an awful situation. The role of the biblical prophet is to be a source of supernatural insight, miracles and knowledge about hidden things, with the source of that knowledge and power being Yahweh, and that prophet using the legitimate means provided by Deity. In other words, that sort of prophet is the proper means to get that sort of knowledge and divine assistance.
This lets us know the general purpose and problem with the forbidden practices of Deuteronomy 18. They are illegitimate ways of gaining hidden or supernatural knowledge or getting supernatural help on issues. And these practices are deemed disgusting. That means if a person does them, yet still claims that it is from Yahweh or that it is good in some way, then the Torah of the Lord, the word of the Almighty directly contradicts them. Some may look at some of the things I describe throughout this chapter, before and after this statement, and ask, "What is the difference between [for example] a soothsayer and a prophet?" The difference is that people who indulge in these practices to see the hidden and to do magic are trying to tap into something other than Yahweh, using methods alien to the word of the Almighty in his Torah. They may more deal with spirits and "angels" or even just try to look deep within themselves, or say that the Almighty showed them a "different way" to get this information or power. But the Almighty has given us his word clearly in the Torah, in the Hebrew Bible to help us see what he doesn't like and what is not of him. It is only by studying the clear word he is given that we can find the truths we need, not relying on essentially "alien", foreign sources and means.
So what are these practices?
One who causes his son and his daughter to pass through the fire - This refers to a specific type of idolatry done to a idol called "the Molekh" (or "Molech"), spoken of a good number of times in scripture (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2; Deuteronomy 12:31; 2 Kings 23:10). There was a special act of consecration that a man could do to ally himself to this god, which involved passing his children through the fire. Many assume that this means child-sacrifice, i.e., the children died by this. But there are others, like all of the Rabbis, who said something like the following:
The procedure consisted from two parts. First, a bonfire was kindled. Then father took part of his children and handed them to the priests-fireworshippers. The priests returned them back to their father, by this they gave him the right to pass children through fire. This part of rite was called hand-over to Molech. Then father passed his son or daughter through fire - this part was called pass-through the fire. What way? The row from storax tree was put the way the fire was burning two sides from it. The row was two recumbent trunks high and the child was passed by it. The father held the child who pushed off the ground with his legs and jumped through the fire, from one side to the other, inside the flame. Only he who did both parts of the procedure the customary way was to be sentenced to the death penalty. That's why if he did hand-over but no pass-through, or did pass-through but no hand-over, or did hand-over and pass-through the non-customary way - he's free of punishment. Also only he who handed part of his posterity was sentenced to the death penalty, since it's written (Vayikra 20:3): "Because he gave of his posterity to Molech" - part of his posterity but not all posterity. The posterity means both kids from allowed sexual affairs and kids from banned sexual affairs, both one's own children and grandchildren etc (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 64b). (from the article "Third Law is No Idolatry" at http://www.7for70.net/)
Now there is nothing to say that both never happened, i.e., that in some parts of the Canaanite country children were killed, and in other parts it was more of a rite of passage where the children survive afterwards. But either way, this shows you how some people were fiercely devoted to their idols. Maybe this can warn us about the forms of extreme idolatry that is around today.
Divination - This is one general group of acts done to find hidden knowledge or predict the future. Rabbinic sources are particularly helpful in giving a picture of the sort of acts performed by use of examples to help us understand what they are getting at. Here's what RaMbaM has to say in Book 4, Chapter 11 of his Book of Knowledge from his work, the Mishneh Torah.
Divination consists of performing particular actions in order to elevate oneself and clear one's mind of all [thoughts and] matters until one starts predicting the future by saying, `Such-and-such will, or will not, happen', or, `It is fitting to do such-and-such, but because of such-and-such a reason'. Some diviners make use of stones or sand, some crouch on the ground while moving and shouting, some stare into an iron mirror or lantern before speaking, and others hold a stick in their hands, leaning on it and hitting themselves with it until their minds have cleared, and then they start speaking. This is what [one of] the Prophets said: "My people ask counsel of a piece of wood, and their staff declares to them!".
Now remember, RaMBaM is giving us examples to emphasize a general rule. Divination is where someone is attempting to heighten some "sense" within them to predict the future or see the hidden. The description that RaMBaM gives is very very similar to acts we see today. He said "some stare into an iron mirror", which reminds me of those who look into a crystal ball to get their "messages". People who divine use many means to get their "insights", such as those who use tarot cards, or do phrenology or palm-reading. This would include those who read tea leaves. The Hebrew word can refer to both the act of divining and the thing used to divine with. Such things are forbidden and to take part in them by consulting them, thus trusting them, is also wrong.
Observing times - This class of forbidden act involves a number of things related to the Hebrew word, me'onen.
One connotation involves dealing with lucky and unlucky times. The person who is involved in this will say "This day is lucky, so it is good to do so-and-so" or "This day is unlucky, so I have to be careful, or I shouldn't do that". This sort of thing is apparent even in our day and age with horoscopes and astrology which, based on our times of birth, advise us what to do or what we'll be like on different days. This also includes those people who are afraid or wary of Friday the 13th whenever it comes, since it is believed to be an unlucky day.
This connotation rules out the forms of astrology prevalent all over the world which involves the observations of stars in order to tell us of hidden things or the future.
The other understandings of this word, me'onen is based on its relationship to Hebrew word for "eye". Thus, the connotations that the rabbinic Sages derive are: 1) one who wipes his eyes with a disgusting substance in order to do sorcery, like the ability to harm someone just by looking at them, known as the "evil eye"; and 2) someone who performs magical optical illusions.
One who reads omens - This class of abominable act is one of the easiest to understand, and has clear modern applications. It involves making unrealistic, superstitous links between different events. In this context, you would take an event to be a good omen, that something good is gonna happen or is happening, or a bad omen, that something bad is gonna happen or is happening. The examples of this given by Jewish commentators are as follows:
Rashi (derived from the Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, Folio 65b-66a): the sound and actions of animals, like a weasel or a bird; bread falling from someone's mouth; a deer crossing someone's path.
Rambam: bread falling from someone's mouth; a.stick falling from someone's hand; a fox passing on the right side; the singing of birds.
Even if you make omens or signs up for yourself, like saying/thinking, if this phone rings at such a time, then my day will be lucky.
[Aside: Rambam also says that someone who tells someone else to slaughter a cock that sounds like a raven, or a hen that sounds like a cock falls under this category of occult acts (the Hebrew term for reading omens has wider implications than our English term "reading omens").]
These examples bring to mind some omens that are still around today, such as a black cat crossing being bad luck, or walking under a ladder. Finding a four-leafed clover, or finding money on the ground is meant to be a sign of good luck. Ancient cultures, and, most likely, cultures around the world today see odd things that happen in the sky as omens, such as eclipses and meteors.
Some may laugh and say such things are not taken seriously in this day and age, this time of scientific and rational thinking. But such a statement is neither scientific or rational, and regards too highly us humans and ignores our conscious or subconsious inclination to superstition.
A sorcerer - This refers to anyone who performs magic (whether "white" or "black" magic, or any other colour). This forbidden act is the simplest to state. The commentary of Exodus 22:17 in the Artscroll Chumash has a wonderful definition of magic which helpfully alludes to the reason why it is forbidden.
By definition, sorcery is an attempt to assume control of nature through the powers of impurity and thus to deny God's mastery.
Magic is not where a person prays and asks for something miraculous and it happens. It is where someone goes to other sources (may be called "spirits", or even "angels") or through improper channels (e.g., using spells, incantations) in order to control situations and results, maybe even people. And all this is done by actually ignoring or rebelling against the Lord's rule in a fundamental way. How? By relying on forces and channels other than that which Deity has appointed, thus actively saying, "it is me or these forces that control such and such a thing [and not Deity]", or "I don't trust the Almighty to handle this, so I'll do it my way".
So the forbidden magical acts include the specific hand or body gestures that are supposed to cause preternatural (meaning, surpassing the ordinary or normal; or existing outside of or not in accordance with nature) effects to occur, the manufacture and/or use of potions and smokes, and the manufacture or use of charms or wands. By analogy, it can also be seen that illusions are also forbidden, illusions meaning giving the appearance of doing real magic.
Now some may wonder if there's such thing as real magic. Some would say there is no such thing, and that it is all some form of trickery or sleight of hand. I will give my opinion but will not go into the whys and wherefores. Based on the plain reading of the passages concerning the magics of the Egyptian magicians (Exodus 7:1-8:11), the witch of En-dor (1 Samuel 28), and possibly the false prophet that can do miracles (Deuteronomy 13), magic seems to be real enough although it has its limits. This world is a place of test, trial and opportunity which Deity has set for us to either draw close to him, or to walk away further and further from Him. The (seductive) power in magic is simply one of those tests.
A charmer - This is one who has a bewitching influence over animals and men. This means they claim to be able to control different beings. They offer protective services by means of charms and amulets. This can include snake charmers. Spells and incantations are not beyond this class of occultists, but they tend to focus on living creatures and not the wider aspects of nature like sorcery/witchcraft.
One who consults a ghost - This is not a great translation of the Hebrew term. The Hebrew word translated "ghost" (transliterated into English, it is "'ov" [rhymes with "cove" or "rove"], Strongs no. 178) refers to a spirit that gives information from the dead, either the actual spirit of the dead person, or a "familiar spirit".
Now, for so long, I've wanted to know what a familiar spirit is. So going through this study has been very enlightening. A familiar spirit is a spirit which assists a witch/wizard. This spirit is generally under the command of such a person and helps them obtain the hidden knowledge they seek on behalf of themselves or others.
The main thing about the "'Ov" is that the person "doing it" is attempting, directly or indirectly, to get knowledge from the dead. What makes it distinct from other forms of necromancy is that it can involve becoming a vessel for the spirit of the dead (or the familiar spirit) where it supposedly speaks through the necromancer. The Hebrew "'Ov" also means "bottle" and the later Greek version translates it as εγγαστριμυθος engastrimuthos which seems to come from three Greek words: εν en, meaning "in"; γαστηρ gastare meaning "womb, stomach, belly", and; μυθος muthos meaning "a speech, word, saying, a narrative, story". Altogether, it is a person who speaks sayings from something inside him/her, like a vessel. Greek dictionaries translates it as "ventriloquist, mostly of women who delivered oracles by this means, also the familiar spirit of such a person". This sort of thing is still around today with some sorts of psychics, mediums, and necromancers.
So this sort of necromancy or divining is strictly forbidden.
A wizard - Again, this is not a great translation of the Hebrew, transliterated as "yidd'oni" (Strong no. 3049). The interesting thing about this Hebrew word is that, whenever it is used, it is always used with "'Ov" (but 'Ov can be used on its own). But we can ask what it means.
Basically, a yidd'oni is an oracle who gets his messages from the dead. His gift is based more on his knowledge of necromancy and understanding the "language" of spirits and the dead rather than being a vessel, like the 'Ov. All this information can be derived from scripture. Firstly, the word "yidd'oni" comes from the verb "yada'", which means, "to know", showing that this is based on knowledge. Secondly, the word is always associated with necromancy in the Tanakh, examples of which include: always being linked with the 'Ov which is one sort of necromancy; in Deuteronomy 18:11, it is in the middle of phrases that talk of necromancy (again, 'Ov, and "one who enquires of the dead"); in Isaiah 8:19, it says,
And when they say, "Enquire of the ['Ov]s and the [Yidd'oni]s who chirp and mumble!" Shouldn't a people enquire of its gods? [Should it enquire] of the dead for the living... (for "gods", see 1 Samuel 28:13)
So here it links both the 'Ov and the Yidd'oni with enquiring of the dead.
Therefore it is forbidden to do this sort of necromancy that may not involve being possessed by the familiar spirit or the spirit of the dead, but is somewhat hand in hand with the 'Ov, understanding and knowing the language of the dead and the use of familiar spirits. Thus, it would still include certain sorts of mediums and necromancers and spiritualists.
Enquiring of the dead - This simply groups all sorts of necromancy together that is outside the realm of the 'Ov and the yidd'oni. So basically, all sorts of seeking to communicate with the dead is strictly forbidden.
So this concludes this section on the occult. Those needing knowledge of the hidden have to use ways given by the Almighty. If they are not available, then we must trust in the Creator, who knows everything hidden and revealed to guide and protect those who seek refuge in Him.
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