Deuteronomy 18:11

"There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,"

Key Reflection

Deuteronomy 18:11 cautions against several forms of occult and pagan practices that were prevalent in ancient cultures, including child sacrifice (making one's son or daughter "pass through the fire"), divination, fortune-telling, enchantment, and sorcery. These activities were seen as attempts to communicate with or appease spirits other than the true God, representing a departure from the covenant relationship Israel was meant to have with Yahweh alone. By prohibiting these practices, Moses ensured that the Israelites would remain distinct from surrounding nations and faithful to their God.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

A charmer -i. e., one who fascinates and subdues noxious animals or men, such as the famous serpent-charmers of the EastPsalms 58:4-5. A consulter with familiar spirits ... a wizard -CompareLeviticus 19:31note. Recromancer -literally, “one who interrogates the dead.” The purpose of the text is obviously to group together all the known words belonging to the practices in question. Compare2 Chronicles 33:6.

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