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( àåֹá ob, a leathern bottle or water-skins, Job_32:19; hence, the conjurer, being regarded as the vessel containing the inspiring demon), a necromancer, or sorcerer who professes to call up the dead by means of incantations, to answer questions (Deu_18:11; 2Ki_21:6; 2Ch_33:6; Lev_19:31; Lev_20:6; 1Sa_28:3; 1Sa_28:9; Isa_8:19; Isa_19:3). Put also specially for the python (Act_16:16) or divining-spirit, by the aid of which such jugglers were supposed to conjure (Lev_20:27; 1Sa_28:7-8), and for the shade or departed spirit thus evoked (Isa_29:4). SEE DIVINATION. The term is rendered by the Septuagint ἐããáóôñßìõèïò , "a ventriloquist," but is rather a wizard who asked counsel of his familiar, and gave the responses received from him to others — the name being applied in reference to the spirit or demon that animated the person, and inflated the belly so that it protuberated like the side of a bottle. Or it was applied to the magician, because he was supposed to be inflated by the spirit ( äáéìïíïëçðôüò ), like the ancient Åὐñõêëåῖò ( åἰò ἀëëïôñßáò ãáóôÝñáò ἐíäýò , Ar. Vesp. 1017, malusa spirituns per verend t naturce excipiabat; Schosl. in Ar. Plut.). The ob of the Hebrews was thus precisely the same as the pytho of the Greeks (Plutarch, De def. Or. 414; Cicero De div. 1:19), and was used not only to designate the performer, but the spirit itself, ðíåῦìá Ðýèùíïò , which possessed him (see Lev_20:27; 1Sa_28:8; also Act_16:16). A more specific denomination of this last term was the necromancer (literally seeker of the dead, ùׁàֵì àåֹá ; Deu_18:10; comp. ãֹּøְùִׁéï àֶì ), one who, by frequenting tombs, by inspecting corpses, or, more frequently, by help of the ob, like the witch of Endor, pretended to evoke the dead, ad bring secrets from the invisible world (Gen_41:8; Exo_7:11; Lev_19:26; Deu_18:10-12).
Compare the àִèִּéí whisperers ("charmers"), of Isa_19:3. But Shuckford, who denies that the Jews in early ages believed in spirits, makes it mean "I consulters of lead idols" (Connect. 2:395). These ventriloquists "peeped and muttered" (compare ôñßæåéí , Homer, Il. 23:101; "squeak and gibber," Shaksp. Jul. Caesar) from the earth to imitate the voice of the revealing 'familiar" (Isa_29:4, etc.; 1Sa_28:8; Lev_20:27; compare óôåñíüìáíôéò , Soph. Frag.). Of this class was the witch of Endor (Josephus, Ant. 6:14, 2), in whose case intended imposture may have been overruled into genuine necromancy (Sir_46:20). On this wide subject, see Chrysostom ad 1 Corinthians 12; Tera tullian, adv. Marc. 4:25; De Anima, page 57; Augustine, De doctr. Christ. § 33; Cicero, Tusc. Disp. 1:16, and the commentators on AEn. 6; Critici Sacri, 6:331; Le Moyne, Var. Sacr. page 993 sq.; Selden, De Diis Syr, 1:2; and, above all, Bottcher, De Inferis, pages 101-121, where the research displayed is marvellous. Those who sought inspiration, either from the dasmons or the spirits of the dead, haunted tombs and caverns (Isa_65:4), and invited the unclean communications by voluntary fasts (Maimon. De Idol. 9:15; Lightfoot, Hor. Hebrews ad Mat_10:1). That the supposed øõ÷ïìáíôåῖá was often effected by ventriloquism and illusion is certain; for a specimen of this even in modern times, see the Life of Benvenuto Cellini. SEE NECROMANCER.
Closely connected with this form of divination are the two following:
(1.) çֶáֶø , che'ber, a spell or enchantment, by means of a cabalistic arrangement of certain words and implements (Deu_18:11; Isa_47:9; Isa_47:12), spoken also of serpent-charming (Psa_58:6). SEE CHARMING; SEE ENCHANTMENT.
(2.) Sorcery (either wizard, éåֹãֵòִ knowing one, Lev_19:31; Lev_20:6; Deu_18:11; 1Sa_28:3; 1Sa_28:9; spoken also of the imp or spirit of divination by which they were supposed to be attended, Lev_20:27; or some form of
ëָּùִׁ Š, 'kashaph', to act the witch, literally by magic incantations, 2Ch_23:6; Exo_7:11; Deu_18:10; Dan_2:2, etc.), which signifies practicing divination by means of the black art, with an implied collusion with evil spirits; applied usually to pretending to reveal secrets, to discover things lost, find hidden treasure, and interpret dreams. SEE WIZARD.