Exodus 22:18

[Packrat]

Hello. I was wondering what everyone's thoughts on Exodus 22:18 are. What sort of witch is this? What is the word used for witch? What did these witches do that they were ordered to be killed?

 

[Packrat]

I looked at Young's Literal Translation here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=15; but I went home and looked it up into my Jewish Bible as well - it's different. In Young's it uses the word 'witch' - in my Jewish Bible it uses the word 'sorcerer' or 'sorceress' I think. What's the difference? :puppydogeyes:

 

[cyberjosh]

Witches are basically divinators, who practice magic and perform seances with the dead, which was strictly forbidden in the Pentateuch because it is messing with demonic spirits, etc, etc. It is a black art and it derives its power from satan.

P.S. This might be better suited in the Bible thread instead of apologetics. All verse queries should go there.

 

[Gabbylittleangel]

A sorcerer is one who uses drugs. Witches often drug their victims.

 

[Packrat]

A sorcerer is one who uses drugs. Witches often drug their victims.

So a sorcerer a couple thousand to a few thousand years ago in the Levant area was a person who used drugs? And a witch from that time period and location on earth was one who drugged their victims?

 

[Packrat]

Witches are basically divinators, who practice magic and perform seances with the dead, which was strictly forbidden in the Pentateuch because it is messing with demonic spirits, etc, etc. It is a black art and it derives its power from satan.

P.S. This might be better suited in the Bible thread instead of apologetics. All verse queries should go there.

Thanks for the reply. I suppose it does make sense. The power of their magic comes from somewhere or is no power at all. If they truly have power in their magic and it isn't in prayer to the one true God, then it's likely in prayer or supplication to demons - the enemies of God. Consort with the enemy and you're as good as they are. Hang out with the wrong crowd, and some of what they are is bound to brush off on you. Iron sharpens iron after all. :wink: If they don't have the power of demons working through them or in them, then they're still going against God's will by trying to consort with the enemy whether they realize it or not. And chances are that they would have realized it or known it in part because of God's strict warnings not to do what they're already doing.

 

[RND]

See the story of the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28

Anything to do with spiritualism is in direct opposition to the Word of God.

 

[JohnR]

What did these witches do that they were ordered to be killed?

What they did was "enchantment". The Hebrew word here is only used in one other place in the Bible. It is used for the "flaming" sword that kept Adam and Eve from the tree of life.

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Exodus 7:11
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.


One man was stoned for picking up sticks on the sabbath.

Numbers 15:32-36
Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. [33] And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. [34] They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. [35] Then the Lord said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." [36] So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

 

[Packrat]

What they did was "enchantment". The Hebrew word here is only used in one other place in the Bible. It is used for the "flaming" sword that kept Adam and Eve from the tree of life.

So the sword in Genesis should read, "Enchantment Sword" instead of "Flaming Sword" is what you're saying?

One man was stoned for picking up sticks on the sabbath.

Not sure if I'm seeing a connection between a flaming sword, a witch, and someone being stoned for working on the Sabbath.

 

[JohnR]

Not sure if I'm seeing a connection between a flaming sword, a witch, and someone being stoned for working on the Sabbath.

We are not looking at the word witch, we are looking at the word enchantment in this passage. The word is only used twice.

 

[Packrat]

We are not looking at the word witch, we are looking at the word enchantment in this passage. The word is only used twice.

Why'd you add in, "One man was stoned for picking up sticks on the sabbath," at the end of your post? If we're not talking about a witch but talking about 'enchantment,' then why did you start talking about stoning on for working on the Sabbath day? That's what I'm confused about then.