Hebrew History and Magic

[Ed Hurst]

During our Skype chat today, the question was raised as to what kind of pagan magical practices were recognized in the Old Testament. I found this longish article that does a really good job of covering it: Jewish Encyclopedia: Witchcraft. They don't mention much the practice of "familiar spirits" -- a form advertised as speaking to the dead, but was actually calling up a Nephilim spirit willing to play the role. The practitioner knew this spirit by feel, and thus a "familiar spirit" to them. The "witch" at Endor was shocked when her familiar didn't rise, but it was the real spirit of the prophet. A great many forms of consulting the dead were fake, and the folks practicing it knew it was fake, using ventriloquism, etc.