Deuteronomy 18:11

“Or a charmer, etc.] That pretends to cure diseases by charms, or a charmer of serpents; according to Jarchi, one that gathers together serpents and scorpions, and other animals, into one place; with which agree the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, “which bind serpents and scorpions, and all kind of creeping things;” but, according to Aben Ezra, one that says certain words to gather demons together: or a consulter with familiar spirits; or the inquirer of “Ob”, or the bottle, which the Jews interpret of Python, or one that has the spirit of Python; (see <441616>Acts 16:16), a ventriloquist, one that spoke or seemed to speak out of his belly, or from under his armpits; so it is said in the…”

“A charmer - i. e., one who fascinates and subdues noxious animals or men, such as the famous serpent-charmers of the East Psalms 58:4-5. A consulter with familiar spirits ... a wizard - Compare Leviticus 19:31 note. 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. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:6. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A charmer - One that charmeth serpents or other cattle. Or, a fortune - teller, that foretelleth the events of men's lives by the conjunctions of the stars. Spirits - Whom they call upon by certain words or rites. A wizard - Heb. a knowing man, who by any forbidden way's undertakes the revelation of secret things. A necromancer - One that calleth up and enquireth of the dead. Deuteronomy 18:13”

“18:11 cast spells: These incantations wereto destroy or injure others by invoking curses on them. The false prophet Balaam was hired for this purpose against Israel (Num 22:2-6). • Mediums and psychics were especially adept at conjuring up and communicating with the spirits of the dead (see 1 Sam 28:3-25).”

“or a necromancer: Sa1 28:11-14 Deuteronomy 18:12”