Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 19:31
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, etc.] The word used signifies “bottles”, and that sort of diviners here intended go by this name, either because what they sat on when they divined was in the form of a bottle, or they divined by one, or they were swelled and inflated as bottles when they delivered out their answers, or spoke as out of a bottle or hollow place; hence they are called masters or mistresses of the bottle: they seem to be the same with the ventriloquists, and so the Septuagint version here calls them; such whose voice seemed to come out of their bellies, and even the lower parts of them; and such was the Pythian prophetess at Delphos, and very probably the maid in the times of the apostles, who had a spirit of divination, or of Python, (<441616>Acts 16:16); and so the words may be rendered here, “look not to the Python” f707, or those who have the spirit of Python; so Jarchi from the Misnah f708 interprets the word here used, “Baal Ob” or the master of the bottle, this is Python, one that speaks from under his arm holes: neither seek after wizards; such as pretend to a great deal of knowledge, as the word signifies; such as are called cunning men, who pretend to know where lost or stolen goods are, and to tell people their fortunes, and what will befall them hereafter: to be defiled by them; for by seeking to them, and believing what is said by them, and trusting thereunto, and expecting events answerable to their predictions, they would be guilty of a gross sin, and so bring pollution and guilt on them; according to the Jewish canons f709, such sort of persons as are cautioned against were to be stoned, and they that consulted them to be reproved; I [am] the Lord your God; who only is to be regarded and sought unto for advice and assistance; (see <230819>Isaiah 8:19).
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