Magic and Divination in Ancient Palestine and Syria (Studies in the History of the Ancient Near East, Book 8)

Beginning With Deut. 18:9ff And Its Condemnation Of Magicians And Diviners, This Book Explores The Window That This Text Gives Us Into Magic And Divination In Ancient Palestine And Syria. Investigating The Wealth Of Language Combined With The Archaeological And Historical Evidence, It Seeks To Place The Influence Of These Factors In The Emerging Israelite Religion. An Integral Part Of The Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology And Culture, Magic And Divination Are Never Completely Eradicated Despite The Ideological Warfare Led By The Old Testament Writers. The First Part Examines The Function Of Various Magicians And Diviners. This Is Followed By A Chapter On Dreams And Visions. The Third Chapter Looks At The Techniques And Devices Used By The Oracular Practitioners. Other Subjects Covered Include Magic In Warfare, In The Treatment Of Diseases And Blessing And Cursing.--book Jacket. By Ann Jeffers. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [253]-267) And Indexes. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface List of Abbreviations Chapter One. Prolegomena. A Search for Definitions and Methodology 1. Introduction 2. Definitions 3. Critical Review of the Scholarship 4. Methodology 5. Literary Presuppositions Chapter Two. Diviners, Magicians and Oracular Practitioners General Introduction Section One: Undisputed Cases 1. ʾîs ʾělōhîm: A Man of God 2. ʾāšěpîn: Professional Exorcists 3. Gāzěrîn: From Sacrificial Diviners to Dream Analysts 4. Ḥober Ḥaber: A Spell Binder 5. Ḥōzeh: A Court Seer 6. Ḥâkāmîm: A Professional Class of Wise Magicians 7. Ḥartummîm: Miracle Performers or Dream Interpreters? 8. Ḥârāšîm: A Medicine Man 9. Kōhēn: The Oracular Functions of the Priest 10. Kadîm: Dream Interpreters of Nebuchadrezzar 11. Lēwî: Oracular Attendant and Healer? 12. Měkaššěpîm: A Semitic Herbalist 13. Mělahâšîm: Enchanters 14. Měnaḥeš: One Who Observes Omens 15. Měʿônēn: A Soothsayer 16. Nābîʿ: A Channel of God’s Power 17. Qōsēm: qěsāmîm: One Who Obtains an Oracle by Drawing Lots 18. Rōʿeh: A Seer Section Two: Disputed Cases 1. Pōʿâlê ʾāwen: Evildoers 2. ʾÂrîʿēl: An Oracle Attendant? 3. Tipsār: Astrologer? 4. Minnězārîm: Diviners? 5. Nōqēd: Sheep-tender or Hepatoscopist? 6. Sōḥârîm: Those Who Ensnare 7. Rěʿāîm: The Wicked Ones 8. Rōkēl: Magician or Trader? 9. Passing Children through Fire: A Divinatory Ritual? Chapter Three. Dreams and Visions 1. General Introduction 2. The Mantic Function of Dreams 3. Oracle Visions in the Old Testament Chapter Four. Divinatory Techniques and Devices General Introduction Section One: Divinatory Techniques 1. Astrologers and the State of Astrology and Hemerology in Ancient Israel and Syria 2. Hepatoscopy in the Northwest Semitic World 3. Hydromancy: Potent Waters in the Northwest Semitic World 4. Necromancy in the Northwest Semitic World 5. Rabdomancy Section Two: Divinatory Devices 1. The Ark: A War Oracle? 2. The Use of the Ephod in Divination 3. The ʾûrîm and the Thummîm: A Sacral Method of Inquiry 4. The Tent of Meeting as a Place of Oracles 5. The Mantic Function of the Teraphim Appendix 1: The Magical Elements in the Treatment of Diseases Appendix 2: The Magical Element in Warfare Appendix 3: Blessing and Curse Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index of Authors Index of Biblical Passages Index of Ugaritic Passages Index of Phoenician Passages Index of Aramaic Passages Beginning with Deuteronomy 18:9ff and its condemnation of magicians and diviners, this book explores the window that the text provides into magic and divination in Ancient Palestine and Syria. Investigating the wealth of language combined with the archaeological and historical evidence, this book seeks to place the influence of these factors in the emerging Israelite religion. It argues that an integral part of the Ancient Near Eastern cosmology and culture, magic and divination are never completely eradicated, despite the ideological warfare led by the Old Testament writers. The first part of this book examines the function of various magicians and diviners. This is followed by a chapter on dreams and visions. The third chapter looks at the techniques and devices used by the oracular practitioners. Other subjects covered include magic in warfare, in the treatment of diseases, and blessing and cursing. This publication is a detailed study of magical and divinatory practices in the Ancient Near East, particularly in Palestine and Syria. It combines the insights of the Old Testament with the data available from Phoenician and the older Ugaritic texts. It traces the links both historically and archaeologically.