Magic: The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for oracular
answers
(Judges 18:5,6; Zechariah 10:2) There is a remarkable illustration of
this divining by teraphim in
(Ezekiel 21:19-22) We read also of the
divining cup of Joseph
(Genesis 44:5) The magicians of Egypt are frequently
referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part
of the ancient Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their
daily life. All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty
of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn the
"abomination" of the people of the Promised Land
(Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor
(1 Samuel 28:3-20)
gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians.
From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of
magic lingered among the people till after the Captivity, when they
gradually abandoned it. It is not much referred to in the New
Testament. The Magi mentioned in
(Matthew 2:1-12) were not magicians in the
ordinary sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the
followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a
magician, was found by Philip at Samaria
(Acts 8:9-24) and Paul and
Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos
(Acts 13:6-12)
At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical books
(Acts 19:18,19)
