Witches
during biblical times
There are reports of witches from the time described in the
Hebrew Bible
In the Hebrew Bible references to witchcraft are frequent,
and the strong condemnations of such practices which we
read there do not seem to be based so much upon the
supposition of fraud as upon the "abomination" of the magic
in itself. (See Deuteronomy 18:11-12; Exodus 22:18,
"wizards thou shalt not suffer to live" - A.V. "Thou shalt
not suffer a witch to live".)
Many bible scholars have noted that in the original Hebrew
the word "M'khasephah" (מכשפה)(translated
in the King James as "witch") means "someone who
malevolently uses spoken curses to hurt people", which the
modern Wiccan Rede specifically forbids its practitioners
to do.
Be that as it may, it is well-known that this verse was in
later times to provide Scripural justification for
Christian witch hunters. But the Bible also provides some
evidence that the commandment was taken seriously and
implemented at the time itself, as seen from the account in
(I Samuel 28):
"And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and
he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman
by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name
unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou
knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that
have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land:
wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me
to die?"(The Hebrew verb "Hichrit" (הכרית) translated in
the King James as "cut off", can also be translated as
"kill wholesale" or "exterminate")
The whole narrative of this visit by Saul to the Witch of
En Dor implies belief in the reality of the witch's
evocation of the shade of Samuel. However, the witch
responds with shocked surprise at the manifestation,
denoting that the witch had actually expected something
different -- presumably either nothing real at all or a
lying ("familiar") spirit.
From Leviticus 20:27: "A man or woman in whom there is a
pythonical or divining spirit, dying let them die: they
shall stone them: Their blood be upon them", we should
naturally infer that the divining spirit was not believed
to be a mere imposture.
In Modern Day
Witchcraft one of the most popular and effective forms
is Wicca. It uses a number of
materials and rituals
taken from books of
magickal lore (Grimmoires). This site has further
information regarding these issues. We also provide
links to KNOWN
professional
services and suppliers
to fulfill all your
needs.