Deuteronomy 18:12

That we make no profit of any thing that belongs to false worship, Deuteronomy 7:26. 26. That no city seduced to idolatry and destroyed be ever built again, Deuteronomy 13:16. 27. That nothing of its spoils be turned to private use, Deuteronomy 13:17. 28. That none prophesy falsely, Deuteronomy 18:20. 29. That we fear not to slay a false prophet, Deuteronomy 18:22. 30. That none prophesy in the name of false gods, Deuteronomy 18:20. 31. That none so prophesying be attended unto, Deuteronomy 13:2, 3. 32. That we walk not in the ways and customs of the heathens, Leviticus 20:23. 33. That none use divination, Deuteronomy 18:10; 34. Nor sorcery, Deuteronomy 18:10. 35. That no soothsaying be used, Leviticus 19:26. 36. That no divination by times or hours be used, Leviticus 19:26. 37. That there be no enchantment or conjuring, Deuteronomy 18:10. 38. That none ask counsel of the dead, Deuteronomy 18:11. 39. That a woman wear not the apparel of a man; 40. That a man wear not the apparel of a woman, Deuteronomy 22:5. 41. That no cutting or incision be made in the body, Leviticus 19:28. 42. That clothes made of linen and woollen be not made or worn, Deuteronomy 22:11. 43. That the corners of the head be not rounded; 44. That the corners of the beard be not marred, Leviticus 19:27. 45. That none tear their flesh with their nails; 46. Nor pull off their hair for the dead, Deuteronomy 14:1. 47. That we walk not after the thoughts of our hearts or sight of our eyes, Numbers 15:39. 21.

thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. One would not think there had been so much need as it seems there was to arm the people of Israel against the infection of the idolatrous customs of the Canaanites. Was it possible that a people so blessed with divine institutions should ever admit the brutish and barbarous inventions of men and devils? Were they in any danger of making those their tutors and directors in religion whom God had made their captives and tributaries? It seems they were in danger, and therefore, after many similar cautions, they are here charged not to do after the abominations of those nations, v. 9. I. Some particulars are specified; as, 1.

18:9-14 Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent evil, fortune-telling, &c. are here forbidden. These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out of the Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this kind in such a land, and day of light, as we live in. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers.

For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord,.... Not that do all these things, but whoever does any of them, as Jarchi notes; all such persons that use such unlawful methods, or any of them, to gain knowledge; and likewise all those that consult them, and make use of them; and especially it must be very abominable in the people of Israel to encourage such persons and practices, who had the knowledge of the true God, and him to consult on all occasions; had his law and testimony to attend unto as the rule of their conduct, and his prophets to advise with in matters of difficulty; see Isaiah 8:20 . and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee; as well as other sins mentioned in Leviticus 18:24 and, as before observed from Cicero, all nations have been addicted to the arts of divination here condemned.

Verse 12. - All who practiced such arts were an abomination unto the Lord , and his people are forbidden to have anything to do with them. They are connected here with the Moloch-worship, because of the intimate relation between idolatry and the use of magical arts; and Moloch-worship is specially mentioned, probably because it was the form of idolatry with which the Israelites were most likely to come in contact, both where they then were and also in Canaan; not, as Keil suggests, because that form "was more intimately connected with soothsaying and magic than any other description of idolatry" - an assertion for which there is no evidence. Deuteronomy 18:12

A charmer - i. e., one who fascinates and subdues noxious animals or men, such as the famous serpent-charmers of the East Psalm 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.

De 18:9-14. The Abominations of the Nations Are to Be Avoided. 9-14. thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations—(See on [152]Le 18:21; [153]Le 19:26; [154]Le 19:31; [155]Le 20:4). In spite of this express command, the people of Canaan, especially the Philistines, were a constant snare and stumbling block to the Israelites, on account of their divinations and superstitious practices.

Though he might have private property, that was to form no ground for withholding or even diminishing his claim to maintenance like the other ministering priests. The reason or principle of the enactment is obvious (1 Corinthians 9:13). At the same time, while every facility was afforded for the admission of such a zealous and self-denying officer, this admission was to be in an orderly manner: he was to minister "as all his brethren"—that is, a Gershonite with Gershonites; a Merarite with Merarites; so that there might be no derangement of the established courses. Deuteronomy 18:9-14. T HE A BOMINATIONS OF THE N ATIONS A RE TO B E A VOIDED. 9-14. thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations —(See on Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 19:26; Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:4). In spite of this express command, the people of Canaan, especially the Philistines, were a constant snare and stumbling block to the Israelites, on account of their divinations and superstitious practices. Deuteronomy 18:15-19. C HRIST THE P ROPHET I S TO B E H EARD. 15-19.