Familiar Spirit
Easton's Bible Dictionary [1]
Deuteronomy 18:11 2 Kings 21:6 2 Chronicles 33:6 Leviticus 19:31 20:6 Isaiah 8:19 29:4 'Ob Leviticus 20:27 1 Samuel 28:8 Acts 16:16
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
( אוֹב Ob, a leathern Bottle or water-skins, Job 32:19; hence, the conjurer, being regarded as the vessel containing the inspiring demon), a necromancer, or sorcerer who professes to call up the dead by means of incantations, to answer questions ( Deuteronomy 18:11; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; 1 Samuel 28:3; 1 Samuel 28:9; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3). Put also specially for the Python ( Acts 16:16) or divining-spirit, by the aid of which such jugglers were supposed to conjure ( Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:7-8), and for the Shade or departed spirit thus evoked ( Isaiah 29:4). (See Divination). The term is rendered by the Septuagint Ἐγγαστρίμυθος , "a ventriloquist," But is rather a wizard who asked counsel of his familiar, and gave the responses received from him to others — the name being applied in reference to the spirit or demon that animated the person, and inflated the belly so that it protuberated like the side of a bottle. Or it was applied to the magician, because he was supposed to be inflated by the spirit ( Δαιμονοληπτός ), like the ancient Εὐρυκλεῖς ( Εἰς Ἀλλοτρίας Γαστέρας Ἐνδύς , Ar. Vesp. 1017, malusa spirituns per verend t naturce excipiabat; Schosl. in Ar. Plut.). The ob of the Hebrews was thus precisely the same as the pytho of the Greeks (Plutarch, De def. Or. 414; Cicero De div. 1:19), and was used not only to designate the performer, but the spirit itself, Πνεῦμα Πύθωνος , which possessed him (see Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:8; also Acts 16:16). A more specific denomination of this last term was the necromancer (literally seeker of the dead, שׁאֵל אוֹב ; Deuteronomy 18:10; comp. דֹּרְשִׁין אֶל ), one who, by frequenting tombs, by inspecting corpses, or, more frequently, by help of the Ob , like the witch of Endor, pretended to evoke the dead, ad bring secrets from the invisible world ( Genesis 41:8; Exodus 7:11; Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Compare the אִטִּים Whisperers ("charmers"), of Isaiah 19:3. But Shuckford, who denies that the Jews in early ages believed in spirits, makes it mean "I consulters of lead idols" (Connect. 2:395). These ventriloquists "peeped and muttered" (compare Τρίζειν , Homer, Il. 23:101; "squeak and gibber," Shaksp. Jul. Caesar) from the earth to imitate the voice of the revealing 'familiar" ( Isaiah 29:4, etc.; 1 Samuel 28:8; Leviticus 20:27; compare Στερνόμαντις , Soph. Frag.). Of this class was the witch of Endor (Josephus, Ant. 6:14, 2), in whose case intended imposture may have been overruled into genuine necromancy ( Sirach 46:20). On this wide subject, see Chrysostom ad 1 Corinthians 12; Tera tullian, adv. Marc. 4:25; De Anima, page 57; Augustine, De doctr. Christ. § 33; Cicero, Tusc. Disp. 1:16, and the commentators on AEn. 6; Critici Sacri, 6:331; Le Moyne, Var. Sacr. page 993 sq.; Selden, De Diis Syr, 1:2; and, above all, Bottcher, De Inferis, pages 101-121, where the research displayed is marvellous. Those who sought inspiration, either from the dasmons or the spirits of the dead, haunted tombs and caverns ( Isaiah 65:4), and invited the unclean communications by voluntary fasts (Maimon. De Idol. 9:15; Lightfoot, Hor. Hebrews ad Matthew 10:1). That the supposed Ψυχομαντεῖα was often effected by ventriloquism and illusion is certain; for a specimen of this even in modern times, see the Life Of Benvenuto Cellini. (See Necromancer).
Closely connected with this form of divination are the two following:
(1.) חֶבֶר , Che'Ber, a Spell or enchantment, by means of a cabalistic arrangement of certain words and implements ( Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:12), spoken also of serpent-charming ( Psalms 58:6). (See Charming); (See Enchantment).
(2.) Sorcery (either Wizard, יוֹדֵעִ knowing one, Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3; 1 Samuel 28:9; spoken also of the imp or spirit of divination by which they were supposed to be attended, Leviticus 20:27; or some form of
כָּשִׁ Š , 'Kashaph', to act the Witch, literally by magic incantations, 2 Chronicles 23:6; Exodus 7:11; Deuteronomy 18:10; Daniel 2:2, etc.), which signifies practicing divination by means of the black art, with an implied collusion with evil spirits; applied usually to pretending to reveal secrets, to discover things lost, find hidden treasure, and interpret dreams. (See Wizard).
