We have made the subject of demonic interaction mystical. We have confused the words used in the text to make people who intentionally operate demons sound more powerful than they really are. We have stopped teaching the subject because we fear the unknown, yet there really isn’t anything for a spirit filled believer in Christ to fear. Once we understand what causes demons to torment people then we can stop it. Once we understand the demonic spiritual practices people use then we can stop them. The words omens, oracles, charms, divinations, enchantments, and drugs, are practices that people used to gain knowledge and information, albeit, limited, and many times incorrect knowledge. Today we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us so that there is no need to consult with demons. Demons were known as teraphim during the time of the old covenant. People made small statues of teraphim and used them for personal healing. While Moses gave the Israelites a stern warning, we see that his warning was not heeded. David and Nahum both give us insight regarding drugs and the things taking place in their time. Unfortunately, King Saul is a great example of what not to do. If we can learn and educate ourselves regarding these practices then we can rise up like Paul and overcome those who practice evil and possibly save our nation.
Saul’s first assignment after being anointed king was a failure. Samuel had to go back to see Saul and tell him that he did not do what Yahweh asked him to do.
1 Samuel 15:22 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said, G* G1487 Does G2308.2 [3want G3588 1the G2962 2 lord] G3646 whole burnt-offerings G2532 and G2378 sacrifices, G5613 as compared G3588 G191 to hearing G3588 the G5456 voice G2962 of the lord, no . G2400 Behold, G189 hearkening G5228 is better than G2378 sacrifice, G2532 and G3588 G1874.1 heeding G5228 over G4720.1 the fat G2919.1 of rams.
The next sentence is mistranslated from the Masoretic Text. They seem to be trying to hide knowledge.
1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Instead, Samuel is saying that sin is a foreshadow of demons.
1 Samuel 15:23 G3754 For G266 sin G3634.4 is as an omen, G1510.2.3 G3601 [3grief G2532 4and G4192 5miseries G2324.1 1teraphim G1863 2bring upon]. G3754 Because G1847 you treated with contempt G3588 the G4487 word G2962 of the lord, G2532 even G1847 [2treats you with contempt G2962 G2962 1 the lord] G3361 to not G1510.1 be G935 king G1909 over G* Israel.
The word οιώνισμά is omenism. An omen is a sign, a forewarning, or foreshadowing of something that will happen in the future. We will see a variant of this word used later as “omenizing drugs”.
The word θεραφίν translates oddly as “therapy” however it means teraphim. A teraphim is a household demon that was an attendant to humans for healing. People had three or more of these teraphim as noted by the “im” in Hebrew. In that way we see the oddity of therapy, the demon preforms therapy on the human. In other words, people called on demons for healing.
Sin is an omenism teraphim. Sin is a forewarning of demons that will bring grief and miseries. This is what Samuel is saying to Saul, and as we know, Saul was plagued by demons. So when one treats the rhēma of Yahweh with contempt, that sin is a sign of demons that cause grief and miseries. Why would someone want to alter this text? Isn’t it a good idea that we understand that sin brings teraphim, or demons, who in turn bring us miseries?
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/11/sex-cults-sacred-groves-ephods-teraphim.html
This idea of an omen is that it is a sign for good or bad. Before Joseph told his brothers who he was, he packed their bags up, planting a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. When confronted by Joseph’s men, they said to his brothers that the cup is the cup that their master drinks from and it foreshadows signs.
Genesis 44:5 G3756 [2not G3778 1Is this] G1510.2.3 G1722 in which G3739 G4095 [2drinks G3588 G2962 1my master]? G1473 G1473 And he G1161 G3634.5 [2an omen G3634.3 1foretells] G1722 by G1473 it? G4190 [2 the wicked things G4931 1You completed] G3739 which G4160 you have done.
Genesis 44:15 G2036 [3said G1161 1And G1473 4to them G* 2Joseph], G5100 What is G3588 G4229 this G3778 G4160 you did? G3756 Did you not G1492 know G3754 that G3634.5 [5an omen G3634.3 4shall foretell G3588 G444 1a man G3634 2such as G1473 3I]?
Joseph says that he is a forewarner of signs. His brothers didn’t know that he was Joseph, their brother. They might have thought that he was some spiritualist Egyptian. However, Joseph knew that Yahweh spoke to him and showed him things to come.
On the Christian side of omenisms, sometimes we know something will happen ahead of time. Sometimes we hear the Lord tell us that something specific is going to happen. Sometimes we dream dreams foretelling a future event. These are omens, or foreshadows of the future. Sometimes we call a “knowing” deja-vu, meaning something that we have seen before. These omens could be good or evil things that will happen. From a Christian perspective, we understand it as revelation. However we don’t need a silver cup or anything else to aid us in receiving knowledge from the Lord.
As we will study shortly Moses warned the Israelites not to practice omens and divinations. Yet by the time of the captivity in Judah, people who called themselves prophets speaking for Yahweh, were false prophets. They had become omenists and diviners with lying visions.
The time period is after the first two exiles, and before the last exile into Babylon. Jeremiah is told by Yahweh that he, Yahweh, will not listen to Judah any longer. Jeremiah then says to Yahweh that the prophets were prophesying that there would not be a war or famine, but that there would be peace. Yahweh says that the prophets are not prophets.
Jeremiah 14:14 G2532 And G2036 the lord said G2962 G4314 to G1473 me, G5571 [4lies G3588 1the G4396 2prophets G4395 3prophesy] G1909 in G3588 G3686 my name. G1473 G3756 I did not G649 send G1473 them, G2532 and G3756 I did not G1781 give charge G1473 to them, G2532 and G3756 I did not G2980 speak G4314 to G1473 them. G3754 For G3706 [2visions G5571 1lying], G2532 and G3131.1 divinations, G2532 and G3634.4 omens, G2532 and G4254.1 the resolves G2588 of their own heart G1473 G1473 they G4395 prophesy G1473 to you.
Yahweh says that he did not send these prophets, therefore they have lying visions. We see prophets that do this today, they prophesy out of their own hopes in their own heart. Divinations, μαντείας, means seeking knowledge of the future. The omens and divinations that they are seeking are pretend foreshadowings, coming from demons, and not from Yahweh.
Jeremiah 14:15 G1223 On account of G3778 this, G3592 thus G3004 says G2962 the lord, G4012 concerning G3588 the G4396 prophets, G3588 of the ones G4395 prophesying G1909 [2in G3588 G3686 3my name G1473 G5571 1lies], G2532 and G1473 I G3756 did not G649 send G1473 them, G3739 who G3004 say, G3162 Sword G2532 and G3042 famine G3756 will not be G1510.8.3 G1909 upon G3588 G1093 this land. G3778 G1722 By G2288 [2death G3551.2 1a diseased] G599 [3shall die G2532 4and G1722 5by G3042 6hunger G4931 7they shall be finished off entirely G3588 1the G4396 2prophets],
Yahweh pronounces a judgment on the false prophets. They will have a diseased death and they will die hungry. If people took the judgment of Yahweh seriously then we would see less prophets. As we know, many prophesy in the name of Jesus, but they will stand outside knocking and not entering the kingdom. Why? Because they prophesy from the resolves of their own heart.
Now after the captivity of the third group into Babylon there were some people who would not submit to their new nation. Yahweh then says that those people would be visited by Yahweh with a sword, pestilence, and famine.
Jeremiah 27:8 G2532 And G3588 the G1484 nation, G2532 and G3588 the G932 kingdom, G3745 as many G302 as G3361 should not serve G1398 G* Nebuchadnezzar G935 king G3588 G* of Babylon, G2532 and G3745 as many G302 as G3361 should not put G1685 G3588 G5137 their neck G1473 G5259 under G3588 the G2218 yoke G935 of the king G* of Babylon, G1722 by G3162 the sword, G2532 and G1722 by G3061 pestilence, G2532 and G1722 by G3042 famine G1980 I shall visit G1473 them, G2036 said G2962 the lord, G2193 until G1587 they should falter G1722 by G5495 his hand.
This would seem odd if we think that Babylon took over Judah on their own. Instead, Yahweh rose Babylon up because of Judah’s sin. The false prophets are still falsely prophesying.
Jeremiah 27:9 G2532 And G1473 you, G3361 hearken not to G191 G3588 G5578 your false prophets! G1473 G2532 and G3588 of the ones G3132 using oracles G1473 for you, G2532 and G3588 of the ones G1797 dreaming G1473 to you, G2532 and G3588 of the ones G3634.4 of your omens, G1473 G2532 and G3588 of the ones G5333 of your administers of potions, G1473 G3004 saying, G3766.2 In no way G2038 should you work G3588 for the G935 king G* of Babylon.
The word oracle is the word for “guessing”. The false prophets use guesses, dreams, omenisms, pharmacy or drugs, with manipulative thinking. We will look at the word pharmakos shortly. These false prophets are telling people not to work for Babylon.
Jeremiah 27:10 G3754 For G5571 [3a lie G1473 1they G4395 2prophesy] G1473 to you, G4314 to G3588 G3118.2 distance G1473 you G575 from G3588 G1093 your land, G1473 G2532 and G2443 that G1544 I should cast you out, G1473 G2532 and G622 you shall perish.
The false prophets are using all kinds of different things to manipulate people, but Yahweh wants them to submit to Nebuchadnezzar. It sounds odd, but we also have to remember what Ezekiel told us. The angels came and marked people who mourned for the sins of Judah and the temple. Those people were spared by going into captivity. Now Yahweh wants the people to submit to Babylon’s rule and law so that they may be spared after the seventy years. Think about it. There was a generation of people who would not go back to Israel, but their children and grandchildren would go back to Israel under Cyrus’ rule. If all the people rebelled against Babylon then there wouldn’t be anyone to go back to Judah. Babylon would have crushed their rebellion. Yahweh knows the end from the beginning.
Years before Judah’s captivity, Isaiah prophesies over Babylon. Remember Babylon was going to be used to protect a remnant of Israelites. However Babylon would not escape punishment for her pridefulness which happened at the end of Israel’s captivity.
Isa 47:4 Thy deliverer is the Lord of hosts, the Holy One of Israel is his name.
Isa 47:5 Sit thou down pierced with woe, go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: thou shalt no more be called the strength of a kingdom.
Isa 47:6 I have been provoked with my people; thou hast defiled mine inheritance: I gave them into thy hand, but thou didst not extend mercy to them: thou madest the yoke of the aged man very heavy,
Isa 47:7 and saidst, I shall be a princess for ever: thou didst not perceive these things in thine heart, nor didst thou remember the latter end.
Isa 47:8 But now hear these words, thou luxurious one, who art the one that sits at ease, that is secure, that says in her heart, I am, and there is not another; I shall not sit a widow, neither shall I know bereavement.
From the time period after Nimrod to this time of Isaiah, Babylon was not always her own nation. Babylon went in and out if its own captivity. Even though Yahweh would use Babylon for his purposes, Babylon would go into her own captivity again. After capturing the last group of Israelites, Babylon rose up in her own pride. Acting as if she did this by her own strength.
Isaiah 47:9 G3568 But now G1161 G2240 [2shall come G1909 3upon G1473 4you G3588 G1417 1these two things] G3778 G1810 suddenly G1722 in G2250 [2day G1520 1one]; G814.3 childlessness G2532 and G5503.1 widowhood G2240 shall come G1810 suddenly G1909 upon G1473 you G1722 in G3588 G5331 your sorcery, G1473 G1722 in G3588 the G2479 strength G3588 G1883.2 of your enchantments -- G1473 G4970 exceedingly.
Two things would come upon Babylon, childlessness and widowhood. These two things pretty much end the nation. Why did this happen? Because Babylon became more prolific in sorcery, drugs, potions, spells, and enchantments. Enchantments are magic spells which include conjuring, necromancy, hypnotism, black arts voodoo, and the like. Yahweh says that they had vehement enchantments, σφόδρα επαοιδών. A vehement or violent enchantment is the use of demons to charm, or manipulate, or harm someone else.
The word επαοιδών translated enchantments is the idea of over (epi) ideas (ιδών), meaning someone is putting thoughts and ideas over someone else. This is the use of a demon to come over another person for the enchanters’ purposes. Like hypnotism the person comes under the control of a demon. It is a spell. Unlike teraphims which people wanted for help, these demons were not usually welcomed by the individual. Instead these demons were conjured to influence another person.
The idea here is that the Babylonians became good at drug induced manipulations and demonic conjuring, and they used this power of vehement or violent enchantments for their own benefit. Demons were being used by the Babylonians’ own incantations. They believed that they had a great spiritual power. Yahweh continues.
Isa 47:10 for thy trusting in wickedness: for thou saidst, I am, and there is not another: know thou, the understanding of these things and thy harlotry shall be thy shame; for thou saidst in thy heart, I am, and there is not another.
Isa 47:11 And destruction shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not be aware; there shall be a pit, and thou shalt fall into it: and grief shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not be able to be clear; and destruction shall come suddenly upon thee, and thou shalt not know.
Isaiah 47:12 G2476 Stand G3568 now! G1722 with G3588 G1883.2 your enchantments, G1473 G2532 and G1722 in G3588 the G4183 abundance G5331 of your sorcery! G1473 G3739 which G3129 you learned G1537 from G3503 your youth -- G1473 G1487 if G1410 you shall be able G5623 to derive benefit.
Yahweh says ‘stand in your wizardry, an in your many magic manipulations’. Babylon was being called out to use their incantations of demons and their potions and spells to fight against Yahweh. They can’t stand against Yahweh. Yahweh then says to let the astrologers tell you what is going to come upon you. It is somewhat funny that Yahweh foretold Babylon’s end before they took Judah captive. Babylon was learning how to overcome nations with sorcery and drugs. Around this time another nation was doing the same things as well, and we will see shortly how Nineveh was called out by Nahum.
The word used for sorcery is pharmakeia, which is where we get our modern English words for pharmacy, pharmacist, or pharmaceuticals. In other words, drugs are sorcery. We have to have perspective here. Aspirin is not evil, opium is. Antacids are not evil, LSD is.
5331 LSJ Gloss:φαρμακεία the use of drugs, potions, spells
Dodson:φαρμακεία magic, sorcery, enchantment.
TBESG:φαρμακεία sorcery
G:N-F
φαρμακία (Rec. -εία), -ας, ἡ
(< φαρμακεύω, to administer drugs)
poët. and late prose form of φαρμακεία,
[in LXX:
__1. generally, the use of medicine, drugs or spells (Xen.).
__2. (a) poisoning (Plut., Polyb.);
__(b) sorcery, witchcraft: Gal.5:20 (see Lft., in l), Rev.9:21 (WH, txt., φαρμάκων) Rev.18:23 (cf. LXX, ll. with).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) the use or the administering of drugs
2) poisoning
3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4) metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
φαρμακεία
pharmakeia far-mak-i'-ah From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) KJV Usage: sorcery, witchcraft.
5332LSJ Gloss:φαρμακεύς a poisoner, sorcerer
TBESG:φαρμακεύς sorcerer
G:N-M
φαρμακεύς, -έως, ὁ
(< φάρμακον)
a sorcerer: Rev.21:8, Rec.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) one who prepares or uses magical remedies
2) sorcerer
φαρμακεύς
pharmakeus far-mak-yoos' From φάρμακον pharmakon (a drug, that is, spell giving potion); a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician KJV Usage: sorcerer.
5333 Dodson:φάρμακος a magician, sorcerer.
TBESG:φάρμακος sorcerer
G:N-M/N
φαρμακός, -ή, -όν
[in LXX for כָּשַׁף, etc. ;]
devoted to magical arts. As subst., ὁ φ. = φαρμακεύς, a magician, sorcerer:
(AS)
Thayer:
1) pertaining to magical arts
φαρμακός
pharmakos far-mak-os' The same as KJV Usage: sorcerer.
When we look at this subject of pharmaceuticals, we have to remember that Noah was given the information that humanity would need after the flood due to the demonic abuse of humans. Noah had a book of herbs to help people with their sickness and illnesses. If we lived in a perfect world we might not need any medications, but unfortunately we live in an imperfect world in which Satanas is the god of this world. We live in a world of death and decay from the day we are born. One day however, Jesus Christ will rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Moses spoke a lot about the Egyptians use of sorceries, pharmakeus. He was trying to keep Israel from using manipulative drugs. David mentions pharmakos (the sorcerer) and the pharmakeus (drugs).
Psalms 58:3 G526 [2were separated G3588 G268 1Sinners] G575 from G3388 the womb; G4105 they wander G575 from G1064 the belly; G2980 they spoke G5571 lies.
4 G2372 Rage G1473 to them G2596 is according to G3588 the G3669 likeness G3588 of the G3789 serpent; G5616 as G785 [2asp G2974 1a mute] G2532 even G1040.1 plugging G3588 G3775 her ears, G1473
5 G3748 who G3756 does not G1522 listen to G5456 the sound G1864.1 [2charming G5333 1of the sorcerer], G5037 and the G5332.1 administering of potions G3844 by G4680 a wise man .
The sinner is a liar that is like a mute asp who refuses to hear the charming of the sorcerer and does not take the drugs of a wise man. In other words, the way that snakes are charmed is by drugs. The drugs seduce them into being charmed by a pharmakos. What David is saying is that instead of a drugged snake that is happy to be charmed by the snake charmer, these sinners rage like the serpent, Drakōn. They are boiling up with wrath. This Psalm is “into the fulfillment” or for the end of the age. It was inscribed on a monument. It is something for us to understand as we are close to the fulfillment of the age. The progeny of asps are not docile, they are passionately and fiercely angry. What this shows us is that in the last days evil lawless people are not on drugs, they are not manipulated by drugs and therefore they are filled with wrath.
There are people who charm snakes in our day but we never are told about the drugs that make the snake docile and attracted to the music and movement of the pungi. If we knew what type of drugs were being used to tame the snake then we would not be surprised at the snakes behavior.
There is an interesting key in Nahum. We see the same tactics used today by nations that want to conquer other nations. Nahum is prophesying the destruction of Nineveh around one hundred years after Jonah got the nation to repent.
Nah 3:1 O city of blood, wholly false, full of unrighteousness; the prey shall not be handled.
Nah 3:2 The noise of whips, and the noise of the rumbling of wheels, and of the pursuing horse, and of the bounding chariot,
Nahum 3:3 G2460 horseman G305 ascending, G2532 and G4744 of the shining G4501 broadsword, G2532 and G1823 flashing G3696 shields; G2532 and G4128 the multitude G5134.1 of slain, G2532 and G926 of a heavy G4431 downfall; G2532 and G3756 there was no G1510.7.3 G4009 limit G3588 to G1484 her nations, G1473 G2532 and G770 they shall be weak G1722 in G3588 G4983 their bodies G1473 G575 from G4128 a multitude G4202 of harlotry;
The word harlotry is porneia, which includes adultery, incest, fornication, and Idolatry.
Nahum 3:4 G4204 [2harlot G2570 1a good], G2532 and G2020.2 gratifying, G2233 taking the lead G5332.2 in potions; G3588 the one G4453 selling G1484 nations G1722 in G3588 G4202 her harlotry, G1473 G2532 and G5443 tribes G1722 with G3588 G5332.2 her potions. G1473
Nahum says a “beautiful pornē, prostitute, and happy leading the way with drugs the bartering nations in her harlotry porneia, and kindred tribes in her medicines.”
Nineveh had become a nation that was trading in drugs and harlotry to overtake other nations. In our modern times, nations promote a drug trade to soften another nation that they want to take over. Hong Kong was a great example of this type of take over by the British, it was known as the “opium wars”. Today, many people profit in the drug trades while the population become addicted. The second part of their import business is the inordinate sexual practices. In modern times, the import of 700 genders and the acceptance of pedophilia is leading people to chaos, which is the perfect plan coming from any nation that wants to dominate another. Simply stated, we are all either XX or XY, there are no other combinations of chromosomes. There is no YY or XYZ. The way in which one chooses to live is separate matter. But if an enemy sows confusion into a nation, it can be overcome more easily. Yahweh however has an opinion about this sex and drug business.
Nah 3:5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord God Almighty, and I will uncover thy skirts in thy presence, and I will shew the nations thy shame, and the kingdoms thy disgrace.
Any kingdom that wishes to upend Yahweh’s favored nations will have all their behinds’ exposed to all the other nations. All the other nations will see the shame of their rear-end and their kingdom will be disgraced. Yahweh goes on to say that they will become an example and hated by all other nations.
We have to be aware that there is a drug trade that is not simply about people enjoying themselves, but instead is a practice used to overtake nations. The people who push drugs are called sorcerers or administers of drugs. Yahweh would not allow this to continue. In one hundred years Nineveh went from repentant and blessed to cursed. The devil knows human weakness. He knows how to make humans apathetic and how to pacify them. If we brought this practice of using sex and drugs to overtake nations to light then we would view the things happening in our society differently and we would take a stronger stand against it.
Moses used some very strong words to tell Israel that they were not to practice these fortune telling behaviors in the new land that Yahweh Elohim was going to give them.
Deuteronomy 18:10 G3756 There shall not G2147 be found G1722 in G1473 you G4026.1 one purging G3588 G5207 his son G1473 G2228 or G3588 G2364 his daughter G1473 G1722 in G4442 fire, G3132 or one using oracles G3131.1 for divination, G2813.1 or one prognosticating G2532 and G3634.3 foretelling, G5333 an administer of potions,…
“Not find in you pericarious (peri near or around, carious decay) your sons or your daughters in fire, guessing, inherited divination, and omenizing drugs…”
The idea of pericarioius (not precarious) is “near decay”, or causing a child to have a black burnt mark. If one puts their child into the fire it will burn a hole on their skin at the very least, or at the worst it will consume them into decay and ash. Even today there are Jewish hospitals that pass a newborn baby over a candle flame to ward off evil spirits. Even though Moses said not to do this it is still practiced in modern times.
Oracles are guessers, they guess about things, like soothsaying. When information does not come from Yahweh, it is simply guessing. Demons guess too.
The words oracles, divination, and prognosticating all generally mean the same thing, either foretelling or fortunetelling. Oracles are guessing, divination is seeking knowledge which then infers using demons. Prognosticating may not be correct, as the words for divination and prognosticating are untranslated in the LXXWH. Inherited divination is the passing down of demons, familiar spirits. The spirits cause the diviner to yell out or shake, κληδονιζόμενος. It truly means that the person goes into a “trance” to give information from a demon. That demon came from another family member.
Omenizing drugs, is the idea of using drugs as a pathway to foretell the future. The sentence here should not have concluded with omenizing, starting verse 11 with drugs. The two words go together. This type of fortune telling is simply pharmakos, a sorcerer with drugs who foreshadows.
So far, Moses says not to burn your children in fire. Do not guess the future. Do not use familiar spirits to tell the future. Do not use drugs to tell the future. Moses gets even more detailed.
Deuteronomy 18:11 ...G1864.1 one charming G1883.2 an enchantment, G1447.1 one who delivers oracles, G2532 and G5059.1 an observer of signs G1905 asking G3588 of the G3498 dead.
“…charmer, enchanter, ventriloquist, and teratoscopy, questions their dead”
The word επαειδων is a charmer, someone who is a manipulator. The word επαοιδην means “using enchantments or above ideas”. It is someone who is sending out demons to influence another person’s thoughts as we noted earlier.
The word εγγαστριμυθος translates as ventriloquist, meaning demons speaking from out of someone. Today we think of this as someone who can throw their voice and not move their lips while making people think a puppet is speaking. But Moses means to not let demons speak through you. We will look at an example shortly of a ventriloquist letting a departed being speak.
The word teratoscope, teratoscopy, or teratoscopic is fortunetelling with monsters. The ides here is that someone is consulting either the spirits of the rephaim or other bound spirits of the fallen watchers. Specifically this is demonic entities which came about by the Nephilim.
The one questioning the dead is a necromancer. Why would someone want to talk to dead people? This is prohibited. These are all different aspects of evil people using demons for fortunetelling in different ways.
Moses says that there is to be no burning of children in the fire. Do not be a guesser of the future. Do not use familiar spirits to tell the future. Do not use drugs to tell the future. Do not be a charmer or manipulator. Do not be an enchanter, sending out demons to others. Do not be a ventriloquist or someone who lets demons speak through your body. Do not be a teratoscopy, speaking to demonic rephaim monsters. Do not be a necromancer and talk to the dead.
Deu 18:12 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.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 18:14 G3588 G1063 For G1484 these nations G3778 G3739 which G1473 you G2624.1 inherit G1473 them, G3778 these G2813.2 [2prognostications G2532 3and G3131.1 4divinations G191 1shall hear]; G1473 but to you G1161 G3756 [3did not G3779 4so G1325 5give G2962 1 the lord G3588 G2316 2your God]. G1473
These inherited diviners or familiar spirits that give knowledge were used by the Canaanites. The Canaanites were using these inherited demons to foretell their future, overcome enemies, and practice other abominations. Israel was not to do this.
As we saw earlier, Samuel said that sin is an omenism of teraphim that cause grief and misery. Saul became more miserable as time went on. By this time Samuel had died and Saul was lost without Yahweh.
1Sa 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
1 Samuel 28:3… G2532 And G* Saul G4014 removed G3588 the G1447.1 ones who deliver oracles, G2532 and G3588 the G1109 diviners G575 from G3588 the G1093 land.
Saul got rid of all the ventriloquists and all the “knowers” or those seeking after demonic knowledge. Didn’t Moses say that there weren’t supposed to be any of these people among the Israelites? Well they obviously were among the people.
1Sa 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
1Sa 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
1Sa 28:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
1Sa 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Since Yahweh wouldn’t speak to Saul, Saul called for a ventriloquist. Saul’s servants told him that there was a ventriloquist in Endor.
1Sa 28:8 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.
1 Samuel 28:8 G2532 And G241.2 Saul changed appearance, G* G2532 and G4016 put around G2440 [2garments G2087 1other], G2532 and G4198 he himself goes G1473 G2532 and G1417 two G435 men G3326 with G1473 him. G2532 And G2064 they come G4314 to G3588 the G1135 woman G3571 by night, G2532 and G2036 he said G1473 to her, G3132 Use oracles G1211 indeed G1473 for me G1722 by G3588 the G1447.1 delivering an oracle, G2532 and G321 lead up G1473 to me G3739 whom G302 ever G2036 I should tell G1473 you!
Saul says to divine by ventriloquism and bring up who I tell you to. He was not asking for a puppet show, he was asking her to use her body to allow a spirit to speak through her. She is going to be a ventriloquist necromancer for Saul.
1Sa 28:9 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?
She obviously is not a very good medium as she did not even discern that it was Saul the king. She says that Saul destroyed all the ventriloquists and knowers.
1Sa 28:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Saul invokes Yahweh’s name. This seems like a funny thing to do since Yahweh has been very clear about not doing these things in Israel. What is even more odd is that she trusts this stranger.
1Sa 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
1Sa 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
As soon as she sees Samuel she knows the man in front of her is Saul.
1Sa 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
1Sa 28:14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
She sees Elohim coming out of the earth. Apparently this lady had never really called anyone out of the earth before, she seems more surprised than anything. She describes Samuel and Saul bows. Now notice the ventriloquism, Samuel speaks to Saul.
1Sa 28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Samuel says in essence, ‘why are you annoying me’? At this point the women is allowing Samuel to speak through her.
1Sa 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
1Sa 28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
1Sa 28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
Remember what we read in 1Samuel 15? We read how Saul lied to Samuel and blamed the people. Samuel said that Yahweh was going to give the kingdom to David.
1Sa 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Maybe it was a bad idea to ask for guidance from a ventriloquist. It seems that Saul would have been better off not asking for advice.
1Sa 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
What did Samuel tell Saul in chapter 15? He said that sin is a foreshadow of demons. Sin is an omenism of teraphim which bring grief and miseries. Sin foretells demons coming into our lives. If Saul had listened to Samuel in the beginning then he would not have been looking for an oracle or a ventriloquist to give him advice. After Saul lied to Yahweh, an evil spirt came upon him.
1 Samuel 16:14 G2532 And G4151 spirit G2962 of the lord G868 left G575 from G* Saul, G2532 and G4155 [5smothered G1473 6him G4151 2spirit G4190 1a ferocious G3844 3from G2962 4 the lord].
A wicked spirit from Yahweh choked Saul after the Spirit of Yahweh left him. This is due to Saul’s sin of contempt for the rhēma of the Lord. We see that the evil spirit can be tamed with music and David plays music for Saul. Sadly, Saul’s life was a disgrace because of his own sin.
There is very little mystery regarding these practices. We can understand plainly that there are some people who choose to use demons to attain knowledge of the future, but demons are not all-knowing, nor do they know any more than what we know from our Bible. Sin brings omenizing teraphim. This is not a surprise. This is why there were stern warnings from Moses regarding these practices. However, we can see that the nation fell into all of these forbidden practices for its entire existence across the years. By the time that the kingdom went into captivity the soothsayers were called “prophets”, but Yahweh calls them “lying prophets”. Today, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we don’t need to consult a human to ask demons questions, we have what we need in the Holy Spirit. Nahum wrote about the way that Nineveh was overcoming other nations, with harlotry and drugs. This should change the way that we pray for our nation. We should open up this discussion in the church and send out the warning. It can be easy to cast a spell on an entire nation when the church does not teach these subjects in the Bible.
