WITCHCRAFT IN THE BIBLE
Topic: Witchcraft

Witchcraft is a very debated word, particularly today.  Anthropologically speaking, it refers to an individual who practices a spirituality converse to accepted religious behavior in a given society.  Examples of this surely exist in the Bible.  Here are some terms and references to help you in your study.

Witch Occurs only in Exo 22:18, as the rendering of mekhashshepheh, the feminine form of the word, meaning "enchantress" (R.V., "sorceress"), and in Deu 18:10, as the rendering of mekhashshepheth, the masculine form of the word, meaning "enchanter."

 Witchcraft (Sa1 15:23; Kg2 9:22; Ch2 33:6; Mic 5:12; Nah 3:4; Gal 5:20). In the popular sense of the word no mention is made either of witches or of witchcraft in Scripture. The "witch of En-dor" (1 Sam. 28) was a necromancer, i.e., one who feigned to hold converse with the dead. The damsel with "a spirit of divination" (Act 16:16) was possessed by an evil spirit, or, as the words are literally rendered, "having a spirit, a pithon." The reference is to the heathen god Apollo, who was regarded as the god of prophecy.

Divination Of false prophets (Deu 18:10, Deu 18:14; Mic 3:6, Mic 3:7, Mic 3:11), of necromancers (Sa1 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (Sa1 6:2), of Balaam (Jos 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Eze 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations (Isa 8:19; Kg2 21:6; Ch2 33:6). This superstition widely spread, and in the time of the apostles there were "vagabond Jews, exorcists" (Act 19:13), and men like Simon Magus (Act 8:9), Bar-jesus (Act 13:6, Act 13:8), and other jugglers and impostors (Act 19:19; Ti2 3:13). Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses (Exo 22:18; Lev 19:26, Lev 19:31; Lev 20:27; Deu 18:10, Deu 18:11). But beyond these various forms of superstition, there are instances of divination on record in the Scriptures by which God was pleased to make known his will. (1.) There was divination by lot, by which, when resorted to in matters of moment, and with solemnity, God intimated his will (Jos 7:13). The land of Canaan was divided by lot (Num 26:55, Num 26:56); Achan's guilt was detected (Jos 7:16), Saul was elected king (Sa1 10:20, Sa1 10:21), and Matthias chosen to the apostleship, by the solemn lot (Act 1:26). It was thus also that the scape-goat was determined (Lev 16:8). (2.) There was divination by dreams (Gen 20:6; Deu 13:1, Deu 13:3; Jdg 7:13, Jdg 7:15; Mat 1:20; Mat 2:12, Mat 2:13, Mat 2:19, Mat 2:22). This is illustrated in the history of Joseph (Gen 41:25) and of Daniel (Dan 2:27; Dan 4:19). (3.) By divine appointment there was also divination by the Urim and Thummim (Num 27:21), and by the ephod. (4.) God was pleased sometimes to vouchsafe direct vocal communications to men (Deu 34:10; Exo 3:4; Exo 4:3; Deu 4:14, Deu 4:15; Kg1 19:12). He also communed with men from above the mercy-seat (Exo 25:22), and at the door of the tabernacle (Exo 29:42, Exo 29:43). (5.) Through his prophets God revealed himself, and gave intimations of his will (Kg2 13:17; Jer 51:63, Jer 51:64).

Necromancer (Deu 15:11), i.e., "one who interrogates the dead," as the word literally means, with the view of discovering the secrets of futurity (Compare Sa1 28:7). 

Sorcerer From the Latin sortiarius , one who casts lots, or one who tells the lot of others. In Dan 2:2 it is the rendering of the Hebrew mekhashphim, i.e., mutterers, men who professed to have power with evil spirits. The practice of sorcery exposed to severest punishment (Mal 3:5; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15).  

GOLIATH'S GATH--MORE INFO
Topic: Cities

More information on the excavation of the hometown of Goliath, the city of Gath. 

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/11/in-israel-archaeologists-unearth-bibles-bad-guys/

MAN BUILDS NOAH'S ARK
Topic: Antediluvian

A Dutch man recently built a life-size, functional duplicate of Noah's Ark, based on the instructions in Genesis.   The building of technologies from ancient or pre-literate peoples is referred to as ethnoarchaeology by anthropologists.  This is truly a feat of interest to biblical anthropology.  Read the story at the link below::

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110622/od_yblog_upshot/two-by-two-a-real-life-noahs-ark

GIANTS AND GEOPOLITICS
Topic: Giants

The historical age obviously produced a second generation of giants, whatever that mechanism was.  It is interesting that the giants had a very keen sense of geopolitics and their relation to the coming messiah.  Though one may find them scattered all over the globe, nestled in myth and lore and occassionally in the archaeological record, they were clustered in the ancient Levant.  They positioned themselves carefully, and either subjogated or alligned with peoples of the region.  Why?  Their primary mission was to thwart God's plan and corrupt humanity, and they had no way of knowing when messiah would come, only that God would redeem mankind through the Jews.  Accordingly, they situated themselves in the greatest numbers in the ancient Near East.

In Matthew 24:37, Jesus tells us that the conditions of his return will mirror those of Noah's day. That includes the Nephilim--the giants. If their acumen for geopolitics was astute in the past, should we expect anything different at the return of the Son of Man? The simple answer is "No."  The Nephilim will return. Be watchful.

Raiders of the Lost Cross
Topic: Jesus

Well folks, he's at it again.  Everyone's favorite "Naked Archaeologist" (who isn't an archaeologist at all, but a film maker) Simcha Jacabovici has claimed to have found the nails used in Jesus' crucifixion.  According to Jacobovici, an excavation recovered the nails from a tomb containing ossuaries.  On the surface of one was inscribed the name "Joseph, son of Caiaphas," a recognizable name to Students of the Bible.  He was the Jewish high priest designated by the Romans and master-mind behind the plot to kill Jesus.  The discovery of the tomb in question is not news to the academic community, as the find was actually uncovered in 1990.  The tomb itself is austere, and hardly seems fitting for a high priest.  Enter Jacobovici with the smoking gun....well, not even smoking....and really no gun either.  The film debuts April 20th, when we can all decide for ourselves, but I am reserving judgment and am somewhat dubious about the claim.  An interest in the past and a camera do not an archaeologist make.  Be cautious folks.

 Here's the story:

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_8307.shtml

 

70 Lead Codices date to first century AD
Topic: Early Christianity

By now, most of you have probably heard of the amazing dscovery of 70 lead codices found in Jordan dating from the first century AD.  The provenience of the codices appears to be a cave in eastern Jordan.  These texts may tell us much about the earliest Christian communities, as they appear to be related to the Jewish Christians who fled the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.  Time will tell whether they are hoxe are not, which is--unfortunately--a very real problem in antiquities.  Read the story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110330/ts_yblog_thelookout/could-lead-codices-prove-the-major-discovery-of-christian-history

As a church historian myself, I'm reserving judgment until I've seen more analysis.  I'm hopeful, but cautious.

Documentary and News
Topic: Giants

The Beyond newsletters continue to pour out with lots of juicy information about the history and nature of Biblical giants, and of what significance they are.  Thank you to those of you who have been reading faithfully.  I've gotten some good feedback--keep it coming.

On a related front, I recently viewed an incredible documentary on the giant Goliath.  It is entitled Footsteps of Goliath and I higly recommend it.  Now, let me qualify this recommendation with the following caveat:  I agree with MUCH of the conclusions on this very compelling documentary, but not ALL.  At any rate, I am sure you will find it fascinating and intriguing.  Click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dHwP-KxFVw

 ***The book sale continues as well.  Be sure to get a copy of Interview with the Giant at the discounted price of only $13.40.  Offer ends soon!  Click below to purchase:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/interview-with-the-giant/5943477

 In light of the fact that much of the documentary deals with Philistine territory, here is some background on one of the key cities, Goliath's hometown of Gath.

Gath A wine-vat one of the five royal cities of the Philistines (Jos 13:3) on which the ark brought calamity (Sa1 5:8, Sa1 5:9; Sa1 6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath (Sa1 17:4). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath (Sa1 21:10; Sa1 27:2; Psa 56:1), and his connection with it will account for the words in Sa2 1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David (Sa2 8:1). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia (Sa1 21:10; Ch1 18:1). Its site has been identified with the hill called Tell es Safieh, the Alba Specula of the Middle Ages, which rises 695 feet above the plain on its east edge. It is noticed on monuments about 1500 B.C..

HEBRON
Topic: Cities
Hebron A community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen 13:18; Num 13:22). It still exists under the same name, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Its earlier name was Kirjath-arba (Gen 23:2; Jos 14:15; Jos 15:3). But "Hebron would appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was not till after Abraham's stay there that it received the name Kirjath-arba, who [i.e., Arba] was not the founder but the conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the Anakim, to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). The name of this city does not occur in any of the prophets or in the New Testament. It is found about forty times in the Old. It was the favourite home of Abraham. Here he pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, by which name it came afterwards to be known; and here Sarah died, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 23:17), which he bought from Ephron the Hittite. From this place the patriarch departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (Gen 37:14; Gen 46:1). It was taken by Joshua and given to Caleb (Jos 10:36, Jos 10:37; Jos 12:10; Jos 14:13). It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (Jos 20:7; Jos 21:11). When David became king of Judah this was his royal residence, and he resided here for seven and a half years (Sa2 5:5); and here he was anointed as king over all Israel (Sa2 2:1, Sa2 2:11; Kg1 2:11). It became the residence also of the rebellious Absalom (Sa2 15:10), who probably expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called el-Khulil. In one part of the modern city is a great mosque, which is built over the grave of Machpelah. The first European who was permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862. It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia) in 1869. One of the largest oaks in Palestine is found in the valley of Eshcol, about 3 miles north of the town. It is supposed by some to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is called "Abraham's oak." (See OAK.) (2.) The third son of Kohath the Levite (Exo 6:18; Ch1 6:2, Ch1 6:18). (3.) Ch1 2:42, Ch1 2:43. (4.) A town in the north border of Asher (Jos 19:28).

Witch World
Topic: Antediluvian

Have you ever wondered from where the occult came?  Its very inception may be found in the downfall of humanity.  That is to say, the Watcher Angels taught humanity the secrets of magic based on a relationship between the demonic realm and humans.  A review of apocryphal literature, such as the Book of Enoch, reveals just such a relationship.  The Watchers bequeath a host of occult knowledge to people in exchange for genetic access to mankind.  Amongst them were spellcraft, the unworking of spells, poisons, astrolgy, and geomancy.  Consider how such knowledge has been disseminated since the beginning of civilization, with exponential speed. 

At present I am working on this very issue in a revised edition of Interview with the Giant and another work entitled The Book of the Gray.  I will keep you apprised of progress. 

Fellow Biblical Anthropologists
Topic: News
Greetings IBA blog readers.  I must confess that it has been some time since I have given attention to the blog.  Heavy teaching loads and all manner of things have kept from spending as much time as I would like on this.  However, in the weeks and months to come I hope to remedy that.  I thank you for your faithful interest.  Stay tuned as I bring you new information on the Biblical Giants, religion in the Bible, and other relevant topics.  I will also continue my series on Biblical cities for the time being.  Thanks again and Godspeed.