Divination in the Bible
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Bible Divination
Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Judge Samuel, King Saul, King David, Joseph, many high priests, and the eleven apostles after the death of Jesus [Acts 1:24-6; John 15:3-4] are presented as diviners [cf Numbers 12:5-8].Joseph in Pharaoh's service once said to his steward and instructed him to go and find the cup Joseph used to drink from and use for divination. The cup was found in his visiting brother Benjamin's sack. Joseph said to his shamed brothers, "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?" [Genesis 44:1-15, excerpts]. This divinator became a Pharaoh's helper.
The Israelites got their various areas to live in assigned by lot - as commanded from above through Moses. [Joshua 14;1-2] Casting of lots is one form of divination. Moses instigated it among the Israelites, and Joshua carried it on.
A garment-like "tool" called ephod was designed to serve as a divining object. It served divination and was specified for Israelite priests and leaders in Exodus 28. "This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants. [Ex. 28:1-43; 39:2-5 and elsewhere]. [Exodus 28:1-43]
High priests might divine by using the ephod. Judge Samuel wore the ephod when he served before the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Sam 2:18). The ephod proper (Ex. 28:6-8; 39:2-5) was worn outside the robe. It seems to have been "kept in place by a girdle and by shoulder pieces, from which hung the breast piece (or pouch) containing the sacred lots (divinatory objects), Urim and Thummim, whose precise function is now unknown," writes Encyclopedia Britannica. Thus, the ephod was part of the ceremonial dress of the high priest of ancient Israel. The ephod was also used for oracular purposes, together with the two stones Urim and Thummim. The books of Samuel imply that whenever Saul or David wished to question Yahweh via oracular methods, they asked a priest for the ephod. [More] Joshua, before the Lord, learnt to ask of a stone called Urim, on God's command [Numbers 27:18,20,21].
Samuel wore a linen ephod he used. [1 Samuel 2]
One day King Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him by dreams or [the stone] Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium." - "Bring up Samuel," he said to her. Samuel, who was dead, rose out of the ground said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? . . . Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me." [See 1 Samuel 28:4-19. Extracts]
David took over. "I have become like a portent to many," said he [Psalms 71:6-8] Once and once again David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" Yahweh answered him.
When David soon after learned that Saul was plotting against him, he sent for the ephod (divination tool) and got answeres to queries from Yahweh thereby [1 Samuel 23] The Lord was asked by divining routines, and sometimes he answered.
At another time David's two wives had been captured. David called on a priest, saying, "Bring me the ephod," and David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" - "Pursue them," was the answer. [1 Samuel 30:1-19]. David was helped repeatedly by divination.
Later, when David brought up the ark of God to Jerusalem, he was wearing a linen ephod and danced with all his might, leaping and dancing before the Lord, as it says. 2 Samuel 6-14]
To be left without divination appeared to be a serious punishment by God, for according to Micah he said: "Night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination [Micah 3:5-6]
Elisha was suffering from an illness when King Jehoash of Israel visited him. Elisha said to him, "Get a bow and some arrows. Open the east window, and shoot!" It was done. "The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek." Then he said, "Take the arrows. Strike the ground." The king then struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times." [2 Kings 13]
In 1 Samuel 8 and many other places, the diviner is greater than a mere king, unless the king is a divininer too.
Simple tables help one to discern a little better. Searches had better be done with proficiency. Awkward divination may not bring good results. And, finally, do not forget to apply rational inquiry to results to see to that things go well. Neat practice also depends on cultivating inner clarity, and being able to enjoy somehow. [MORE]
Moses is called OK in the Bible; he had been raised in Egypt by Egyptians. Good company is something to thank for [cf. Acts 7:20-2].
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Literature
Goleman, David. The Varieties of the Meditative Experience. London: Rider, 1975.
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