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Necromancy, derived from the Greek words "nekros" (dead) and "manteia" (divination), refers to the practice of communicating with the dead to predict the future or gain hidden knowledge. This practice is explicitly condemned in the Bible and is associated with idolatry and pagan rituals.

Biblical References and Condemnation

The Bible unequivocally condemns necromancy as an abomination. InDeuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are warned: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

This passage highlights the seriousness with which God views necromancy, placing it alongside other forbidden practices such as child sacrifice and sorcery. The Israelites were to remain separate from the surrounding nations, who engaged in such practices, to maintain their covenant relationship with God.

Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, necromancy was a common practice among pagan cultures. It was believed that the dead possessed special knowledge and could provide guidance or insight into future events. This practice often involved rituals and ceremonies intended to summon the spirits of the deceased.

The Case of Saul and the Medium of Endor

One of the most notable biblical accounts involving necromancy is found in1 Samuel 28. King Saul, facing a dire situation with the Philistines and having lost favor with God, seeks out a medium at Endor to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. Despite having previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land, Saul's desperation leads him to violate God's commandments.

1 Samuel 28:11-12 recounts the event: "Then the woman asked, 'Whom shall I bring up for you?' 'Bring up Samuel,' he replied. But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, 'Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!'"

This narrative illustrates the futility and danger of necromancy. Although the spirit of Samuel appears, the message he delivers is one of judgment against Saul for his disobedience, further sealing Saul's tragic fate.

Theological Implications

Necromancy is fundamentally opposed to the biblical understanding of life, death, and the afterlife. Scripture teaches that God alone holds the keys to life and death (Revelation 1:18) and that seeking knowledge or power through the dead is a rejection of His sovereignty. The practice of necromancy undermines faith in God's revealed word and His provision for guidance through the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament continues to affirm the prohibition against necromancy and similar practices.Galatians 5:19-21 lists "sorcery" among the works of the flesh, warning that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." This reinforces the call for believers to rely on God rather than seeking forbidden knowledge through illicit means.

Conclusion

Necromancy, as depicted in the Bible, is a practice that stands in stark opposition to the teachings of Scripture. It is consistently portrayed as a sinful act that leads individuals away from God and into spiritual darkness. The biblical narrative calls believers to trust in God's wisdom and guidance, rejecting any form of divination or communication with the dead.Isaiah 8:19
And when they shall say to you, Seek to them that have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek to their God? for the living to the dead?
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Leviticus 19:31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
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1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
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Deuteronomy 18:9-12
When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
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Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
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(n.) The art of revealing future events by means of communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art.NECROMANCY

nek'-ro-man-si.

SeeASTROLOGY, 1;DIVINATION; WITCHCRAFT.

How they be Deceived that Follow the Fervour of Spirit in...
... For as I have conceived by some disciples ofnecromancy, the which have it in science
for to make advocation of wicked spirits, and by some unto whom the fiend...

Footnotes
... 8 The word is demon or demons in all the instances referred to. 9Necromancy is
derived from the Greek words nekros, dead, and mantis, a diviner....

Of the Illicit Arts Connected with Demonolatry, and of which the...
... under the influence of a criminal tampering with the unseen world, of an art which
they call either magic, or by the more abominable titlenecromancy, [403] or...

Concerning the Hydromancy through which Numa was Befooled by...
... But whether it be callednecromancy or hydromancy it is the same thing, for in
either case the dead are supposed to foretell future things....

Whether we Ought to Distinguish Several Species of Divination?
... dreams, and this is called "divination by dreams": sometimes they employ apparitions
or utterances of the dead, and this species is called "necromancy," for as...

The Death of Saint James.
... in the land; and this so excited the envy and anger of the monks of a neighbouring
convent, that they conspired together to accuse him ofnecromancy and other...

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... form. His ritual is purged of foolish, unclean and cruel elements. Witchcraft
andnecromancy are utterly condemned. Second"and...

Proof of Immortality and the Resurrection.
... For let evennecromancy, and the divinations you practise by immaculate children,
[1804] and the evoking of departed human souls, [1805] and those who are...

Prophets and the Prophet
... continuous defence against the temptation of seeking knowledge of the divine will
by the illegitimate methods of divination, soothsaying,necromancy, and the...

That Astrology, Soothsaying, and Similar Arts are the Invention of...
... These were the inventors of astrology, and soothsaying, and divination, and those
productions which are called oracles, andnecromancy, and the art of magic...

Necromancy
... enchantment. See Black art. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.NECROMANCY.
nek'-ro-man-si. See ASTROLOGY, 1; DIVINATION; WITCHCRAFT....

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... forsaken him, on the eve of the fatal battle of Gilboa, resorted in disguise to
"a woman that had a familiar spirit" ('obh: see DIVINATION;NECROMANCY), at En...

En-dor (3 Occurrences)
... forsaken him, on the eve of the fatal battle of Gilboa, resorted in disguise to
"a woman that had a familiar spirit" ('obh: see DIVINATION;NECROMANCY), at En...

Endor (3 Occurrences)
... forsaken him, on the eve of the fatal battle of Gilboa, resorted in disguise to
"a woman that had a familiar spirit" ('obh: see DIVINATION;NECROMANCY), at En...

Necromancers (8 Occurrences)

Divination (25 Occurrences)
...Necromancy is uniformly forbidden in the Old Testament (see Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy
18:11 Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3), probably on account of its connection...

Nectar (2 Occurrences)

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... They included enchantment, sorcery, witchcraft, sooth-saying, augury,necromancy,
divination in numberless forms, and all kinds of magic article Nine varieties...

Magic (12 Occurrences)
... mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including
enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery,necromancy, incantation, etc...

Prophets (270 Occurrences)
... ANALOGOUS PHENOMENA AMONG THE GENTILES 1.Necromancy and Technical Witchcraft 2.
The Mantle Art 3. Contents of Extra-Biblical Oracles LITERATURE I. The Idea of...

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