enchantments

also known as: spells, hexes

  1. The rendering of Hebrew latim_ or _lehatim, which means “something covered,” “muffled up;” secret arts, tricks (Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18), by which the Egyptian magicians imposed on the credulity of Pharaoh.

  2. The rendering of the Hebrew keshaphim, “muttered spells” or “incantations,” rendered “sorceries” in Isaiah 47:9, 12, i.e., the using of certain formulae under the belief that men could thus be bound.

  3. Hebrew: lehashim, “charming,” as of serpents (Jeremiah 8:17; compare Psalm 58:5).

  4. Hebrew: nehashim, the enchantments or omens used by Balaam (Numbers 24:1); his endeavouring to gain omens favorable to his design.

  5. Hebrew: Heber (Isaiah 47:9, 12), “magical spells.”

All kinds of enchantments were condemned by the Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

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