Deuteronomy 18:11 - "nor a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer."

The word "wizard" may be translated as the "knowing or wise one," and, whereas the title witch was the name given to a woman who practiced witchcraft, the name wizard was given to a man who did the same thing. However, there was somewhat more involved here than simple witchcraft - it also involved necromancy, or the calling up of the dead, to foretell future events, to cure diseases, to drive out evil spirits, and such.

The whole idea of the communication with the dead was a familiar one to the ancient world. For example, in the Gilgamesh Epic, Gilgamesh conjures up the spirit of Enkidu to inquire about the state of the dead in the lower world. Because of this sort of communication, it is obvious that sharp denunciations were pronounced against the practice. Since God is the Lord of both worlds, it is not right that man should enquire too closely into the mysteries of life beyond, and so any type of witchcraft, and necromancy in particular, are strongly denounced.

We have, of course, the very obvious example of Saul, who sought the aid of the witch of Endor in calling up the spirit of Samuel from the dead, and the results of that encounter. We have also the fear of the witch herself, who admitted that she was in danger of her life because she granted Saul’s request. Leviticus as well as Deuteronomy specifically stated that the practitioners of the art of necromancy, as well as their clients, were subject to the death penalty.

There is, to most of us, something inherently distasteful and frightening in the thought of trying to establish communication with the dead, and yet spiritualism and the spiritualist cult leaders are very popular. Perhaps you know of someone who has gone to a seance, or you have consulted an ouija board (just for fun, of course), or you have at least read up on what is involved in necromancy.

It’s scary, and most us don’t take the idea of communication with our dead loved ones too much to heart, but it’s big business, just the same.