Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)/Enchantments

by Matthew George Easton

Enchantments:

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; comp. Psalm 58:5).
4. Hebrew nehashim, the enchantments or omens used by Balaam (Numbers 24:1); his endeavouring to gain omens favourable 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). (See DIVINATION.)