Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 61
Mishneh Torah Book #: 1
Mishneh Torah Book: Knowledge
Mishneh Torah Category: 4- Idolatry and Gentile Customs
Reference: Deuteronomy 18:10
Scripture Book: Deuteronomy
Scripture Chapter: 18
Scripture Verse: 10
English: There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
Hebrew: י לֹא-יִמָּצֵא בְךָ, מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ-וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ, קֹסֵם קְסָמִים, מְעוֹנֵן וּמְנַחֵשׁ וּמְכַשֵּׁף.
Greek: 10 οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν σοὶ περικαθαίρων τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ ἐν πυρί, μαντευόμενος μαντείαν, κληδονιζόμενος καὶ οἰωνιζόμενος, φαρμακός,
Parashah: 48- Shoftim
Sefer Hachinuch #: 510
Sef. Hach. Command: The prohibition against the practice of the divination
Category: Idolatry
We can perform today: Yes

"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead." (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) The literal commandment is that we should not use divination.

The Literal Commandment

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)

The literal commandment is that we should not use divination.

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Pictures of Messiah

Divination and soothsaying seeks after knowledge of the future and fails to trust in the sovereign authority and grace of G-d.

This commandment pictures Messiah in that perfect relationship of trust with the Father that precludes the need to seek out knowledge of the future.

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not going into a trance to foresee events.

Traditional Observance

This commandment is traditionally observed in a very literal manner: by not making practicing divination in any form. Spending one's time and energy in such a pursuit is tantamount to making oneself into an idol desiring for others to see how wise and discerning a person you are.

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should not practice divination... by going into a trance or otherwise.

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Do not go into a trance to foresee events, etc.