the Third Week after Easter
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Bible Lexicons
Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old Testament Girdlestone's OT Synonyms
Wizard, Magician
The word for wizard is Idoni (יִדְעֹנִי ), literally, 'knowing one.' They are always ranked with those who deal in Ob, and are to be regarded with equal abhorrence. They are referred to in Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3; 1 Samuel 28:9; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Kings 23:24; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3. These 'knowing' persons were no doubt wise in their generation, 'prudent' like the diviners, and skilled in the art of preying up on the follies and superstitions of those who came into contact with them. The LXX rendering is usually ἐπαοιδός, an enchanter, or γνώστης, a knowing person.
The magicians were Chartummim (חרטמים ), a name which is supposed to be derived from Charath, a graving tool (compare the name Khartoum). The LXX sometimes calls them ἐξηγηταί, explainers. Perhaps they were engravers of hieroglyphics, and possessed of that secret knowledge which these sculptures represented, and which they communicated to the people with considerable reserve. Although at first sight it might be supposed from the facts narrated concerning them in the Book of Exodus that they were possessed of preternatural powers, yet it may well be doubted if they had access to any other secret influences than those which natural science is daily bringing to light, or than those by means of which the Indian juggler astounds his European spectators.
