Divine Incarnations
Divination is a forbidden practice in Israel, used by others.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
The term 'divine incarnations' does not appear in the source passages. The passages instead address divination, a practice of seeking hidden knowledge or guidance through supernatural means, often condemned in Israel but used by other nations. For example, the elders of Moab and Midian brought 'rewards of divination' to Balaam (Numbers 22:7), and the Philistines consulted their 'priests and the diviners' about the ark of the LORD (1 Samuel 6:2). In Israel, divination was forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10, 14), and false prophets who used lying divination were denounced (Ezekiel 13:6-7, 9, 23).
Lore & Background
Divination appears as a practice of foreign nations and false prophets. The elders of Moab and Midian sought Balaam with 'rewards of divination' (Numbers 22:7), and the Philistines asked their diviners how to return the ark (1 Samuel 6:2). King Saul, disguised, asked a woman to 'divine unto me by the familiar spirit' (1 Samuel 28:8). The king of Babylon used divination by arrows, images, and liver inspection at a crossroads (Ezekiel 21:21-22).
Reader's Guide
The passages consistently portray divination as a human attempt to gain supernatural knowledge or guidance, often associated with foreign nations and condemned in Israel. In Deuteronomy 18:10, 14, divination is listed among forbidden practices, and Israel is told not to imitate the nations that 'hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners.' The prophets of Israel who used divination are called liars: they 'prophesy lies in my name' (Jeremiah 14:14) and 'have seen vanity and lying divination' (Ezekiel 13:6). God frustrates 'the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad' (Isaiah 44:25). Yet, Joseph claimed to divine (Genesis 44:15), and Proverbs 16:10 says 'A divine sentence is in the lips of the king,' suggesting a positive use of the term in some contexts. The passages do not explain how these differing views reconcile.
Did You Know?
- Joseph claimed to practice divination, saying 'wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?' (Genesis 44:15).
- The king of Babylon used three methods of divination: making arrows bright, consulting images, and looking in the liver (Ezekiel 21:21).
- God declares there is 'no divination against Israel' (Numbers 23:23), yet Israel's prophets are condemned for using lying divination (Ezekiel 13:6-7).
- Saul, who had banned mediums, secretly asked a woman to 'divine unto me by the familiar spirit' (1 Samuel 28:8).