Magician
Magician
(Chald. , chartom’; Heb. plural , chartumminm’, thought by Gesenius, Thesaurp. 520, to be of Heb. origin, signifying sacred scribe), a title applied to the wise men’ of Egypt (Gen 41:8; Gen 41:22; Exo 7:11; Exo 8:7; Exo 8:18-19; Exo 9:11) and of Babylon (Dan 1:20; Dan 2:2). The word magicians’ is not in either case properly applied, as the magi proper are usually assigned to Persia rather than to Babylon or Egypt, and should be altogether avoided in such application, seeing that it has acquired a sense different from that which it once bore. The term rather denotes wise men,’ as they called themselves and were called by others; but, as we should call them, men eminent in learning and science,’ their exclusive possession of which in their several countries enabled them occasionally to produce effects which were accounted supernatural by the people. Pythagoras, who was acquainted with Egypt and the East, and who was not unaware of the unfathomable depths of ignorance which lie under the highest attainable conditions of human knowledge, thought the modest title of philosopher (), lover of wisdom,’ more becoming, and accordingly he brought it into use; but that of wise men’ still retained its hold in the East. It is thought that the Egyptian chartumninz were those of the Egyptian priests who had charge of the sacred records. There can be little doubt that they belonged to some branch of the priesthood, seeing that the more recondite departments of learning and science were cultivated exclusively in that powerful caste. SEE MAGI. See Jablonski, Proleg. in Panth. AEgypt. p. 91 sq.; Creuzer, Mythologie und Symbolik, 1:245; Wilkinson, Anc. Egyptians, 2:316 sq.; Kenrick, Egypt under the Pharaohs, 1:382. SEE MAGIC.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Magician
See DIVINATION.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Magician
A person who claims to understand and explain mysteries by magic
Dan 1:20
Failed to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams
Gen 41:8; Gen 41:24
Failed to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Dan 2:2-13; Dan 4:7
Wrought apparent miracles
Exo 7:11-12; Exo 7:22; Exo 8:7; Exo 8:18
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Magician
not unfrequently occurs in Scripture. Generally it signifies a diviner, a fortune teller, &c. Moses forbids recourse to such on pain of death: The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and even cut him off from among his people, Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6. The Hebrew is , which signify literally,
the first, those possessed with a spirit of Python, or a demon that foretels future events;the second, knowers, they who boast of the knowledge of secret things. It was such sort of people that Saul extirpated out of the land of Israel, 1Sa 28:3. Daniel also speaks of magicians and diviners in Chaldea, under Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 1:20, &c;
. He names four sorts: Chartumim, Asaphim, Mecasphim, and Casdim, Dan 2:2. The first, Chartumim, according to Theodotion, signifies enchanters; according to the LXX, sophists; according to Jerom, hariolas, diviners, fortune tellers, casters of nativities. The second word, Asaphim, has a great resemblance to the Greek word , wise man; whether the Greeks took this word from the Babylonians, or vice versa. Theodotion and Jerom have rendered it magicians; the LXX, philosophers. The third word, Mecasphim, by Jerom and the Greeks, is translated malefici, enchanters; such as used noxious herbs and drugs, the blood of victims, and the bones of the dead, for their superstitious operations. The fourth word, Casdim, or Chaldeans, has two significations: first, the Chaldean people, over whom Nebuchadnezzar was monarch; the second, a sort of philosophers, who dwelt in a separate part of the city, who were exempt from all public offices and employments. Their studies were physic, astrology, divination, foretelling of future events by the stars, interpretation of dreams, augury, worship of the gods, &c. All these inquisitive and superstitious arts were prohibited among the Israelites, as founded on imposture or devilism, and as inconsistent with faith in God’s providence, and trust in his supremacy.