by jimwalton » Sat May 23, 2020 5:44 pm
Brevard Childs, in his commentary on Exodus, says, "Sorcery [was a type of witchcraft]. ... It remains a question, however, how precisely the distinctions between soothsaying, augury, sorcery, etc. were understood in Israel." The categories overlap and are not always clearly defined.
In Leviticus 19.26, the term used is te’onenu, and refers to a person who was adept at reading omens (often nature's occurrences) with the purpose of altering the future with incantations (in contrast to divination, which was used to predict the future).
In Deuteronomy 18.10, the word is me'onin (or as you transliterated, meownen). It was generally meant to be harmful. Sorcerers used potions, figurines, and curses designed to bring bad luck, disease, injury, or death.
As far as its etymology, the idea of "bringing clouds" is about right. The sorcerer would observe natural phenomena and then use various incantations or rituals to pronounce harm (bring clouds).
Brevard Childs, in his commentary on Exodus, says, "Sorcery [was a type of witchcraft]. ... It remains a question, however, how precisely the distinctions between soothsaying, augury, sorcery, etc. were understood in Israel." The categories overlap and are not always clearly defined.
In Leviticus 19.26, the term used is te’onenu, and refers to a person who was adept at reading omens (often nature's occurrences) with the purpose of altering the future with incantations (in contrast to divination, which was used to predict the future).
In Deuteronomy 18.10, the word is me'onin (or as you transliterated, meownen). It was generally meant to be harmful. Sorcerers used potions, figurines, and curses designed to bring bad luck, disease, injury, or death.
As far as its etymology, the idea of "bringing clouds" is about right. The sorcerer would observe natural phenomena and then use various incantations or rituals to pronounce harm (bring clouds).