Isai. 19. 3.
13. There is also another Text which we have omitted of purpose until now, which our English Translators do, according to their usual manner, thus render: And they shall seek to the Idols, and to the Charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the Wizards: In which there is a word not used in that sense in all the Old Testament besides; of which place we may note these things.
1. The word there in doubt is אָט, Lenis, lenitas, and it oft becometh an Adverb, leniter, pedetentim. The root אָטַט, leniter incessit, Avenarius saith it is not used in the plural number, and signifieth Inchanters or Diviners, and is הָאִטִּים which he rendereth Incantatores; because as some think they do easily and gentilely pronounce their charms.
2. But Tremellius doth translate it thus: Consulent sua Idola, & præstigiatores Pythonesq; & ariolos: And giveth this note, Their Idols, that is to say Devils, that give them answers, especially the Idol of Latona in the Town called Butun over against the Sebenitick mouth of Nilus, of which Herodotus speaketh: where he expoundeth also divers consultations of these Idols. But how or in what sense he holdeth that the Devils gave answers, except by the lying Impostures of the Priests, he doth not shew, nor Herodotus his Author neither.
3. But this place according to Arias Montanus is rendered thus: And they shall seek unto their vain things or Idols, and to their Diviners (that is this word Haattim) and to the Pythonists, or Oraclers, and to Wizards. But those we call the Septuagint do render this place very odly, as they seldom do elsewhere, which is this: Καὶ ἐπερωτήσουσι τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτων, καὶ τὰ ἀγάλματα αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τῆς γῆς φωνοῦντας, καὶ τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους, that is, And they shall ask their gods, and their images, or painted statues, and those that give their voice forth of the earth, and those that speak in their breasts or bellies.
Strab. Geograph. l. 16.
14. There is also another word which is אַשָּׁף, and signifieth (as Avenarius saith) Sophus, sapiens in Astrologia & in auspiciis, augur, aruspex. Rabbi Abraham thinketh it signifieth a Physician, who knoweth the alteration of the body, by the pulse of the arm, or by the urine. And Schindlerus translateth it, a Philosopher, an Astronomer and a Physician, and saith that such were Astronomers and Physicians amongst the Chaldeans, of whom Strabo saith: “There was a certain habitation appointed in Babylon for their home-bred Philosophers, who were much conversant about Philosophy, and were called Chaldeans.” And further, “that they were Physicians that could judge of the passions of the Body, which dreams did imitate, by the Pulse and urine.” And Polanus tells us that it is a Chaldee word because it is found no where else but in Daniel.
1 Kings 4. 30.
15. Lastly there is one word we shall touch more, and that is חָכְמָה, sapientia, the wisdom of Divine and Humane things, Magick or skil in naturall things; and cometh from the root חָכַם, sapuit mente, sapiens fuit, sapientia præditus est. And this is that wisdom that is ascribed to Solomon, of whom it is said: And Solomons wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East countrey, and all the wisdom of Ægypt.
So have we run over all the words in the Old Testament, that can any way concern this subject, and yet amongst them all there is not one that properly and genuinely, without stretching, wresting or mistranslating, doth, or can signifie any such Witch or Diviner, that can kill or destroy Men or Beasts, or that maketh a visible compact with a Devil, or on whose Body he sucketh, or that they have Carnal Copulation together; or such a Witch as is or can be really changed into a Cat, Dog, or such like, which was the task we undertook in this Chapter. And for the words that are in the New Testament, we shall handle them when we answer the objections made from thence. And therefore we would admonish Mr. Glanvil, and all other candid, and sober persons to beware of false or mistranslations, and not to labour to establish dangerous and erroneous tenents upon such slippery and sandy foundations: For one falsity once supposed or taken for good, doth bring a numerous train of absurdities at the heels of it.