The third is מכשף Mecascheph, a Witch, properly a Jugler. The Original signifieth such a kind of Sorcerer who bewitcheth the senses and minds of men, by changing the forms of things, making them appear otherwise than indeed they are. The same word is applied to the Sorcerers in Egypt, who resisted Moses Exod. 7. 11. Then Pharaoh also called Mecaschphim, the Sorcerers. Now the Magicians in Egypt; they also did in like manner with their Inchantments. This latter part of the Text explaineth what those Sorcerers were. In that they are called Magicians, it implieth their learning, that they were wise men, and great Philosophers: the word inchantments declareth the manner of the delusion, and it hath the signification of such a slight whereby the eyes are deluded, for להטים Lahatim, there translated inchantments, importeth the glistering flame of a fire or sword, wherewith the eyes of men are dazled. The Greek version doth not unfitly term them φαρμακοὺς, Unguentarios, Syplasiarios, Compounders of Medicines, or if you please complexion-makers,[505] such Artisans who mask men and womens faces with paintings and false complexions. Hence it is that the Apostle compareth such false teachers, who under a form and shew of godliness, lead captive silly women, to the Egyptian Sorcerers Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses, 2 Tim. 3. 8. These two were of chief note: In the Talmud[506] they are all called Johanne and Mamre; by Numenius,[507] a Pythagorean, Jannes and Mambres; by Pliny,[508] Jamnes and Jotape.
[505] φαρμακὸς δέ ἐστι μύρεψος. Suidas.
[506] Talmud. tract. Menachoth. c. 9.
[507] Origen. contra Celsum. lib. 4.
[508] Plin. nat. hist. lib. 30, cap. 1.
The fourth is חובר Chober, a Charmer. The Hebrew word signifies conjoyning or consociating; either from the league and fellowship which such persons have with the devil, or as Bodine thinketh[509] because such kind of Witches have frequent meetings, in which they dance and make merry together. Onkelos translateth such a charmer רטין Raten, a mutterer, intimating the manner of these Witcheries to be by the muttering, or soft speaking of some spell or charm. The description of a Charmer is thus delivered:[510] He is a character who speaketh words of a strange language, and without sense, and he in his foolishness thinketh that these words are profitable: that if one say so or so unto a Serpent or Scorpion, it cannot hurt a man, and he that saith so or so unto a man, he cannot be hurt, &c. He that whispereth over a wound, or readeth a verse out of the Bible, likewise he that readeth over an Infant, that it may not be frighted, or that layeth the book of the Law, or the Phylacteries upon a child that it may sleep, such are not only among Inchanters, or Charmers, but of those that generally deny the law of God, because they make the word of the Scripture medicine for the body, whereas they are not, but medicine for the soul. As it is written, Prov. 3. 22. They shall be life unto thy soul. Of this sort was that whereof Bodinus[511] speaketh, That a child by saying a certain verse out of the Psalms, hindred a woman that she could not make her butter; by reciting the same verse backward, he made her butter come presently.
[509] Bodin. Mag. dæmon. l. 1. c. 6.
[510] Maimon. tract. Idolol. c. 11. sect. 10. 12.
[511] Bodin. Mag. dæmon. l. 2. c. 1.
The fifth, שאל אוב Schoel Ob, a consulter with Ob, or with familiar spirits. Ob signifieth properly a bottle, and is applied in divers places of Scripture to Magicians, because they being possessed with an evil spirit, speak with a soft and hollow voice, as out of a bottle. The Greek calleth them Ἐγγαστριμύτης Ventriloquos; such whose voice seemeth to proceed out of their belly.[512] Such a Diviner was the Damosel, Acts 16. 16. in St. Augustines judgement,[513] and is probably thought so by most Expositors, who are of opinion, that the spirit of Python with which this Damosel was possessed, is the same which the spirit of Ob was amongst the Hebrews. Hence the Witch of Endor, whom Saul requested to raise up Samuel, is said in Hebrew to have consulted with Ob; but among the Latine Expositors she is commonly translated Pythonissa, one possessed with the spirit of Python.