Dives in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What is Dives?
DI'VES
See Lazarus. DIVINA'TION is the practice of divining or foretelling future events. Deut 18:10. In the passage cited it is put in connection with witchcraft, necromancy, and other abominations of the heathen which the Jews were to avoid. Divination prevailed among the Israelites and many of the Eastern nations. The modes or means of divining were by consulting or being familiar with spirits, by the motions of the stars, clouds, etc., and by lots, rods or wands, dreams, the flight of birds, the entrails of animals, etc., etc. It is said of Joseph's cup. Gen 44:5, that he divined by it. It is not to be inferred, however, that he practised divination, but rather that he uses the words in his supposed character of a native Egyptian. His brethren would therefore believe that by the cup he did actually divine, as was the custom of the land. In so speaking, Joseph practised deception; we are not, however, called upon to believe he was perfect. The Egyptian magicians were diviners, so were the wise men, the Chaldaeans of Babylon. There are many words used in Scripture to denote them. Some diviners were learned, others very ignorant. Ventriloquism and illusion formed part of their business, although many believed in the reality of their revelations. In divining with the cup, a small piece of gold or silver, or a jewel, was thrown into a spherical goblet, an incantation was pronounced, the number of waves were counted and the appearance of the object studied. Or else the goblet was simply filled with pure water and exposed to the sunlight; whatever it reflected was suppose to give an answer. In the case of the witch of Endor, she began to practise her art, but, to her amazement, no less than to Saul's, the vision or spirit of Samuel actually arose, and announced the imminent defeat and death of the king. The root of the Hebrew word translated "witch" means "a bottle." The term arose from the supposed inflation of these persons by the spirit. The Jews were familar with four genuine ways adopted by God to make known the future. These were (1) by visions, as in the case of the patriarchs; (2) dreams interpreted, as by Joseph and Daniel; (3) by the Urim and Thummim; (4) and by the prophets, 1 Sam 28:6. The practice of divination in all its forms is severely reprobated by Moses and other sacred writers, Lev 20:27; Deut 18:9-14; Jer 14:14; Eze 13:8-9, because "a prying into the future clouds the mind with superstition and is an incentive to idolatry," as is the case with the pagans. In whatever form it is practised or regarded, it is reproachful to Christianity, and argues great folly, ignorance, and sin. 2 Pet 1:19.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'dives' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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