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I2
Pursuing the Occult

I2

We are not to pursue, engage in, or utilize anything that is occult.

Category: Idolatry, Heathens & the Occult

Type: Negative

Form: Explicit

Source dataset: Old Testament

Uniqueness: Not unique

Classical commandment: Yes

New Covenant Literal Application

Applies to Person Categories: Not specified

Literal Application: Not specified

More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application

The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.

It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.

This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.

Read the full explanation from the source

Bible references

Key NT Scriptures
  • Acts 13:8-12
  • Acts 19:18-19
  • Galatians 5:19-21
Key OT Scriptures
  • Deuteronomy 4:19
  • Deuteronomy 18:9-12
  • Exodus 22:17
  • Job 5:23
  • Leviticus 19:26
  • Leviticus 19:31
  • Leviticus 20:6
  • Leviticus 20:27
Supportive NT Scriptures
  • Acts 8:9-23
  • Acts 16:16-18
  • Revelation 9:20-21
  • Revelation 18:22-23
  • Revelation 21:8
  • Revelation 22:14-15
Supportive OT Scriptures
  • 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6
  • Ezekiel 13:18
  • Isaiah 2:6
  • Isaiah 8:19-20
  • Isaiah 19:3
  • Isaiah 47:12-15
  • Jeremiah 10:2
  • Jeremiah 27:9-10
  • 2 Kings 17:17
  • 2 Kings 21:6
  • 2 Kings 23:24
  • Malachi 3:5
  • Micah 5:11
  • 1 Samuel 15:23
  • 1 Samuel 28:3
  • Zechariah 10:2

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Commentary

Rabbi Michael Rudolph

This Mitzvah commands against seeking, engaging in, or utilizing occult supernatural powers. The term "occult" covers a wide range of prohibited activities that include (but are not limited to) divining, fortune-telling, sorcery, astrology, magic, wizardry, witchcraft, enchanting, soothsaying, spell-casting, or consulting the dead or communicating with spirits other than the Spirit of God. This Mitzvah is relevant today because many (if not all) of the occult practices mentioned in Scriptures are still practiced in certain quarters. Some more recent occult activities that are not mentioned in Scripture are hexing, water witching, numerology, Kabbalah , voodoo, new age spiritism, mindreading, channeling, energy healing (and there are others). It is not necessary to know the definitions of each of these or how each is different from the others. All that one needs to know is that it is a serious sin to attempt to communicate with any spirit other than the Holy Spirit, or to seek power from any source other than from God.

Classical commentators

Maimonides, Meir, and HaChinuch each wrote ten mitzvot that collectively express the principle of this Mitzvah . Curiously and uncharacteristically, HaChinuch's mitzvah C514 (having to do with a kind of wizardry) that is analogous to Maimonides' mitzvah RN37 and Meir's mitzvah MN173, does not reference a Scripture from the Torah , but only tractate Kil'ayim (viii, 4) of the Jerusalem Talmud, and Job 5:23 (see * above) that seemingly speaks to an unrelated subject.


Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2

Related Law of Messiah commandments

Classical sources

Maimonides

Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.

Meir of Rothenburg

Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (13th century, Germany) was a leading Talmudic authority. These reference numbers link this commandment to his halachic rulings.

MN165, MN170

Source and License

Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.

Volume 1 & 2 | Volume 3

License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0

Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.

Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2

Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2

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