rs,
who had recourse to various ways of divination. In the days of Joseph
there was divination by cups, one particular manner of proceeding
being to observe how their wine sparkled when poured out. Casting or
drawing of lots was a favourite method of divination, not only among
the Jews, but among all nations. Mention is made of divination by
means of household gods or images in human shape, prepared by
astrologers under particular constellations, and made capable of the
heavenly influences. The rabbis, in making some of these images,
killed a man who was a first-born son, wrung off his head, seasoned it
with salt, spices, etc., and then put a gold plate, bearing the name
of an unclean spirit, under the head, which was fixed to a wall, and
had candles burning beside it. The images were consulted as oracles
concerning things accomplished but unknown, and regarding events in
the future.

Among the Jews there were observers of times who laid great stress on
certain seasons and critical moments, which they supposed depended on
particular positions of the heavenly bodies. A learned rabbi expressed
the opinion that the celestial bodies rewarded persons who put
confidence in them, and that consequently men acted wisely to
reverence the stars and implore their assistance. Guesses at
futurities were made from the falling of a crumb of bread out of one's
mouth or a staff from a man's hand, from a person sneezing, or the
breaking of a shoe-latchet.

The Hebrew witches were supposed to possess the power of doing
mischief to man and beast by their occult science, and of changing the
form of things. Witches used their wicked skill to allure maidens.
Through magical operations, a Jew endeavoured long ago to procure the
love of a Christian woman, but she was preserved from the power of his
craft by sealing herself with the sign of the cross. It was an ancient
way of enchantment, to bring, by the power of magic, various kinds of
beasts together into one place, which were designated as the "great
congregation" and the "little congregation." The great congregation
consisted of many of the larger animals, and the lesser was made up of
numerous smaller creatures, such as serpents, scorpions, and the like.
Wizards were famous fortune tellers; they pretended to be the
interpreters of all the most important occurrences of the world.
According to the Hebrew laws, the deceivers, and those who consulted
them, were liable to be stoned. Necromanc