Book of God-Fearers

Sefer yere’im, vol. 2, page 6, section 239

1179

About This Entry

The Book of God-Fearers (Sefer yere’im), a Hebrew legal and ethical compendium, is organized around the 613 commandments. The laws are organized into seven broader categories, perhaps with the goal of enabling a weekly review. In the introduction, Eliezer writes that he seeks to inculcate the fear of heaven in his readers. The Book of God-Fearers proved immensely popular, attracting several commentaries, and later was printed frequently. This excerpt is concerned with the prohibition against sorcery.

Sorcerer

You shall fear your God and observe that which He commanded in Parashat Shoftim: There shall not be found among you anyone who passes his son or his daughter through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer (Deuteronomy 18:10). In Parashat Mishpatim it is written: You shall not suffer a sorceress to live (Exodus 22:17), and it is taught:

You shall not suffer a sorceress to live—this applies both to a man and a woman. Why, then, does it state a sorceress? Because it is mostly women who are guilty of this, as they are familiar with witchcraft. [ . . . ] It is taught: A sorcerer—this is one who performs an actual act, and not merely an act of deception. [b. Sanhedrin 67a–b]

I asked my teachers what sorcery was, but I did not get a clear response from them in this regard. It seems to me that any case of invocation, where one summons demons [to consult them], is not sorcery.

It is stated:

R. Aybu bar Nagri says, regarding the verse: And the magicians of Egypt did likewise with their secret arts [be-latehem] (Exodus 7:22), that these are acts of sorcery. And when it states: And they also, the magicians of Egypt, did likewise with their secret arts [be-lahatehem] (Exodus 7:11), these are acts of demons. [b. Sanhedrin 67b]

This statement implies that “acts of demons,” [not merely summoning demons,] are the same as “acts of sorcery.” And it is taught:

Demons of oil and demons of eggs, it is permitted to consult them. [b. Sanhedrin 110a]

In my humble opinion, whoever performs an act like this, without the invocation of demons or angels, but creates any object of real substance and influences a man or woman through his actions, this is considered performing an actual act of sorcery and he is liable [for punishment]. [ . . . ] As for sorcery itself, all those who are wise know that it is real, and that its practice delays our salvation.

Translated by Avi Steinhart.