Devarim 18: You're Not a Wizard Harry!

The second half of chapter 18 returns to the well-trodden restrictions against false prophets, witches, wizards, and soothsayers. The Torah is very specific listing out all of these types of magicians those who tell the future through bones, talking through body parts, and necromancers. Why the obsession with witches, wizards, prophets and soothsayers? God knows that he people were heavily influenced by the idol worship that included wizardry in Egypt (recall that he charumim were a big part of the Exodus story). This influence caused them to sin greatly at Mount Sinai. It can easily happen again. The Israelites are now about to enter the land of Canaan, a land full of intense idol worship. Idol worship is not just bowing down to images, it also involved other types of spirit connections. It makes sense, therefore, that God would emphasize these restrictions. But there is also a deeper reason that this comes up a lot in Deuteronomy. Until this point, the only leader the people knew was Moshe. Moshe talked to God and performed miracles and guided the nation through the wilderness. But, Moshe was not going to be entering the land with the people. Joshua was going to be with them, but the people would be spread out and not centralized as they were in the wilderness. This sets them to be vulnerable to others who claim to be speaking for God and work. Moshe, therefore, emphasizes that these prophets and others who claim to talk to and for God are false and not to be trusted.