Shoftim 18:11 · unit 1

TT #173 · Parashas Shoftim · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 18:11

The Complete Passuk

וְחֹבֵ֖ר חָ֑בֶר וְשֹׁאֵ֥ל אוֹב֙ וְיִדְּעֹנִ֔י וְדֹרֵ֖שׁ אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃

Or a charmer of charms, or one who inquires of a ghost or a familiar spirit, or one who seeks the dead.

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 65a.

TT lemma: וְחֹבֵר חָבֶר.

Core Text

וְחֹבֵר חָבֶר – זֶה הַמְחַבֵּר נְחָשִׁים וַעֲקַרַבִּים.

English: ‘A charmer of charms’ – this is one who joins snakes and scorpions (by incantation).

On the daf / in context: Definition of the charmer.

Derash defining the charmer (Bavli) — the term is given a concrete meaning in the sugya.

Charming by joining dangerous creatures through incantation is forbidden.