Shoftim 18:11 · unit 2

TT #174 · 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.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 65b.

TT lemma: וְשֹׁאֵל אוֹב.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 65b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְשֹׁאֵל אוֹב – זֶה הַמַּעֲלֶה בִּזְכוּרוֹ.

English: ‘One who inquires of a ghost’ – this is one who raises the dead by means of a known rite.

On the daf / in context: Definition of ov.

Type of Learning

Derash defining inquiry of the dead (Bavli) — the practice is identified with a specific forbidden rite.

What Is Learned

Inquiring of a ghost (ov) by raising the dead is a capital prohibition.