Shoftim 18:11 · unit 4

TT #176 · 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 65b.

TT lemma: וְדֹרֵשׁ אֶל הַמֵּתִים.

Core Text

וְדֹרֵשׁ אֶל הַמֵּתִים – זֶה הַמִּתְעַנֶּה וְלָן בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת.

English: ‘And one who seeks the dead’ – this is one who fasts and lodges in the cemetery.

On the daf / in context: Definition of seeking the dead.

Derash defining necromancy (Bavli) — the practice is described as fasting and sleeping among the graves.

Seeking information from the dead by lodging in cemeteries after fasting is forbidden.