Reference: Astrologer
Easton
(Da 1:20; 2:2,10,27, etc.) Heb. 'ashshaph', an enchanter, one who professes to divine future events by the appearance of the stars. This science flourished among the Chaldeans. It was positively forbidden to the Jews (De 4:19; 18:10; Isa 47:13).
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Yea, and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars and whatsoever is contained in heaven, shouldest be deceived and shouldest bow thyself unto them and serve the things which the LORD thy God hath distributed unto all nations that are under all quarters of heaven.
Let there not be found among you that maketh his son or his daughter go through fire, either a bruterer or a maker of dismal days, or that useth witchcraft, or a sorcerer,
Thou hast hitherto had many counsels of them; so let the heaven gazers and the beholders of stars come on now and deliver thee: yea, and let them show when these new things shall come upon thee.
Therefore stood they before the king, which in all wisdom and matters of understanding that he enquired of them, found them ten times better than all the soothsayers and charmers that were in all his realm.
Then the king commanded to call together all the soothsayers, charmers, witches and Chaldeans, for to show the king his dream. So they came, and stood before the king.
Upon this, the Chaldeans gave answer before the king, and said, "There is no man upon earth that can tell the thing, which the king speaketh of: Yea, there is neither king, prince, nor lord that ever asked such things at a soothsayer, charmer, or Chaldean:
Daniel answered the king to his face, and said, "As for this secret, for the which the king maketh inquisition: it is neither the wise, the sorcerer, the charmer nor the devil conjurer, that can certify the king of it:
Morish
1. In Da 1:20; 2:2,10,27; 4:7; 5:7,11,15 the Hebrew word is ashshaph, signifying 'enchanter, magician;' one who practised occult arts. This word occurs nowhere else.
2. habar shamayim, one who viewed or divided the heavens, an astrologer, who professed to foretell events by the position of the planets. Isa 47:13. Babylon was wearied with its various counsellors, who doubtless often differed one from another; but it had no other resource, so it turned to its astrologers, stargazers, etc. See DIVINATION.
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Thou hast hitherto had many counsels of them; so let the heaven gazers and the beholders of stars come on now and deliver thee: yea, and let them show when these new things shall come upon thee.
Therefore stood they before the king, which in all wisdom and matters of understanding that he enquired of them, found them ten times better than all the soothsayers and charmers that were in all his realm.
Then the king commanded to call together all the soothsayers, charmers, witches and Chaldeans, for to show the king his dream. So they came, and stood before the king.
Upon this, the Chaldeans gave answer before the king, and said, "There is no man upon earth that can tell the thing, which the king speaketh of: Yea, there is neither king, prince, nor lord that ever asked such things at a soothsayer, charmer, or Chaldean:
Daniel answered the king to his face, and said, "As for this secret, for the which the king maketh inquisition: it is neither the wise, the sorcerer, the charmer nor the devil conjurer, that can certify the king of it:
So there came the soothsayers, charmers, Chaldeans and conjurers of devils: to whom I told the dream. But what it betokened, they could not show me:
Wherefore the king cried mightily, that they should bring him the charmers, Chaldeans, and the conjurers of devils. The king spake also to the wise men of Babylon, and said, "Whoso can read this writing, and show me the plain meaning thereof: shall be clothed with purple, have a chain of gold about his neck, and rule the third part of my kingdom."
For why? There is a man in thy kingdom, that hath the spirit of the holy gods within him, as it was seen in thy father's days. He hath understanding and wisdom like the gods; Yea, the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father made this man chief of the soothsayers, charmers, Chaldeans and devil conjurers:
Now have there been brought me, wise and conjuring charmers, to read this writing, and to show me the meaning thereof: but they could not tell me, what this matter signified.