Karetot 3: Witchcraft/Sorcery as Forms of Idol Worship, Magic Tricks

After continuing to discuss prohibited behaviour that might be included in larger categories resulting in karet, the rabbis turn to cases of idolotry.  In particular, they consider prohibitions including ba'al ov, necromancy or witchcraft, and yidoni, sorcery.  In Vayikra (20:27), the Torah teaches that one who performs these activities are liable to karet and one who asks for such services are liable to receive lashes (Vayikra 19:31).  We already learned in Sanhedrin (65) that these services are about claiming to tell the future via wizardry.  The Rambam shares more detail: a necromancer will burn incense and wave a myrtle branch while reciting a formula until the questioner hears what seems like an answer coming from the depths of the ground.  S/he might also take a skull and hold it so that it seems as if the skull is speaking.  A sorcerer is one who uses the bone of an animal or bird in his/her mouth so that it seems that the object is speaking of the future or other magical events.  

The Gemara notes one sorcerer mentioned in Sanhedrin.  King Shaul had eradicated witches from Israel.  He searched out an esher ba'alat ov to call up prophet Shmuel from the dead to get his advice (I Shmuel 28) before the Pelishtim war.  Shmuel did not appear in a regular manner; instead he spoke through the body of the esher ba'alat ov.  While the book tells that this was necromancy at work, the Geonim teach that this was both sleight of hand and psychology.  The witch was taught to read her clients' needs.  She seemed surprised to learn that King Shaul had come to her, but the message that he would be killed in battle was her own message rather than one of a ghost.