Pensée juive sur Osée 4:12

The verse goes on to state: "Let there not be found among you one who passes his son or daughter through fire, a diviner…" "One who passes his son or daughter through fire" patently refers to the worship of Moloch. "A diviner" [kosem] — there are some men whose imaging power is so strong that they can sense and foretell somewhat of the future. This power must be aroused, and to this end they resort to certain motions and stratagems. This is what Scripture refers to in (Hosea 4:12): "My people ask counsel of a piece of wood; their staff speaks to them!" "A soothsayer" [meonen] — one who engages in the selection of days, as mentioned in Sanhedrin (65b): "Today is propitious for going forth," "Tomorrow is propitious for buying," "The eves of Sabbatical years are propitious for grain; the uprooters of beans shall not suffer for it." "An augurer" [menachesh] — as indicated (Ibid): "One who says: 'His bread has fallen from his mouth' [Let him be wary!], 'His staff has fallen from his hand,' 'His son calls him from behind,' 'A raven calls him,' 'A deer has crossed his path,' 'There is a snake on his right,' 'There is a fox on his left,' 'Do not begin [your collection] with me,' 'It is morning,' 'It is the New Moon,' 'It is the conclusion of the Sabbath.'"