Was laban using magic even no God Hates magic?

Quid est Veritas?

In Memoriam to CS Lewis
Feb 27, 2016
7,319
9,272
South Africa
✟316,433.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
Many people argue the Urim and Thummim was used for Divination of the Will of God, too. God spoke through Prophets as well, but mediums or the Witch of Endor are anathema.

The Bible condemns Divination in Leviticus, but there is perhaps a fine gradation here in how God chooses to communicate. Laban had Teraphim too, though we are against idols, so hardly a paragon of the Faith - though prior to the Law as noted above.

Regardless, the phrase 'have divined' need not mean that he did some sort of spell - it can easily just mean, I have 'foreseen' or 'surmised that', the former in English also potentially implying that you saw with the 'third eye' or whatever, but seldom if ever meant in that manner. It may just be poetic and respectful way of address.
 
Upvote 0

robycop3

Newbie
Sep 16, 2014
2,435
539
✟107,962.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Laban also had idols in his home. Remember the story in Genesis 31. And his trickery of Jacob as well as his changing of Jacob's wages are not the acts of a GODLY man.

There are several stories about Laban in ancient Jewish literature. He supposedly was also the father of Beor, who was Balaam's father, who supposedly was the father of Jannes & Jambres, as well as Bilhah & Zilpah, who became Jacob's concubines after Leah & Rachel died.

But these stories may be apocryphal. All we REALLY know about Laban is in Scripture.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

brinny

everlovin' shiner of light in dark places
Site Supporter
Mar 23, 2004
248,794
114,490
✟1,343,276.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Constitution
In Genesis 30:27 it looks like Laban is using divination.But why would Leban being doing this if he knows God hates it?Maybe he just didn't know it(that God hates magic)?:confused:

This is what is written in the KJV:

"And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake." ~Gen 30:27

It makes perfect sense. Laban is right. He DID "learn by experience" that God DID bless him for Jacob's sake.
 
Upvote 0