[1] _Khartummim._ The same word is used to describe the magicians whom Pharaoh summoned to interpret his dream, _Genesis_ xli. 8, where the Vulgate has _coniectores_. _Exodus_ viii. 11, the Vulgate reads: “Uocauit autem Pharao sapientes et maleficos.” [2] It is perhaps worth mentioning that even the most modernistic commentators assign the history of Balaam to the oldest document of the Hexateuch, that they call the Jehovistic. [3] In his commentary on the ninth chapter of the prophet Osee (Hosea), S. Jerome says: “Ingressi [sunt] ad Beel-Phegor, idolum Moabitarum quem nos PRIAPUM possumus appelare.” And Rufinus on the same prophet has: “Beel-Phegor figuram Priapi dixerunt tenere.” (They entered in unto Beel-Phegor, the idol of the Moabites, whom we may identify with PRIAPUS.... Beel-Phegor is said to have had the same shape as Priapus.) [4] Balaam hariolus a Domino mittitur ut decipiat Balac filium Beor. _In Ezechielem_, IV. xiv. Migne, _Patres Latini_, XXV. p. 118. (Baalam, a soothsayer, is sent by God to deceive Balac, son of Beor.) [5] Balaam fuisse prophetam non Dei, sed diaboli constat.... Fuit ipse magus, et dæmonis alloquium quærebat, eumque consulere. [6] The word is usually found with _yidde ’onim_ (from _yada_, “to know,”) and they are generally considered to be identical in meaning. But W. R. Smith, _Journ. Phil._, XIV. 127, makes the following distinction: Yidde ’oni is a familiar spirit, one known to him who calls it up; the ’ôbh is any spirit who may be invoked by a spell and forced to answer questions. [7] _Divination, et la science des présages_, Paris, 1875. p. 161 ff. [8] _History of the People of Israel_, 3 vols., London, 1888-91. I. p. 347. [9] Cf. Ovid, _Metamorphoseon_, IV, 412-3, of bats: Conatæque loqui, minimam pro corpore uocem Emittunt; peraguntque leues stridore querelas. [10] Josephus says that Samuel told the witch it was Saul. [11] Migne, _Patres Græci_, LXXX. p. 589. [12] Plerique putant Saulem signum accepisse de terra et de profundo inferni quando Samuelem per incantationes et artes magicas uisus est suscitasse. Migne, _Patres Latini_, XXIV. p. 106. [13] ... inspirantur diabolico spiritu. Has autem dicunt Hebræi maleficis artibus eruditas per necromantias et pythicum spiritum qualis fuit illa quæ uisa est suscitare animam Samuelis. _Idem_, XXV. p. 114. [14] Migne, _Patres Græci_, XLV. pp. 107-14. [15] Δαίμονες γαρ ἦσαν οἱ κατασχηματίζουτες ὲαυτοὺς εἰς τὸ τοῦ Σαμουὴλ πρόσωπον. _Idem_, XXX. p. 497. [16] Et credo quia [spiritus immundi] mendacio possunt; nec enim pythonico tunc spiritui minus liciut animam Samuelis effingere. (_De Anima_, LVII.) Migne, _Patres Latini_, II. p. 749. [17] Ἀλλὰ γέγραπται, ὁτὶ ἔγνω Σαουλ ὅτι Σαμουὴλ ἔστι. [18] ἐπεὶ οὐ δύναται ψευδέσθαι ἡ Γραφη. τὰ δε ῥήματα τῆς Γραφῆς ἐστὶν· Καὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ τὸν Σαμουήλ. (_In librum Regum._ Homilia II.) Migne, _Patres Græci_, XII. p. 1013.