Old Testament

Daniel 1:20, 2:2, 4:7, 5:7
20In every matter concerning wisdom and understanding that the king sought from them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians[] and spell casters in his entire kingdom.
2The king gave orders to summon the magicians, the spell casters, the sorcerers, and the astrologers[] to relate the king's dream to him. So they came and stood before the king.
7Then the magicians, the spell casters, the astrologers, and the diviners came, and I told them the dream. However, they could not make its meaning known to me.
7The king called out loudly to bring the spell casters, the astrologers, and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever is able to read this writing and explain its meaning will be clothed in purple, with a gold chain around his neck, and he will rule as third highest in the kingdom.”

Footnotes

  • 1:20 The distinctions between the various kinds of occult practitioners are unclear.
  • 2:2 In the book of Daniel there are two homonyms, both pronounced kasdim. One word refers to a type of astronomer/astrologer. The other word refers to the Chaldeans, the ethnic group that ruled Babylon. In most cases the context indicates the correct meaning.