Negative Commandment #167

Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

167. It is a negative commandment “do not practice divination”

As it states in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18:10, “there shall not be found among you… one who practices divination.” Divination is one who hits the ground many times with a stick in his hand, screams strange noises, gets lost in thought, falls upon the earth for a long time until he is like someone sick, and then predicts the future. There are those who use sand or stones or throw a leather belt on the ground or hold a stick in their hands and say, “if I should go or if I should not go,” — all of these are considered divination. If someone does one of these things, he has transgressed this negative commandment. To use the services of a diviner is forbidden according to Rabbinic law.

This applies in all places and at all times, for men and for women.

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