Death-Dealing Witchcraft in the Bible? Notes on the Condemnation of the 'Daughters' in Ezekiel 13:17-23

Abstract

The essay proposes a new reading of Ezekiel 13:17–23, drawing on ancient Near Eastern materials to argue that the exiled ‘daughters’ were likely not practising the binding magic of the kaššāptu (Akk.) ‘witch’ but a defensive, even therapeutic, binding magic similar to that of the Babylonian āšipu ‘exorcist’. Through their magic-bands Ezekiel’s female opponents are said to bring ‘death’ (v. 19), but this is best explained as either the women’s prophetic declaration of who was to live or die, or as the judgement of YHWH upon those in the community who believed their ‘lies’ and ‘false visions’, refusing to heed Ezekiel’s warnings. Deception by unauthorised prophecy, divination, and magic is the key issue.