Belomancy (Divination by Arrows) - A Biblical Perspective

Belomancy (Divination by Arrows) - A Biblical Perspective

Relying on different types of divination and other superstitions when making important decisions is a very well documented phenomenon throughout history. Monarchs are not an exception from that, and many have made terrible decisions when doing so.

While we know that God, our Lord, forbade the practice of divination and fortune telling, it, sadly, has ot stopped rulers of different states from 'employing' it.

Relief depicting Nebucgadnezzer II with a bow and arrow.

This was also the case in the Ancient Middle East in the times of the Tanakh/Old Testament.

The Biblical text tells us how the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar made an incredibly important decision. In Ezekiel 21 we read the following:

"For the king of Babylon standeth at the parting of the way, by the heads of the two ways, to use divination; he shaketh the arrows to and fro, he inquireth of the teraphim, he looketh in the liver."

(Ezekiel 21:21)

This verse described Nebuchadnezzer's usage of divination with arrow tops (nowadays termed belomancy) in determining whether to attack Jerusalem, which, as we know, did not end up well for him.



The mentioned shaking of arrows "to and fro" refers to a historically common divination practice involving shaking and throwing arrow tops like dice and 'reading' them in order to 'determine' what is about to happen in the future.

This is one excellent example prooving that disobeying God's commandments can only lead to bad outcomes.

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