Commandment Profile:

-38) No necromancy
Application to gentiles:
Required
Mandated punishment for violation:
From Heaven
Brief description:
Not to inquire of the spirits of the dead. In order to channel ghosts, some practitioners fast from food and sleep overnight in graveyards, hoping to be filled with the spiritual impurity of the dead; others perform rituals that include burning incense and other activities. Necromancy is related to the concept of sorcery.

Examples:

  • Not to attend a séance.
  • Not to use a Ouija Board.
Category:
Biblical source(s) (Rambam): Deut. 18:10-11
Biblical source (Sefer HaChinuch): Deut. 18:11
Number in Sefer HaChinuch: 515
Sources explaining relevance to gentiles:

  • Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:2
    All idolatry-related offenses forbidden for Jews, even without death penalty, are also prohibited to gentiles.

  • Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Avodas Kochavim 11:16
    Witchcraft and divination are falsehoods that lead to idolatry, and gentiles are implicitly criticized for believing in them.

  • Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 59b-60a
    Gentiles are prohibited in sorcery.