Old Testament Prophecy as Divination: the Case of Isaiah 14:28–32

Abstract

Comparative studies of ancient Near Eastern prophecy in recent years have focussed on the distinction between inductive forms of divination, such as extispicy and astrology, which involve the so-called "scholarly" interpretation of natural phenomena and non-inductive, or mediumistic, forms of divination, usually associated with various forms of shamanism, including prophecy. Using Isaiah 14:28-32 as a test case, this article questions the epistemological distinction between inductive and intuitive divination in the ancient Near East on the basis of recent anthropological theory that claims a combination of inductive, intuitive, and interpretive techniques wherever divination is practiced.