Deuteronomy 18:12

12 For everyone doing these [things] [is] detestable to Yahweh, and because of these detestable things Yahweh your God [is] driving them out from {before you}.

Deuteronomy 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:12

For all that do these things are an abomination to the
Lord
Not that do all these things, but whoever does any of them, as Jarchi notes; all such persons that use such unlawful methods, or any of them, to gain knowledge; and likewise all those that consult them, and make use of them; and especially it must be very abominable in the people of Israel to encourage such persons and practices, who had the knowledge of the true God, and him to consult on all occasions; had his law and testimony to attend unto as the rule of their conduct, and his prophets to advise with in matters of difficulty; see ( Isaiah 8:20 )

and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them
out from before thee;
as well as other sins mentioned in ( Leviticus 18:24-28 ) and, as before observed from Cicero, all nations have been addicted to the arts of divination here condemned.

Deuteronomy 18:12 In-Context

10 [There] shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter go through the fire, [or] {one who practices divination}, [or] an interpreter of signs, or an augur, or sorcerer,

11 or one who casts magic spells, or one who consults [a] spirit of the dead, or spiritist, or one who inquires of the dead.

12 For everyone doing these [things] [is] detestable to Yahweh, and because of these detestable things Yahweh your God [is] driving them out from {before you}.

13 You must be blameless before Yahweh your God.

14 For these nations that you [are] about to dispossess listen to interpreters of signs and to diviners, but Yahweh your God has not allowed you to do the same.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "the face of you"