10-11. The Ba‘al ‘Ob and the Yidd‘oni

10-11. The Ba‘al ‘Ob and the Yidd‘oni.

M.VII. 7b. The Ba‘al ‘Ob, 1 that is, the Python 2 who speaks from his armpits, and the Yidd‘oni 3 who speaks from his mouth, are punishable by stoning; and he who has inquired of them (offends) against an explicit warning. 4

T. X. 6. The Ba‘al ‘Ob, that is the Python who speaks from between his joints and elbows, and the Yidd‘oni, who has the bone of a Yidd‘oni 5 in his mouth, are to be stoned; and he who inquires of them offends against an explicit warning.

7. HE WHO INQUIRES OF THE DEAD; 6---that is, one who conjures up the dead by witchcraft, or one who inquires of a skull. What is the difference between one who inquires of a skull and one who conjures up the dead by witchcraft? When one conjures up the dead by witchcraft it (the ghost) does not come up in the proper way, 7 nor will it come up on the Sabbath; but when one inquires of a skull it comes up in the ordinary way, and will also come up on the Sabbath.