That incident is just one that indicates the variety of types of magic and cursing in the Near East.11 Thus, at least one of the things prohibited by the third commandment is the use of God’s name in magic, which was an explicit attempt to harness God’s power for personal ends or for a “worthless purpose.”12 Not only did the commandment forbid the use of God’s name in magic, but in positive terms it meant that the Israelite, by faith in the Lord, was free from any influence from the world of magic.
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