you'll enjoy this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_of_Endor#Judaism >>The Israelites went sometimes to consult Beelzebub, god of Ekron, to know if they should recover from their sickness. The history of the evocation of Samuel by the witch of Endor is well known. I am aware that some difficulties are raised concerning this history. I shall deduce nothing from it here, except that this woman passed for a witch, that Saul esteemed her such, and that this prince had exterminated the magicians in his own states, or, at least, that he did not permit them to exercise their art. — Calmet, Chapter 7 on Magic So the Israelites of the Old Testament had a fear & hatred for witches due to them having real power, whereas they did not. They were hypocrites too.