נָחַשׁ

vb. only practise divination, divine, observe signs (denom. from נָחָשׁ according to NöZeitschr. f. Völkerpsychol. i (1860), 413 BauSem. Rel., i. 287 LagBN 188 GerberVerb. Denom. 29; otherwise WeSkizzen iii. 147 MeChrest. Targ. s.v. BAES 48 (agst. him v. Sta Th Lz, April 28, 1894, 235); chief difficulty is that Aramaic, which has נַהֵשׁ, has no נָחָשׁ, cf. RSJPh. xiv. 115;—NH Qal Pt. נוֹחֵשׁ, and Pi.; Aramaic Pa. נַחֵשׁ, ܢܰܚܶܫ all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps cp. also Arabic نَحِسَ be unlucky Lane275 cf. Mel.c.);—Pf. 3 ms. וְנִחֵשׁ 2 K 21:6 2 Ch 33:6; 1 s. נִחַ֫שְׁתִּי Gn 30:27; Impf. יְנַחֵשׁ Gn 44:5, 15; 3 mpl. יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1 K 20:33, וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ 2 K 17:17; 2 mpl. תְּנַתֲשׁוּ Lv 19:26; Inf. abs. נַחֵשׁ 1 K 20:33; Pt. מְנַחֵשׁ Dt 18:10 (cf. especially RSJPh. xiv. 113 ff.);— practise divination Gn 44:5 (J; by means of cup, i.e. by hydromancy), with implied power to learn secret things v 15; condemned by proph. writer 2 K 21:6 = 2 Ch 33:6 (+ עוֹנֵן וְעָשָׂה אוֹב וְיִדְּעֹנִים), 2 K 17:17 (‖ וַיִּקְסְמוּ קְסָמִים), forbidden in D and H: Dt 18:10 (+ קֹסֵם קְסָמִים מְעוֹנֵן וּמְכַשֵּׁף), Lv 19:26 (H; ‖ תְּעוֹנֵנ֑וּ). observe the signs or omens Gn 30:27 (J); so prob. יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1 K 20:33 now the men were observing the signs.