belomancy

[From Gr. βελομαντία (belomantia) = divination by drawing arrows out of the quiver; from βέλος ( belos ) = a mi ile, as an arrow, a dart, and μαντεία (manteia) = prophesying, power of divination; μαντεύομαι ( manteuomai ) = to divine, to prophesy, from μάντις (mantis) = one who divines, a seer, a prophet.] Divination by means of arrows or other mi iles. It is alluded to in Scripture in Ezek. xxi. 21 (in Heb. ver. 26), where Nebuchadnezzar, standing at the divergence of two roads, in uncertainty as to whether he should first go against Rabbah or Jerusalem, had recourse to divination, and, according to our version, "made his arrows bright." Gesenius renders the words "moved about his arrows" or "shook together his arrows." Perhaps, as some think, he inscribed the name of a city on each arrow, shook them all together, and then drew one out at random, resolved to attack the city whose name came first forth. "Belomancy, or divination by arrows, hath been in request with Scythians, Alans, Germans, with the Africans and Turks of Algier." - Browne: Vulgar Errours.