The concept of a "fee for divination" is addressed in several passages throughout the Bible, often in a negative context. Divination, in biblical terms, refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means, which is consistently condemned in Scripture.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, divination is explicitly prohibited. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The practice of divination is often associated with pagan nations and false prophets. In Ezekiel 13:6-7 , God condemns false prophets who engage in divination: "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?"

Fee for Divination in the Context of Balaam

One of the most notable biblical figures associated with a fee for divination is Balaam. In Numbers 22, Balak, the king of Moab, sends messengers to Balaam with the "fee for divination" to curse the Israelites. Numbers 22:7 records, "The elders of Moab and Midian left with the fee for divination in hand, and they came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak."

Balaam's account illustrates the tension between the lure of financial gain through divination and obedience to God. Although Balaam initially refuses to curse Israel, he is later rebuked by God for his willingness to entertain Balak's request for monetary gain (Numbers 22:32-35).

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the practice of divination and the acceptance of fees for such practices continue to be condemned. Acts 16:16-19 recounts the account of a slave girl in Philippi who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much profit by fortune-telling. When Paul cast out the spirit, her owners were outraged at the loss of their income, demonstrating the financial motivations often tied to divination.

The New Testament further warns against false teachers and prophets who exploit others for financial gain. 2 Peter 2:15 references Balaam as an example of such behavior: "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness."

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the fee for divination represents a broader theme of the misuse of spiritual gifts and the pursuit of profit over piety. The Bible consistently warns against practices that seek to manipulate spiritual truths for personal gain, emphasizing instead a reliance on God's wisdom and guidance. The condemnation of divination and its associated fees underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the rejection of practices that lead believers away from Him.