cast spells: These spoken formulas (special words believed to have power) were used to harm people. The person speaking the spell would call on a curse to destroy or injure someone. Balaam, a false prophet, was hired to do this against Israel (Numbers 22:2–6).
medium or spiritist: These people claimed they could speak with the spirits of the dead. They were believed to be especially skilled at calling up and communicating with these spirits (see 1 Samuel 28:3–25).