A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit,.... Or the spirit of Python or divination, see Leviticus 19:31; such as the damsel had in Acts 16:16; a woman is here particularly mentioned, though before included in the above law; because, as Aben Ezra says, such sort of practices were more frequently committed by women; to which Maimonides l adds another reason, because men have a natural clemency towards the female sex, and are not easily prevailed upon to put them to death; therefore the law says, "thou shall not suffer a witch to live",
or that is a wizard; a knowing one, who pretends to a great deal of knowledge of things; as of lost or stolen goods, and even knowledge of things future, and imposes upon persons, and cheats them of their money they give for information: such
shall surely be put to death: and not spared through favour and affection: the death they are to be put to follows:
they shall stone them with stones; until they are dead; of the manner of stoning, Acts 7:58;
their blood [shall be] upon them: they are worthy of death, and they shall suffer it: this phrase following upon the former, the Jews m gather from hence, that, wherever it is used, it is to be understood of stoning; Leviticus 20:9.
l Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 37. m Torat Cohanim in Yalcut in loc.