Bible Question: In the Old Testament the word "seer" appears and is refered to as a spiritual office designated by God. We know for instance that Samuel was a "seer" and we know further that a "seer" must be a prophet but not all prophets were "seers". Is there Hebrew research available that describes in any detail how the "seer" physically functioned in his office. |
Bible Answer: I don't know about someones specific research, but I do know some about the Old Testament. There were various sources of knowledge about God. Seers were people that saw. Compare this to the oracle at Delphi (oracle - to see ) She saw visions when she sat by a spring in a grove of trees. One word in Hebrew for spring is the word for eye. Abraham frequently camped by the trees of Mamre. The seer might have functioned like that. Another type of office was the dreamer. From Joseph to Daniel, dreams and dream interpretation was considered important. A third office was the Hearer. Many prophet say This is the WORD of God. The focus was on having heard God's voice. These men spoke what they heard, not what they saw or dreamed. Some peophets would get revelation by more than one method. Douglas |