Men who pretended to foretell future events by means of astronomical observations. It was fancied that the stars and planets had an influence, for good or for evil, on human affairs, and that certain aspects and relative positions of the heavenly bodies were full of meaning to those who had skill to interpret them, Daniel 2:2 . These superstitions were prevalent among the Chaldeans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Arabians, and were closely connected with the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, Deuteronomy 4:19 17:3 2 Kings 23:5,12 Jeremiah 19:13 Ezekiel 8:16 Zephaniah 1:5 . They were thus idolatrous in their spirit, robbed God of his glory, and were highly offensive in his sight.