ORACLE (Or'a.-1(1), (Heb. deb-eer', from daw-bar', to speak); (Gr. Xtrywv, log'ee-on, utterance of God). Among the Jews several sorts (A oracles are distinguished.
1. Those delivered vini voce; as when God spake to Nloses face to face, and as one friend speaks to another (Num. xii :8).
2. Prophetical dreams ; as those which God sent to Joseph, foretelling his future greatness (Gen. xxxvii :5, 6).
3. Visions ; as when a prophet in an ecstasy had supernatural revelations (Gen. xv:i ; xlvi :2).
4. The response of Urim and Thummim, which accompanied the ephod, or the pectoral worn by the high-priest (Num. xxvii :21 ; Joel ii :28). This manner of inquiring of the Lord was often used, front Joshua's time to the erection of the temple at Jerusalem 6 Sam. xxiii :9; xxx:7) after which they generally consulted the prophets.
6. Some of the Jews claimed that upon the ceasing of prophecy, God gave them what they call Bath-kal, the daughter of the voice, which was a supernatural manifestation of the Divine will, either by a strong inspiration or internal voice, or by a sensible and external voice, heard by a number of persons sufficient to bear testi mony to it ; such as the voice heard at the bap tism of Christ.
6. The most ancient oracle on record, probably, is that given to Rebekah (Gen. xxv :23), but the most complete instance is that of the child Sam uel 6 Sam. iii). The place was the residence
of the ark, the regular station of worship. The manner was by an audible and distinct voice.
7. The highest instances of oracles are those voices which, being formed in the air by a power superior to nature, bore testimony to the celestial character of the Divine 'Messiah; as at his bap tism (Matt. iii :17 ; Mark i :1 ; Luke iii :22), and again at his transfiguration (Matt. xvii :5 ; Luke ix :35). "And this voice that came from heaven," says St. Peter, "we heard" (2 Pet. i :18). Noth ing can exceed the grandeur and majesty of these oracles; and they could not but forcibly impress the minds of all who witnessed them.
8. By the oracles, in the heathen world, were understood the shrines where utterances concern ing the future were given and the utterance it self. The Greeks had many such oracles, of which the most famous was the oracle of Delphi. The priestess, sitting on a tripod over a chasm from which an intoxicating vapor was said to ascend, uttered incoherent words, which were then interpreted by a prophet. These oracles at one time stood in high repute and were consulted by kings. They did not, however, withstand very long the corruptive power of money and bribery.