physician Summary and Overview

Asa, afflicted with some bodily malady, "sought not to the Lord but to the physicians" (2 Chr. 16:12). The "physicians" were those who "practised heathen arts of magic, disavowing recognized methods of cure, and dissociating the healing art from dependence on the God of Israel. The sin of Asa was not, therefore, in seeking medical advice, as we understand the phrase, but in forgetting Jehovah."

PHYSI'CIAN . It was natural that the Jews should have learned something about medicine in Egypt, where, at the time of their stay in the country, this art was cultivated with great zeal. It also appears from several passages in the books of Moses that at his time there were not only midwives, but also surgeons and physicians, among the Jews. Thus it was ordained, Ex 21:19, that he who hurt another should not only pay for the loss of time, but also "cause him to be thoroughly healed." At a later period surgeons and physicians became quite numerous. 2 Chr 16:12; Jer 8:22; Mark 5:26. A special physician was appointed at the temple, and every parish had its surgeon and physician. The art, however, never reached any high degree of perfection in Palestine, because the people were prevented from acquiring sufficient anatomical knowledge by their great aversion to contact with dead bodies; and to the last we find them employing amulets, charms, invocations, etc., as remedies. Some medical knowledge was demanded of the priests, who exercised a kind of sanitary superintendence; also the prophets gave medical advice. 2 Kgs 4:18; 2 Kgs 20:7. But generally medicine was cultivated as a separate profession. Luke was a physician. Col 4:14.