And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

The king ... found them ten times better than all the magicians - "ten times," literally, 'ten hands.'

Magicians - properly, 'sacred scribes, skilled in the sacred writings, a class of Egyptian priests' (Gesenius); [ charTumiym (H2748), from a Hebrew root, chereT (H2747), a pen]. The word in our English version, "magicians," comes from Mag, i:e., 'a priest.' The Magi formed one of the six divisions of the Medes.

Astrologers - Hebrew, 'enchanters' [ haa'ashaapiym (H825), from a root, 'aashap, 'to conceal'], practicers of the occult arts.

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