Why Israel Seeks the Living God and Not Ghosts or Familiar Spirits

SPEAK UNTO THE PRIESTS. What is written above on this matter? AND A MAN OR A WOMAN IN WHOM THERE IS A GHOST OR A FAMILIAR SPIRIT, etc. (Leviticus 20:27). This is what Scripture says: AND WHEN THEY SAY UNTO YOU, INQUIRE OF THE GHOSTS AND OF THE FAMILIAR SPIRITS (Isaiah 8:19). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: If they say to you, Inquire of the ghosts, and forsake the God who is in heaven, say to them, SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE INQUIRE OF ITS GOD? (ibid.). Just as Elijah said to Ahaziah, IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL, etc.? (2 Kings 1:3). Why should we forsake the Life of the worlds? BUT THE LORD IS THE TRUE GOD, [HE IS THE LIVING GOD AND THE EVERLASTING KING] (Jeremiah 10:10). And it is written, BUT YOU WHO CLEAVE UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALIVE (Deuteronomy 4:4). Therefore let us inquire of the living God; but [the god of] the nations of the world is dead—LIKE THEM SHALL BE THOSE WHO MAKE THEM (Psalms 115:8). What is written after it? TO THE TORAH AND TO THE TESTIMONY; [IF THEY SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAWN FOR HIM] (Isaiah 8:20). Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Lakish: Rabbi Yochanan said, The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If they do not speak according to this word to the nations of the world, who have no dawn. [And Rabbi Lakish says: WHO HAS NO DAWN—] the ghosts and the familiar spirits do not bring up the dawn even for themselves, for they are set in darkness, and all the more so for the nations of the world. And should you say, Of whom shall we inquire?—behold, it says, AND YOU SHALL COME UNTO THE LEVITICAL PRIESTS AND UNTO THE JUDGE, etc., ACCORDING TO THE TORAH THAT THEY SHALL TEACH YOU (Deuteronomy 17:9, 11).