Desperately desiring a clue regarding its outcome, he went to consult the oracle of Delphi. Thou shalt go, thou shalt return, never shalt thou perish in war. He chose to understand the oracle in the former way and therefore waged war against Rome. Pyrrhus was utterly defeated. Such cases made ancient oracles notorious for being vague and enigmatic.
Some critics maintain that the prophecies found in the Bible are no better than the oracles.
These critics speculate that Biblical predictions were merely shrewd foretelling of future events by very clever and keenly perceptive individuals, usually of the priestly class. Supposedly, just by experience or through their special connections, these men foresaw the natural development of certain situations. By comparing the various characteristics of Bible prophecies with those of oracles, we will be better equipped to draw proper conclusions. The trademark of oracles was their ambiguity. At Delphi, for example, the answers provided were uttered in unintelligible sounds.