Abstract
In the light of recent archaeological finds from Iron Age Philistia and comparative evidence from Aegean and ancient Near Eastern cults, a new interpretation is suggested for the term opalim ( ), mentioned in the `ark narrative' (e.g. 1 Sam. 5.6; 6.5). Although most often interpreted as relating to `haemorrhoids' or the bubonic plague, it is suggested that this, in fact, is a term referring to an affliction of the Philistines' membra virile.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 22-40 |
| Journal | Journal for the Study of the Old Testament |
| Volume | 32 |
| State | Published - 2007 |