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A New Interpretation of the Term opalim (see pdf for image) in the Light of Recent Archaeological Finds from Philistia

Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel

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.

Key Words: Philistine • Iron Age • cult • religion • archaeology • Levant • phallus • ark.

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