Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (Full Version)

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Marcus. -> Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/10/2008 1:40:50 PM)

Did Captured Ark Afflict Philistines with E.D.?

By Aren M. Maeir

I’ve always been troubled by the Philistine hemorrhoids. The Hebrew word is ‘opalim (Mylpe). That was supposedly their affliction when they captured the Ark of the Covenant and placed it before a statue of their god Dagon.

The story is told about the Ark (sometimes called the Ark of God) when it was resting at Shiloh, cared for by Eli the priest, before it was ultimately brought to Jerusalem by King David. The Israelites had engaged their enemies the Philistines in battle at Ebenezer.a The battle went badly for the Israelites, and Eli’s sons allowed the Ark to be brought from Shiloh to the battlefield at Ebenezer as a paladin in the hope that this would turn the tide of battle. Instead, the Philistines captured the Ark (1Samuel 5–6).

The Philistines took the Ark to Ashdod and placed it before a statue of Dagon in the Philistine temple. The next day, the Philistines found Dagon toppled, lying on the ground. They set him back up, but the same thing happened the next day. The text goes on to tell us that “the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites.” The Lord afflicted them with “hemorrhoids” (‘opalim).

Story Continues

When we say God fights unlike man...... He really knows how to let folks know when He is fighting. [8D]



stampinlady -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/10/2008 5:31:25 PM)

Ouch!!! We just finshed reading 1 Samuel for our family devotions and we all craked up at that story. Love the Golden Rats that the Philistines sent.



FurGodWurLivin -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/11/2008 3:05:10 AM)

Marcus, I doubt it was E.D. that God struck the Phillistines with. Every scholar I have heard talk about this passage publically has said that it was most likely the Bubonic Plague... the idea being that that is why the Phillistines sent images of their tumors and five golden rats. Seems plausible to me.

Adam



Doc65 -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/11/2008 11:21:09 AM)

Now this, I have to say, would really create some attention during a Bible study!



Marcus. -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/11/2008 1:59:24 PM)

If nothing else, it does wake one up. [;)]



GrahamCracker -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/11/2008 10:15:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FurGodWurLivin

Marcus, I doubt it was E.D. that God struck the Phillistines with. Every scholar I have heard talk about this passage publically has said that it was most likely the Bubonic Plague... the idea being that that is why the Phillistines sent images of their tumors and five golden rats. Seems plausible to me.

Adam


That makes sense. However, I wondered exactly what a sculpted hemorrhoid, minus the body on which it came, would look like. I never quite figured that one out. If it were a plague bubo, it comes closer but I still gotta wonder----...



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Did Captured Ark of the Covenant Afflict Philistines with E.D.? (6/14/2008 11:17:45 AM)

Well, every scholar I have heard talk about this passage publicly has said that it most likely was hemorrhoids, as some of the most trusted translators write. It was further explained that the Scripture is about ancient Egypt, and they had no fancy porcelain bowls to go potty in; that was done in an field somewhere for most folk most of the time. When they would go, hemorrhoids cause pain, strain, and blood. Mice are sneaky creatures: while these guys were busy doing their business, the mice, which are attracted to blood, would bite and otherwise bother them.



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