Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

OPHEL

(Heb. ʾōpel)

The southeast ridge between the Kidron and Tyropoeon Valleys, fortified by David as his capital (cf. 2 Sam. 5:9). The Ophel was the site of construction activity by Jotham (2 Chr. 27:3) and Manasseh (33:14), and following the Exile temple servants who lived on the Ophel repaired its walls (Neh. 3:26-27; 11:21). In the mid-8th century b.c.e. (2 Chr. 27:3) the word “ophel” may have replaced the earlier term “millo” to specifically designate the citadel of Jerusalem. The area was called Ophlas by Josephus (BJ 5.145; 5.254), a Greek transliteration of Aram. ʾapla, and was considered by Josephus to be situated below the southeast corner of the present-day temple mount. Josephus distinguished the Ophel from the Akra fortress, farther down the same ridge (BJ 5.253; 6.354). The area has been excavated by Kathleen Kenyon and Yigal Shiloh.

The Hebrew term means “hill,” “mound,” or “bulge” (Isa. 32:14; Mic. 4:8), and with the definite article can designate a specific hill, e.g., Samaria, where Elisha’s house stood (2 Kgs. 5:24; NRSV “citadel”). The term is also used in the Mesha stela from Dibon, which mentions a “wall of the Ophel” in Kerak.

Bibliography. Y. Shiloh, Excavations at the City of David 1. Qedem 19 (Jerusalem, 1984).

Kenneth Atkinson

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

OPHEL

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)