Dysentery, a severe form of diarrhea with blood, is not explicitly mentioned by name in the Bible. However, the symptoms and conditions associated with dysentery can be inferred from various passages that discuss disease, plagues, and divine judgment. In biblical times, diseases were often seen as manifestations of divine displeasure or as trials to be endured.

Old Testament References:

1. Deuteronomy 28:27-28 : "The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores, and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind." While not specifically mentioning dysentery, this passage is part of the curses for disobedience, indicating severe physical afflictions that could encompass a range of diseases, potentially including dysentery.

2. Leviticus 26:16 : "then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain because your enemies will eat it." The mention of "wasting disease" and "fever" could be interpreted to include conditions like dysentery, which are characterized by severe dehydration and wasting.

3. 2 Chronicles 21:18-19 : "After all this, the LORD afflicted him with an incurable disease of the bowels. In the course of time, after a period of two years, his intestines came out because of the disease, and he died in severe pain." This passage describes the affliction of King Jehoram, which could be seen as a severe intestinal disease, possibly akin to dysentery.

New Testament References:

1. Acts 28:8 : "His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him." This is a direct reference to dysentery, where the Apostle Paul heals the father of Publius on the island of Malta. This account highlights the power of prayer and divine intervention in healing.

General Considerations:

In biblical times, diseases like dysentery were often linked to unclean conditions, poor sanitation, and the consumption of contaminated food or water. The Law of Moses provided various regulations concerning cleanliness and sanitation, which, while primarily spiritual in nature, also had practical health benefits.

Leviticus 15:2 : "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean." This passage, while not specifically about dysentery, underscores the importance of cleanliness and the handling of bodily discharges, which could include symptoms similar to dysentery.

The biblical perspective on disease often intertwines physical ailments with spiritual lessons, emphasizing the need for obedience, faith, and reliance on God for healing and protection.Acts 28:8
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
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