In the context of the Bible, the term "tumor" is primarily associated with the afflictions that God sent upon the Philistines as a judgment for capturing the Ark of the Covenant. The primary biblical reference to tumors is found in the narrative of 1 Samuel 5-6, where the Philistines experienced a series of calamities after taking the Ark from the Israelites.

Biblical Account:

1. 1 Samuel 5:6-12 : The Lord's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, bringing devastation and afflicting them with tumors. The Philistines recognized this as a divine punishment and decided to move the Ark to different cities, but wherever the Ark went, the people were struck with tumors. The text states: "The hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He devastated them and afflicted them with tumors" (1 Samuel 5:6).

2. 1 Samuel 6:4-5 : In an attempt to appease the God of Israel, the Philistines consulted their priests and diviners, who advised them to send a guilt offering along with the Ark. This offering included golden images of the tumors and rats that had ravaged their land. The passage reads: "They replied, 'Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers'" (1 Samuel 6:4).

Theological Implications:

The affliction of tumors upon the Philistines serves as a demonstration of God's power and sovereignty. It underscores the holiness of the Ark of the Covenant and the necessity of reverence towards the sacred objects and symbols of God's presence. The narrative illustrates the consequences of disrespecting or mishandling what is consecrated to God.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, diseases and physical afflictions were often interpreted as divine judgments or signs. The Philistines, recognizing the supernatural nature of their suffering, sought to rectify their offense by returning the Ark and offering reparations. This reflects the broader ancient belief in appeasing deities through offerings and rituals to alleviate divine wrath.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The tumors, along with the accompanying plague of rats, symbolize the physical and spiritual corruption that results from sin and disobedience to God. The Philistines' experience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of opposing God's will and the importance of acknowledging His authority.

Related Biblical Themes:

· Divine Judgment: The affliction of tumors is a manifestation of God's judgment, a recurring theme throughout the Bible where God punishes nations and individuals for their sins.
· Holiness of God: The narrative emphasizes the sanctity of the Ark and the necessity for proper reverence and treatment of holy objects.
· Repentance and Atonement: The Philistines' decision to send a guilt offering highlights the biblical principle of seeking forgiveness and making amends for wrongdoing.

In summary, the biblical account of tumors in 1 Samuel serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the need for reverence and repentance in the face of divine judgment.1. (n.) A morbid swelling, prominence, or growth, on any part of the body; especially, a growth produced by deposition of new tissue; a neoplasm.

2. (n.) Affected pomp; bombast; swelling words or expressions; false magnificence or sublimity.

TUMOR

tu'-mer, tu'-mor (`ophel): the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes this word for "emerods" in 1 Samuel 5:12; 1 Samuel 6:4 Deuteronomy 28:27 margin.

See EMERODS.

6076b. ophel -- a tumor
... ophel. 6077 . a tumor. Transliteration: ophel Short Definition: tumors. Word Origin
from aphal Definition a tumor NASB Word Usage tumors (6). 6076a, 6076b. ...
/hebrew/6076b.htm - 5k

6076. ophel -- a mound, hill
... emerod, fort, strong hold, tower From aphal; a tumor; also a mound, ie Fortress --
emerod, fort, strong hold, tower. see HEBREW aphal. 6075b, 6076. ...
/hebrew/6076.htm - 5k

2914. techor -- tumors (a result of dysentery)
... emerod. From an unused root meaning to burn; a boil or ulcer (from the inflammation),
especially a tumor in the anus or pudenda (the piles) -- emerod. ...
/hebrew/2914.htm - 6k

Lives of Faith and Trust
... A SEVERE TUMOR HEALED. ... I then asked her if she would trust the Lord to remove this
tumor and restore her to health and to her missionary work. ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/lives of faith and trust.htm

1 Cor. Iv. 6
... And mark with what literal propriety he saith, be not "puffed up:" for that which
is puffed up hath a certain tumor of spirit, from being filled with corrupt ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xii 1 cor iv.htm

The Fulton St. Prayer Meeting.
... By the help of eight physicians, and in answer to prayer, partly of this meeting,
a fearful tumor has been taken from me weighing twelve pounds, with three ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/the fulton st prayer meeting.htm

The Reconnoitering of Greece.
... [Footnote E: It was a tumor of the breast, which became, at length, an open ulcer,
and began to spread and enlarge in a very formidable manner.]. ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter vi the reconnoitering of.htm

Of Boasting.
... nothing. 12. And now having dissected this swelling vice, and seen what
it is that feeds the tumor, the cure suggests itself. If ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section ix of boasting.htm

1 Cor. xvi. 10
... which he hath. And foment him with thy commendations as it were with warm
water, and so mitigate the tumor of his wound. Speak of ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xliv 1 cor xvi.htm

Rom. Iv. 23
... If when braced up he is altered, much more when in a state of tumor (chaunoumenos).
And how am I, one may ask, to keep from being so altered by tribulation? ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily ix rom iv 23.htm

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
The Wonders of Prayer. <. ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/another wonderful record of 25 00.htm

Tumor
... 2. (n.) Affected pomp; bombast; swelling words or expressions; false magnificence
or sublimity. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TUMOR. ...
/t/tumor.htm - 7k

Rising (162 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) That which rises; a tumor; a boil. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RISING.
riz'-ing (se'eth, "a tumor," "swelling" (Leviticus 13:2, 10, etc.)). ...
/r/rising.htm - 36k

Tumors (8 Occurrences)

/t/tumors.htm - 9k

Gathering (71 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A crowd; an assembly; a congregation. 5. (n.) A charitable contribution;
a collection. 6. (n.) A tumor or boil suppurated or maturated; an abscess. ...
/g/gathering.htm - 28k

Grape (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The plant which bears this fruit; the grapevine. 3. (n.) A mangy tumor on
the leg of a horse. 4. (n.) Grapeshot. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/grape.htm - 13k

Wart (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A small, usually hard, tumor on the skin formed by enlargement of its vascular
papillae, and thickening of the epidermis which covers them. ...
/w/wart.htm - 7k

Wen (1 Occurrence)
... A "wen" is a non-inflamed indolent tumor, and so "wen" is about as far as possible
from the meaning of the Hebrew. Multi-Version Concordance Wen (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/wen.htm - 7k

Tumbling (1 Occurrence)

/t/tumbling.htm - 7k

Resolution (1 Occurrence)
... equation or problem. 7. (n.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination,
as of a fever, a tumor, or the like. 8. (n.) The passing ...
/r/resolution.htm - 7k

Resolve (3 Occurrences)
... answer to, or the result of. 8. (vi) To disperse or scatter; to discuss,
as an inflammation or a tumor. 9. (vi) To let the tones ...
/r/resolve.htm - 9k

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