Dysentery is an infectious disease characterized by severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the feces. It is typically caused by bacterial or amoebic infections and is often associated with poor sanitation and hygiene. In the context of the Bible, while the specific term "dysentery" is not directly mentioned, the symptoms and conditions related to it can be inferred from various passages that discuss plagues, diseases, and afflictions.

Biblical Context and References

In the ancient Near East, where the events of the Bible took place, dysentery would have been a common ailment due to the lack of modern sanitation and medical knowledge. The Bible often attributes diseases and plagues to divine judgment or as a consequence of sin, reflecting the understanding of health and disease in the ancient world.

One of the closest references to dysentery-like symptoms can be found in the account of King Herod's death in the New Testament. In Acts 12:23 , it is recorded, "Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." While this passage does not explicitly mention dysentery, the description of being "eaten by worms" has been interpreted by some scholars as a possible reference to a severe intestinal disease, which could include dysentery.

In the Old Testament, the curses for disobedience outlined in Deuteronomy 28 include various diseases and afflictions. Deuteronomy 28:27 states, "The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores, and the itch, from which you cannot be cured." While not specifically mentioning dysentery, the passage reflects the broader category of diseases that could include severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, diseases like dysentery in the Bible are often seen as manifestations of divine judgment or as tests of faith. The afflictions serve as reminders of human frailty and the need for reliance on God. In the biblical narrative, healing and deliverance from such diseases are frequently depicted as acts of divine mercy and power, underscoring the belief in God's sovereignty over health and sickness.

Practical Considerations

In biblical times, the treatment of diseases like dysentery would have been limited to traditional remedies and practices. The lack of modern medical interventions meant that communities relied heavily on prayer and divine intervention for healing. This reliance is evident in the numerous accounts of miraculous healings performed by Jesus and the apostles, as recorded in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly mention dysentery, the symptoms and conditions associated with it are reflected in the broader context of disease and affliction in the biblical narrative. These accounts serve to highlight the spiritual dimensions of health and illness, emphasizing the need for faith and dependence on God in times of physical suffering.2 Chronicles 21:12-19
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus said the LORD God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts XXVIII
... dysentery; to whom Paul went in, and having prayed, laid his hands upon him, and
healed him. (9) When this was done, others also in the island who had diseases ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxviii.htm

Luke.
... any ostentation of professional knowledge, in his descriptions of diseases and miracles
of ... according to Galen); [1012] and of "fevers and dysentery," of which ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 82 luke.htm

Rondelet, {7} the Huguenot Naturalist {8}
... Dysentery was epidemic at Toulouse then, and Rondelet took it. ... The man was only a
druggist's son and a heretic, who healed diseases, and collected plants, and ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/rondelet 7 the huguenot naturalist.htm

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