Arabia) is sandwiched in between two references to Solomon’s trade with Ophir.—1 Ki. 9:26–10:11.

OPHNI

(Ophʹni).

A city of Benjamin (Josh. 18:21, 24), commonly linked with the Gophna mentioned by Josephus (Wars of the Jews, Book III, chap. III, par. 5) and considered to be modern Jifna. This site is about three miles (5 kilometers) N-NW of Bethel and therefore seemingly N of Benjamite territory. (Josh. 18:11-13) For the identification to be correct, it must be assumed either that Ophni was a Benjamite enclave city in Ephraim or that the Benjamite boundary extended northward near Bethel to include this suggested site of Ophni.

OPHRAH

(Ophʹrah) [perhaps, young one].

1. A descendant of Judah through Meonothai.—1 Chron. 4:1, 14.

2. A city of Benjamin. (Josh. 18:21, 23) Its relative location may be inferred from the narrative about Israel’s encounters with the Philistines during Saul’s reign. From their camp at Michmash bands of Philistine pillagers sallied forth in three different directions. One band went westward on the road to Beth-horon, while another traveled eastward on “the road to the boundary that looks toward the valley of Zeboim.” Since at least part of the Israelite army was encamped at Geba to the S of Michmash, apparently the Philistine band taking the road to Ophrah went northward. Accordingly, this would place Ophrah to the N of Michmash.—1 Sam. 13:16-18.

Geographers often equate Ophrah with the city called Ephraim (2 Sam. 13:23; John 11:54) and Ephrain (2 Chron. 13:19), thought to be represented by et-Taiyibeh (about 4 miles [6.4 kilometers] E-NE of Bethel). But this identification is open to question, because it would seemingly locate Ophrah outside Benjamite territory.

3. The home of Gideon and the place where Jehovah’s angel commissioned him to save Israel out of Midian’s palm. (Judg. 6:11-32) After his victory over the enemy forces, Gideon made an ephod from the contributed spoils and exhibited it at Ophrah. Subsequently this ephod became an object of idolatrous veneration. (Judg. 8:24-27) Later, after Gideon’s death and burial at Ophrah, his ambitious son Abimelech “killed his brothers . . . seventy men, upon one stone, but Jotham the youngest . . . was left over.” (Judg. 8:32; 9:5) Not counting Abimelech, Gideon had seventy sons. (Judg. 8:30, 31) Therefore, since Jotham escaped the slaughter, apparently Abimelech killed only sixty-nine sons at Ophrah. Jotham’s later words concerning the incident merely appear to point to Abimelech’s intention to kill all seventy sons. (Judg. 9:18) However, as a Jewish commentary fittingly observes: “It is still correct to speak in round numbers of ‘seventy’ slain.”—The Soncino Books of the Bible, Joshua and Judges, edited by A. Cohen, p. 234.

This Ophrah apparently lay in Manasseh’s territory W of the Jordan and may also have been in the vicinity of Shechem (Josh. 17:7), as that city was the home of Gideon’s concubine by whom he fathered Abimelech. (Judg. 8:31) Another et-Taiyibeh is often suggested as a possible identification, but this site lies about sixteen miles (26 kilometers) E-NE of Shechem.

OREB

(Oʹreb) [raven].

1. A prince of Midian. Oreb and Zeeb were in the Midianite army of Kings Zebah and Zalmunna that Gideon and his 300 put to flight. The two princes were captured and put to death by men of Ephraim and their heads were brought to Gideon.—Judg. 7:24, 25; 8:3-5; Ps. 83:11.

2. The rock where Midianite prince Oreb was executed and that came to bear his name. Its location is unknown.—Judg. 7:25; Isa. 10:26.

OREN

(Oʹren) [cedar tree].

A son of Jerahmeel in the tribe of Judah.—1 Chron. 2:25.

ORIENTALS

(Ori·enʹtals) [Heb., literally, “sons of the East”].

The populace of those lands viewed by Hebrew writers as “the East.” This area was beyond the boundary of Israel not only to the E but also well up to the N and southward into Arabia. (Gen. 25:6; Jer. 49:28) Thus, when Jacob went to Laban’s household at Haran, he went “to the land of the Orientals,” NE of Canaan.—Gen. 29:1.

Job is called “the greatest of all the Orientals.” (Job 1:3) The forces that oppressed Israel before Gideon rose up and vanquished them were comprised of Amalekites and the Midianites in addition to “the Easterners,” otherwise unidentified. (Judg. 6:3, 33; 7:12; 8:10) The Orientals, noted for their wisdom, were, however, surpassed in this respect by Solomon. (1 Ki. 4:30) The so-called “wise men” or Magi who visited the young child Jesus were “astrologers from eastern parts.”—Matt. 2:1, 2, 11.

ORNAMENTS

Bible references and the evidence unearthed by archaeologists reveal, not only an interest in ornamentation from very ancient times, but also great ability and skill in producing ornamentation of high artistic caliber. Artisans did highly decorative work in weaving, embroidery, wood- and ivory-carving and in metalworking. The remains of palaces in Assyria, Babylon, Persia and the city of Mari all give evidence of rich decorating, with large murals on interior walls and finely carved bas-reliefs depicting scenes of war, hunting and palace affairs adorning both inner and outer walls. Palace doorways were often guarded by great figures of mighty beasts. The representations of the king and others in the reliefs reveal fine embroidery on their garments. Even the gear of the horses is highly decorated with tassels and engravings. (Compare the necklaces of the Midianites’ camels; Judg. 8:21, 26.)

Tomb paintings provide the principal source of evidence from Egypt, although some artifacts in the form of throne chairs, royal chariots and other items have survived. The paintings depict even foreign nomads as wearing brightly colored and patterned dress. The royal tombs at Ur in Mesopotamia produced some of the best finds in ancient jewelry, some of it of considerable intricacy in its construction. Lovely blue and gold necklaces, a headdress of delicately hammered gold and silver leaves and flowers, as well as a harp of beautifully inlaid wood with engraved shell plaques bearing scenes of animal life, are a few of the many treasures unearthed there.

Throughout Near Eastern lands pottery of all styles, and elaborately ornamented cosmetic boxes, ointment jars, mirror handles and palettes for mixing cosmetic pigments have been found, frequently of carved ivory or bone.

HEBREW AND CHRISTIAN ORNAMENTATION

The Bible lays greatest emphasis on spiritual beauty rather than on material adornment. Parental discipline is “a wreath of attractiveness” to one’s head “and a fine necklace” for the throat, a “crown of beauty”; “lips of knowledge are precious vessels” superior to any gold vases of an artisan; “as apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it,” and “an earring of gold, and an ornament of special gold, is a wise reprover upon the hearing ear.” (Prov. 1:9; 4:9; 20:15; 25:11, 12) A pretty woman lacking sensibleness is likened to “a gold nose ring in the snout of a pig.” (Prov. 11:22) These texts, while exalting spiritual qualities, also show that the Bible writers and those reading their writings were well acquainted with all such ornamentation.

Moderation is encouraged, particularly in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Women were “to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely, through good works.” (1 Tim. 2:9, 10) Peter could