Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology

A reevaluation of the term 'tōr' in biblical texts, traditionally translated as 'turtledove,' challenges its conventional interpretation. Scholars propose alternative renderings based on zooarchaeological data from the Southern Levant, suggesting that sacrificial birds in ancient Israel may not have been exclusively domesticated. This finding has implications for understanding Israelite cult practices and the relationship between household boundaries and ritual spaces. The study combines archaeological bird remains with biblical indications to refine interpretations of sacrificial rituals.

Begg, C. T., Urbrock, W. J., Matthews, V. H., Spencer, J. R., Payne, R. C., & Guyette, F. W. (2021). Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology. Old Testament Abstracts, 44(1), 40–68. https://doi.org/10.1353/ota.2021.0004