Ophel: Hill; mound, the long, narrow, rounded promontory on the southern
slope of the temple hill, between the Tyropoeon and the Kedron valley
(2 Chronicles 27:3; 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26,27) It was surrounded by a separate wall, and
was occupied by the Nethinim after the Captivity. This wall has been
discovered by the engineers of the Palestine Exploration Fund at the
south-eastern angle of the temple area. It is 4 feet below the present
surface. In
(2 Kings 5:24) this word is translated "tower" (R.V.,
"hill"), denoting probably some eminence near Elisha's house.
