Luke's word for needle, in the parallel of this passage in
Matthew, is BELONH which is different than the word the latter uses.
Moulton and Milligan cite Hobart to the effect that BELONH refers
specifically to the needle used in surgical operations (W. K. Hobart,
_The Medical Language of Saint Luke_, [London, 1882], p. 61, as cited in
M&M, s.v. BELONH). Nevertheless, I could find no medical references to
BELONH in L&S or BAGD.
Luke's use, however, of a different word meaning "needle" does
indicate that attestation for this interpretatation is very ancient; and
Bl-DeB is probably correct in considering the v. l. in Matthew of KAMILOS
for KAMHLOS a "later artificial rationalization" (Bl-DeB, #24).
-- David L. Moore Director Miami, Florida, USA Department of Education dvdmoore@ix.netcom.com Southeastern Spanish District http://www.netcom.com/~dvdmoore of the Assemblies of God