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OPHIR

(Heb. ʾôpîr)

(PLACE)

A nation with whom Israel conducted maritime relations from as early as the time of Solomon (1 Kgs. 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; 2 Chr. 8:18; 9:10). Ophir supplied gold, precious stones, and wood to both Solomon and Hiram of Tyre through Ezion-geber on the Red Sea. Ophir’s gold was so well known that it came to symbolize wealth and decadence in contrast with wisdom and faith (Job 22:24; 28:16; Isa. 13:12).

The identification of Ophir has yielded a number of possibilities. If an association is believed between Ophir and the descendant of Joktan (Gen. 10:29-30), then the eastern hill country of v. 30 makes a case of an Arabian identification. The mention of Ophir (1 Kgs. 10:11) within the queen of Sheba narrative may bolster Ophir’s identification with Seba in southwest Arabia. India remains a possibility with its ivory and exotic primates (1 Kgs. 10:22), although ch. 10 may imply a different trading partner. Africa also possesses the commodities imported from Ophir. An inscription from Tell Qasile provides the only surviving extrabiblical reference to Ophir, but it lacks useful geographical information.

Bibliography. B. Maisler, “Two Hebrew Ostraca from Tell Qasîle,” JNES 10 (1951): 265-67.

Ryan Byrne

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

OPHIR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)