Ophir
Sign in to saveOphir (; ) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. Its existence is attested to by an inscribed pottery shard found at Tell Qasile (in modern-day Tel Aviv) in 1946, dating to the eighth century BC, which reads "gold of Ophir to/for Beth-Horon [...] 30 shekels". The location of Ophir is unknown, though the find confirms it as a real place which exported gold.
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Biblical references
- Theorized locations
- Possible ancient trade routes
- Sumatra and Malay Peninsula
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Ryukyu Islands
- Africa
- Mahd adh Dhahab, Arabia
- Inspiration or named after
- Americas
- Australia and New Zealand
- Solomon Islands
- Mars
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Ophir (; ) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. Its existence is attested to by an inscribed pottery shard found at Tell Qasile (in modern-day Tel Aviv) in 1946, dating to the eighth century BC, which reads "gold of Ophir to/for Beth-Horon [...] 30 shekels". The location of Ophir is unknown, though the find confirms it as a real place which exported gold.
==Biblical references== Ophir in Genesis 10 (the Table of Nations) is said to be the name of one of the sons of Joktan. The Books of Kings and Chronicles tell of a joint expedition to Ophir by King Solomon and the Tyrian king Hiram I from Ezion-Geber, a port on the Red Sea, that brought back large amounts of gold, precious stones and 'algum wood' and of a later failed expedition by king Jehoshaphat of Judah. The famous 'gold of Ophir' is referenced in several other books of the Hebrew Bible, in particular Isaiah 13:12 refers to the "golden wedge of Ophir".