If gold was to be seen on the surface of the ground, word of such a thing would surely have reached Judea. Sofala, a seaport near Mozambique on the east coast of Africa, has been advanced as the site of Ophir, both on linguistic grounds and from the nature of its products, for there all the articles of 1 Kings 10:22 could be procured. Others dispute this and say a much more plausible location for Ophir is in modern-day Tunisia home to the Afri people. In the LXX. Some region famous for its gold (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; Job 22:24; 28:16; Isaiah 13:12). sect.6. Since Solomon's day scholars made little effort to find the lost mine until the 1930's when an American mining engineer, T. A. Rickard, reviewed the recorded history of Ophir and doubted the existence of any gold mine in Arabia that could have been that rich. In Greek, the name Ophir has origins from the word Ophis, which means serpent. But King Solomon used a portion of his gold to fashion items such as shields, cups, and plates. The Ophir of Genesis 10:29 beyond doubt belonged to this region, and the search for Ophir in more distant lands can be made only on the precarious assumption that the Ophir of Kings is not the same as the Ophir of Genesis. 1. It describes the fall of the angels (watchers), visions of heaven and hell and the birth of Noah. Although many archeologists claimed to have found the lost mine of Ophir, there has been no conclusive evidence. Our investigations have now confirmed that the old mine could have been as rich as described in biblical accounts and, indeed, is a logical candidate to be the lost Ophir, said Dr. Robert W. Luce, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey who was part of an AmericanSaudi team exploring in the area. Ophir should really exist somewhere within this body of water. The bible contains great stories. Apparently, round trips to Ophir took three years. 98, written between 1519-22, Ophir can be found by first traveling from the Cape of Good Hope to India.

Others still suppose it to have been Southern Arabia. The name also supposedly relateswith the Phoenicians as well.

The Radioactive Medicine of the 1920s. It should be our most earnest study to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ. Hiram ruled a region known at the time as Tyre, which is believed to be located within modern-day Lebanon. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. All rights reserved. Josephus has identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. Related: Yamashitas Gold: The Philippine Treasure Caves. Apocrypha. Hope of Israel In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. Great Zimbabwe ruins. But if any one has this world's wealth and looks on while his brother is in need and shows no sympathy for him, how can the love of God remain in him? Some region famous for its gold (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; Job 22:24; 28:16; Isaiah 13:12).

Scholars believe that Solomon worked with another regent, Phoenician King Hiram, to acquire vast quantities of gold. Bible Verses About Love. This is also often associated with parts of Afghanistan. Geographical Position:At all times the geographical position of Ophir has been a subject of dispute, the claims of three different regions being principally advanced, namely(1) India and the Far East,(2) Africa,(3) Arabia. The gold and the //christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/trust in godtrue wisdom.htm, Isaiah's haughtiness of the terrible. Where was Ophir? From sampling old slopes and from production figures during the 1939 to 1954 period when the mine was reactivated to extract gold and silver, the geological survey scientists estimated that in biblical times much gold must have been found at or near the surface. All of these suggestions really stem from the personal beliefs of the authors in question. About the same time, however, another mining engineer, K. S. Twitchell, visited the mine and reported the workings of Mand adh Dhahab are the largest I saw in Arabia [and] it is reasonable to guess that this might have been the source of King Solomon's gold., According to an announcement by the United States Department of Interior, the agency over the United States Geological Survey, the AmericanSaudi team believes it can now turn Twitchell's reasonable guess into a fairly airtight case.. However, the search still continues for lack of conclusive evidence. Map of biblical times showing the supposed location of Ophir. Thus, Dr. Luce said, we conclude that Mand adh Dhahab could have produced 34 tens of gold in ancient times anci was the biblical Ophir. 1. o'-fer, o'-fir ('owphiyr (Genesis 10:29), 'owphir (1 Kings 10:11), 'ophir):1. This is a predominantly Muslim tribe that number at more than a million. and magistrates, and the soldiers whom he intended to appoint, and resolved to send to Hiram for fit timber, to begin commerce with Peru [61] and Ophir, and to //francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the divine.htm, Psalm 45 9And in thy glorious train. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), Ophir: A Country Celebrated for Its Gold and Other Valuable Merchandise: Gold of, Proverbial for Its Fineness, Ophir: A Country Celebrated for Its Gold and Other Valuable Merchandise: Products of, Used by Solomon and Hiram, Ophir: Jehoshaphat Sends Ships To, Which are Wrecked at Sea, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, The Seven Seas According to the Talmudists, and the Four Rivers, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV), Who was Solomon in the Bible? Son of JoktanGenesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23. Therefore I will //various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/x isaiahs.htm, The Seven Seas According to the Talmudists, and the Four Rivers and they probably not such, who had never yet adventured themselves into the Red sea, but had experience of it before, and were not ignorant of the Ophir voyage //lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 4 the seven seas.htm, Of the Divine Providence in General. In the Septuagint this word is rendered Sophir.. Shem By todays standards, Solomon was reputed to have a personal fortune in excess of $60 trillion. of Israel's transport capability.

Perhaps the best known of these is Ceylon. The Imitation of Christ is a guide to following the example of Jesus Christ. According to this claim, Ophir exists in front of China towards the sea and many islands. Sailors foreign to the land might have suffered problems with that pronunciation and simply used Ovar instead. We know what love is by this, that Christ laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn't go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber. (, A seaport or region from which the Hebrews in the time of Solomon obtained gold. Supara, an ancient city on the west coast of India near the modern Goa, is also suggested. Experts even question the ivory, apes, and peacocks, as they too may be incorrect translations. The servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.

even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses; They came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. (, A seaport or region from which the Hebrews in the time of Solomon obtained gold. Unfortunately for historians, the Bible never went into specific detail about King Solomons mine of Ophir. Ships frequently sailed from there south through the Red Sea. Probably another name for Ophir (Jeremiah 10:9). Some say these people came from a place the ancients knew as Oviyar Nadu. There was another claim in 1897 that links the Coptic name for India, Sophir, to the Indian river Cophen. According to the Bible (I Kings, chaps. There are few hard facts to validate any claim. If someone does indeed find the ancient mine, chances are that no goldremains. Bible Interp The Gospel of the birth of Mary was attributed to St. Matthew and was received as genuine and authentic by early Christians. Archaeologists have dated the ruins in this region to the medieval era, and they cannot possibly derive from Solomon at all. Let us show our love not with words nor with our lips only, but by deeds and sincerity. It is now generally identified with Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), Isaiah 13:12I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. Some identify it with Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus River. Ophir's early yield, said in the Bible to be 420 talents, or more than 13 tons, of gold could have been recovered in the form of nuggets wires and crystals by simple panning and winnowing, the scientists said. The name shortened to Oviyar. Click on any link for a bible verse and it will take you to that location in the bible. Heber/Eber King Solomons gold valued at more than $60 trillion.

The complete sayings of Jesus is a must read for bible study. The Dravidians were very well-known for their gold, ivory, and precious gemstones. The AmericanSaudi study team has also established that the mine and the surrounding area still contain workable deposits of gold, silver and other metals. The gold was proverbial for its fineness, so that "gold of Ophir" is several times used as an expression for fine gold, (. Although Ophir is mentioned in at least four books of the Bible, its precise location is never specified and subsequent documents offer little more than speculation that Solomon's El Dorado was somewhere in India or southern Africa or the Urals. God's Love. The history of the patriarchs who lived before the Flood until the birth of Noah; the children of Seth on Mount Hermon and Cain's death. in gold of Ophir stand. 2. However, one can argue that in this case, the speculation and wonder are probably more intriguing than the actual find would be. Josephus identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. This brings us to one of the great mysteries of all times that nobody can seem to agree on. Because the Phoenicians traveled extensively, the exact location of this fabled source of gold is open to interpretation. Visit the search page to access additional search options and to learn about how to utilize them. Accept Read More, Yamashitas Gold: The Philippine Treasure Caves, Mysterious Disappearance of the Five Sodder Children.

Britannica. But Gesenius shows that Sofala is merely the Arabic form of the Hebrew shephelah. This area is known for is ancient mining civilization. Dr. Luce and four other U.S.G.S. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Source: jw.org. Christ and Delphine Books Bible Articles and Lessons: O Ophir It's a big Universe full of wonders. Joktan is a son of Heber/Eber, progenitor of the Hebrews. The Imitation of Christ. kings' daughters waiting stand; And thy fair queen, in Ophir gold,. At least one mining company has applied to the Saudi government for a license to reopen the mine. Select from the list of words below to find all bible verses that include that word or name. Each verse includes a link to the chapter and verse of the book where it is found in the bible. The Bible says that an additional 666 talents, or about 21 tons, was brought from Ophir at a later time. Below are a few examples for some of the words most often searched in the bible. By the end of his sovereignty, estimations indicated that he owned 500 tons of gold. Modern gold usually comes in the form of bullion. (1.) Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. At his palace, builders constructed his throne from a combination of gold and other precious material, ivory. See the article in its original context from. It can't be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. From there onto Burma, Sumatra, then Moluccas, Borneo, Sulu and then China. The Birth of Mary.

In Egypt where the Septuagint translation was done, Sofir is the Coptic name for India, which is the rendering of the Arabic version, and also of the Vulgate. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), Job 22:24Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 1. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), 1 Kings 10:11The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones. There are several theories on the location of King Solomons mines, some more credible than others.

(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), 1 Chronicles 1:23and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. God showed his love for us, for he sent his only Son into the world that through him we might have life. It was found in Arabia, Sheba, and Ophir (1 Kings 9:28; 10:1; Job 28:16), but not in Palestine. The third King of Israel, Solomon was a renowned ruler that oversaw growth from a single state into a venerable superpower of the Middle East in biblical times. He is a Joktanite. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and was translated into Greek. The childrens bible provides bible lessons from the Old and New testaments. Interest in this region as the land of Ophir was renewed, however, by Mauch's discovery at Zimbabye of great ruins and signs of old Phoenician civilization and worked-out gold mines. Of the various products mentioned, the only one which from the Old Testament notices can be regarded as clearly native to Ophir is the gold, and according to Pliny and Strabo the region of Southeastern Arabia bordering on the Persian Gulf was a famous gold-producing country. A Net Inceptions project. In ancient times, sandalwood was exclusive to South India, where the Dravidians were said to have originated. S. Fulton, Book 9 Footnotes B. VIII. He believed that the Yucatan province shared a name with the father of Ophir, Ioktan. One of the sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:29). The Tamil language has one word, Ovar, that has multiple meanings. that has run to Aqaba for some 4,000 years. ch.6.

(WEB /t/talents.htm - 19k, Hiram (21 Occurrences) Hiram's servants, "shipmen that had knowledge of the sea," taught the sailors of Solomon the route from Ezion-geber and Eloth to Ophir, whence large stores of /h/hiram.htm - 18k, Navy (4 Occurrences) 1 Kings 10:11 The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones. I enjoy reading the childrens bible and almost everyone does. Ovar was a name adopted by the seaport in the northwestern coast of Ilanka. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 2. All these were the sons of Joktan.

The Book of Enoch, Books 1 begins immediately after the expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Others have placed it at Sofala, in South Africa, three mines of God and silver have been found, which appear to have been anciently and extensively worked. Kings' daughters are among your honorable women. According to Bruce (I, 440), a voyage from Sofala to Ezion-geber would have occupied quite three years owing to the monsoons. Anyone can read what you share.

The Books of The King James Bible include the 39 books of the Old Testament, an intertestamental section containing 14 books of the Apocrypha, and the 27 books of the New Testament. Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. All these were the sons of Joktan.

[3] What are here Pontus and Thrace, as the places whither Jehoshaphat's fleet sailed, are in our other copies Ophir and Tarshish, and //josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm, A Royal Seeker after Wisdom And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.12. The team includes three scientists from Saudi Arabia's Directorate General of Mineral Resources. The section Document No.

This gold was proverbial for its purity, as is witnessed by many references in the Old Testament (Psalm 45:9 Job 28:16 Isaiah 13:12 1 Chronicles 29:4), and, in Job 22:24, Ophir is used for fine gold itself.

One of the few facts revealed in the pages of the Bible was that every voyage to find Ophir began in the same place: the Red Sea port of Ezion Geber. The other products may not have been native to the land of Ophir, but it is certain that the gold at least was produced there. Again, according to Wildman, the name denotes a vague extension eastward, perhaps as far as China. There are 216 stories written in plain english. Ophir.

Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. scientists have been working in Saudi Arabia for several years under a scientific exchange program paid for entirely by Saudi Arabia. Much may be said, however, in favor of the opinion that it was somewhere in Arabia. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Another argument is based on the resemblance between the Septuagint form of the word (Sophera) and the Coptic name for India (Sophir). All these were the sons of Joktan.

The other wares were not necessarily produced in Ophir, but were probably brought there from more distant lands, and thence conveyed by Solomon's merchantmen to Ezion-geber. In the LXX. Source: Wiki Commons, public domain. An additional body of evi? This is the name of a Biblical man and a region of somewhat uncertain location. I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. Furthermore, the scientists said, Mand adh Dhabab could easily have been known to Solomon or his advisers because it lies on a northsouth trade ??? It is an accurate modern translation of the content of original King James Bible, including the Apocryphal books. Thus, Ovar can refer to artists and skilled craftsmen and artisans among others. If the duration of the voyage (3 years) be used as evidence, it favors this location of Ophir as much as that on the east coast of Africa. 4 through 10) 1,086 talents, or about 34 tons of gold were brought to Jerusalem from Ophir by Solomon's workers.

Historians support this conclusion by the belief that certain words in certain areas have a common root origin in the Hebrew Bible. Ophir is mentioned repeatedly in Scripture as a place famous for its high quality gold. It is now generally identified with Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus. Their settlement extended from Mesha going toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Source: Unknown. World English Bible. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir. "Gold of Ophir" was proverbially the best gold, Psalm 45:9 Isaiah 13:12. Alternatives to this suggestion have some scholars convinced that Ophir can be found along the coastline of the Red Sea, likely in Ethiopia. Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. Shelah We get a fuller list of the wares and also the time taken by the voyage if we assume that the same vessels are referred to in 1 Kings 10:22, "Once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks." The King James Version of the Bible is one of the most important books in the English-speaking world. Wherever it is, it may not have been close to Ezion Gerber. Quotes from the book of Enoch are found in the New Testament. Leading up to his golden throne, a dozen life-size replicas of lions formed a guard of honor on six steps.

The Apocrypha books were included in the original King James Version of the bible and many others. Josephus has identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. All these were the sons of Joktan. During the Renaissance period, this was the central hub of all trade in African gold. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), 1 Kings 9:28They came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. Studies of the Hebrew Bible reveal an interesting fact. American and Saudi geologists, working in a mountainous region between Mecca and Macdina known as Mand adh Dhahab, or Cradle of Gold, say they have found evidence that a longknown abandoned mine was probably the only one within range of ancient Israel capable of producing the quantities of gold attributed to Ophir. This would rule out Japan and Taiwan as options and make the Philippines a more viable option. The original Hebrew text of the Bible borrowed heavily from Tamil wording. (2.) The stories are easy to read but not just for childern. Noah (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), 1 Chronicles 29:4even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV), 2 Chronicles 8:18Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. There is an Arab tradition that Joktan is the ancestor/progenitor of all the purest Arabian tribes of Central and Southern Arabia. It is to be found in the works of Jerome, a Father of the Church in the 4th century and is translated from his collection. There are those that believe the true location of the Ophir mine may still exist in ancient texts. Afri was a Latin name given to the Carthaginians and this tribe could have origins stemming from Libya. A closer identification is sought with Abhira, a people dwelling at the mouths of the Indus. Much of this came in the form of pure gold. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. King Solomon's legendary lost gold mine, the biblical Ophir that yielded much of the fabulous wealth of the Kingdom of Israel nearly 3,000 years ago, may have been found in Saudi Arabia. In Dan. A country celebrated for its gold and other valuable merchandise: Products of, used by Solomon and Hiram1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:11; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 2 Chronicles 9:10, Jehoshaphat sends ships to, which are wrecked1 Kings 22:48, Gold of, proverbial for its fineness1 Chronicles 29:4; Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12, Copyright2022 MasonSoftTechnologyLtd, The eleventh in order of the sons of Joktan. 2:38, the /g/gold.htm - 57k, Fleet (7 Occurrences) 1 Kings 10:11 (And the fleet also of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir sandal-wood in very great abundance, and precious stones. (3) Arabia.The claim of Southeastern Arabia as the land of Ophir has on the whole more to support it than that of India or of Africa. The World English Bible was produced to provide speakers of modern English with a version of the Bible that is easily understood.