OPHIR

1. One of the sons of Joktan, who settled in southern Arabia, Ge 10:26-29. 2. A country to which the ships of Solomon traded, and which had for a long time been celebrated for the purity and abundance of its gold, Job 22:24 28:16. "Gold of Ophir" was proverbially the best gold, Ps 45:9 Isa 13:12. The only passages which give us any information as to the location of Ophir are 1Ki 9:26-28 10:11,22 22:48, with the parallel passages in 2Ch 8:18 9:10,21 20:36,37; from which it appears that the so called "ships of Tarshish" went to Ophir; that these ships sailed from Ezion-geber, a port of the Red Sea; that a voyage was made once in three years; that the fleet returned freighted with gold, peacocks, apes, spices, ivory, algumwood, and ebony. Upon these data interpreters have undertaken to determine the situation of Ophir; but they have arrived at different conclusions. Josephus places it in the peninsula of Malacca. 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. Others still suppose it to have been Southern Arabia.

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Ophir. Ophir
(1.) One of the sons of Joktan (Gen. 10:29).

(2.) Some region famous for its gold (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; Job 22:24; 28:16; Isa. 13:12). In the LXX. this word is rendered “Sophir,” and “Sofir” is the Coptic name for India, which is the rendering of the Arabic version, as also of the Vulgate. Josephus has identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. It is now generally identified with Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus. Much may be said, however, in favour of the opinion that it was somewhere in Arabia.

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Ophir. fruitful region

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OPHIR. 1. Son of Joktan Ge 10:29; 1Ch 1:23 2. A country celebrated for its gold and other valuable merchandise
* Products of, used by Solomon and Hiram 1Ki 9:28; 10:11; 2Ch 8:18; 9:10
* Jehoshaphat sends ships to, which are wrecked at sea 1Ki 22:48
* Gold of, proverbial for its fineness 1Ch 29:4; Job 22:24; 28:16; Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12

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a country rich in gold 1Ki 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; 1Ch 29:4; 2Ch 8:18; Job 22:24; 28:16 Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12