Ophir

2022-10-22

The goldmines of Ophir were mentioned several times in the Old Testament. King David brought some gold from Ophir in preparation for the temple (1 Chronicles 29:4). King Solomon brought (literally) tons of gold from there. Some of this gold was brought with Hiram king of Tyre, with whom Solomon was in league for his building projects. Gold from Ophir was considered rare, likely because it was difficult to obtain (Isaiah 13:12).

Ships left from Eziongeber to Ophir several times to obtain this gold. Eziongeber was a Red Sea port city in Edom.

In 1976, the likely location of Ophir was discovered. The remains of an ancient mine were found in Mand adh Dhahab, Saudi Arabia. The evidence shows that the enormous amount of gold retrieved by Solomon would likely have come from such a mine. See the article from the New York Times here.

Kings Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahaziah of Israel tried a similar expedition to both Ophir and Tarshish, but the ships were destroyed in Eziongeber before they even got started. The king of Judah’s affinity with the evil kings of Israel would not be blessed.

The gold from Ophir was famous. This Ophir may have been settled by a man named Ophir and his descendants after the confusion at Babel (Genesis 10:29). Eliphaz refers to Ophir’s gold in Job 22:24. The bride of the king in Psalm 45:9, who was adorned with the finest of luxury, included gold of Ophir.

However, as fine as the gold of Ophir is, there are better things to pursue.

It [wisdom] cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. (Job 28:16)