King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Y'hoshafat built some large "Tarshish" ships to go to Ofir for gold, but they didn't make the voyage, because they were wrecked at 'Etzyon-Gever.
Berean Standard Bible:
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
American Standard Version:
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Jehoshaphat{H3092} made{H6213}{H6240} ships{H591} of Tharshish{H8659} to go{H3212} to Ophir{H211} for gold{H2091}: but they went{H1980} not; for the ships{H591} were broken{H7665} at Eziongeber{H6100}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 9:26
- And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which [is] beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
1 Kings 10:22
- For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
1 Kings 9:28
- And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought [it] to king Solomon.
2 Chronicles 20:35
- And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
2 Chronicles 20:37
- Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Isaiah 2:16
- And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
2 Chronicles 25:7
- But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD [is] not with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 22:48
1 Kings 22:48 is a verse that captures a moment in the history of Judah under the reign of King Jehoshaphat, who ruled from around 872 to 848 BCE. The verse is part of a larger narrative that details the king's efforts to strengthen Judah economically and militarily. Jehoshaphat is described as a generally righteous king who sought to follow the ways of the Lord, and his attempt to build ships to trade for gold in Ophir reflects his ambition and his desire to enhance the wealth of his kingdom.
The historical context of this verse is set against the backdrop of the divided monarchy, where the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were separate entities. Jehoshaphat's Judah was allied with the northern kingdom of Israel, and his naval venture was in partnership with King Ahaziah of Israel. The mention of "ships of Tarshish" is significant; these were large, ocean-going vessels, and Tarshish is often associated with distant lands, possibly in the western Mediterranean, such as Spain. Ophir, on the other hand, was a legendary source of gold, mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, and its exact location is a subject of scholarly debate, with suggestions ranging from Africa to India.
The theme of the verse is twofold: it reflects the human aspiration to reach out for wealth and prosperity, and it also underscores the theme of divine sovereignty. Despite Jehoshaphat's piety and his positive reforms, the venture fails when the ships are broken at Ezion-geber, which was a port on the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aqaba. The verse does not explicitly state why the ships were broken, leaving room for interpretation. Some suggest it was a divine warning or punishment against forming alliances with the idolatrous northern kingdom, while others might see it as a simple statement of fact, reflecting the inherent risks of seafaring in the ancient world.
In summary, 1 Kings 22:48 encapsulates the economic and political aspirations of King Jehoshaphat, set within the broader narrative of his reign. It highlights the themes of human ambition and the pursuit of wealth, as well as the recognition that such endeavors are ultimately subject to divine will or the unpredictable nature of the world. The failed venture serves as a narrative device to remind readers of the limits of human power and the unforeseen challenges that can thwart even the most carefully laid plans.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3092
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוֹשָׁפָט
Transliteration: Yᵉhôwshâphâṭ
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-shaw-fawt'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and שָׁפַט; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem; Jehoshaphat. Compare יוֹשָׁפָט. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H6240
There are 292 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂר
Transliteration: ʻâsâr
Pronunciation: aw-sawr'
Description: for עֶשֶׂר; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth; (eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), [phrase] eleven(-th), [phrase] sixscore thousand, [phrase] twelve(-th). - Strong's Number: H591
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֳנִיָּה
Transliteration: ʼŏnîyâh
Pronunciation: on-ee-yaw'
Description: feminine of אֳנִי; a ship; ship(-men). - Strong's Number: H8659
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּרְשִׁישׁ
Transliteration: Tarshîysh
Pronunciation: tar-sheesh'
Description: probably the same as תַּרְשִׁישׁ (as the region of the stone, or the reverse); Tarshish, a place on the Mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a Persian and of an Israelite; Tarshish, Tharshish. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H211
There are 110 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹפִיר
Transliteration: ʼÔwphîyr
Pronunciation: o-feer'
Description: or (shortened) אֹפִיר; and אוֹפִר; of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East; Ophir. - Strong's Number: H2091
There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָהָב
Transliteration: zâhâb
Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather. - Strong's Number: H1980
There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָלַךְ
Transliteration: hâlak
Pronunciation: haw-lak'
Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl. - Strong's Number: H7665
There are 145 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁבַר
Transliteration: shâbar
Pronunciation: shaw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for שָׂבַר). - Strong's Number: H6100
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶצְיוֹן גֶּבֶר
Transliteration: ʻEtsyôwn Geber
Pronunciation: ets-yone' gheh'ber
Description: from עָצֶה and גֶּבֶר; backbone-like of a man; Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red Sea; Ezion-geber.