Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

1 KINGS 22:48KJV
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1 Kings 22:48 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 22:48 mean?

1 Kings 22:48 says that King Jehoshaphat tried to build a fleet of ships to go to Ophir and bring back gold, but the ships never made the journey because they were wrecked at Eziongeber. The verse highlights a failed attempt at a profitable expedition during Jehoshaphat’s reign.

In this verse, the writer is describing an event from the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Jehoshaphat wanted to follow in the tradition of earlier kings by sending ships to Ophir, a place known for its gold, but his plans were cut short when the ships were destroyed before they could even set out. This detail is part of a summary of Jehoshaphat’s reign, showing both his ambitions and the setbacks he faced.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 22:48

  • תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Tarshish): This word refers to a type of ship, often understood as large, sea-going vessels capable of long voyages. It can also refer to a distant place, but here it likely means the style of ship.
  • אוֹפִיר (Ophir): This is the name of a region famous in the Bible for its gold. The exact location is uncertain, but it represents a place of great wealth.
  • שָׁבַר (shavar): Translated as "broken," this word means the ships were shattered or destroyed, not just damaged. It emphasizes the total failure of the expedition before it began.
  • עֶצְיֹן גֶּבֶר (Eziongeber): This is the port where the ships were built or docked, located near the Red Sea. Mentioning this place grounds the story in a real geographical location.

Why 1 Kings 22:48 matters

  • This verse shows that even a successful and faithful king like Jehoshaphat faced setbacks and unfulfilled plans, adding a realistic touch to his story.
  • The mention of Ophir and the ships of Tarshish connects Jehoshaphat’s reign to earlier stories about Solomon, highlighting both continuity and difference in their achievements.
  • By noting the ships were broken at Eziongeber, the verse hints at possible reasons for failure—whether natural disaster, poor planning, or other factors—without assigning blame, keeping the focus on the event itself.

Where else these words appear

“Eziongeber” Hebrew H6100 · used in 7 verses

  • Numbers 33:35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
  • Deuteronomy 2:8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
  • 2 Chronicles 8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.

“Ophir” Hebrew H211 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 10:29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
  • Job 22:24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

“Tharshish” Hebrew H8659 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 10:4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
  • Esther 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
  • Isaiah 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

“ships” Hebrew H591 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
  • Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
  • Isaiah 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.