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Answer
Ophir is mentioned in the Bible as a land renowned for its fine gold and other precious goods. The land of Ophir was most likely first settled by the descendants of a man named Ophir, son of Joktan (Genesis 10:30;1 Chronicles 1:23). The geographical location of Ophir is uncertain, and there have been many theories about its location.
Some of the locations suggested for Ophir are Arabia, India, Africa, and the Philippines. Some later scholars have even suggested the possibility of the Americas, but this seems unlikely. Arabia seems to be the most widely accepted view of biblical scholars, but the exact location cannot be pinned down since it is not specifically stated in the Bible.
The Bible says Ophir was a land of gold. Ophir is so well-known for its connection to gold that it has been used to name locations where gold was found during modern gold rushes, such as in California and New South Wales. When preparing for the construction of the temple, David provided 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir, about 110 tons (1 Chronicles 29:4-5). With the aid of Hiram, king of Tyre, Solomon amassed a large quantity of gold on a voyage to Ophir, adding to his vast wealth (1 Kings 9:27-28;10:23). It seems that Ophir gold was highly valued for its natural purity. Isaiah 13:12, referring to the punishment of the wicked, says, “I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.” Other passages in Scripture reference the precious gold of Ophir as a symbol of worthiness and being untainted (Psalm 45:9;Job 28:16). The fact that Ophir gold was useded in the construction of the temple of the Lord demonstrates its significance in the Bible.
The Bible mentions that Ophir was a land abundant in precious goods. Besides its gold, Ophir was renowned for its precious stones and “almugwood” (1 Kings 10:11;see Job 28:16). Similar to its gold, Ophir’s almugwood was utilized in the temple’s construction, specifically for “making supports for the temple of the Lord” «And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. », (1 Kings 10:12). This wood was also employed in building Solomon’s palace and crafting musical instruments like harps and lyres «And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. », (1 Kings 10:12). While the exact nature of almugwood remains uncertain, many scholars suggest it could be an aromatic material such as sandalwood (the NLT translates it as “red sandalwood”). Regardless, the quantity of almugwood used by Solomon was unprecedented: “So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day” «And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. », (1 Kings 10:12).
Some scholars suggest that Solomon’s fleet’s journey to Ophir occurred every three years, “bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks” «For the
King Solomon had at sea a navy of Tharshish along with the navy of Hiram. Every three years, the navy of Tharshish would arrive, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks «, (1 Kings 10:22, ESV). Items like ivory, apes, and peacocks could suggest that Ophir was situated in India or Africa. However, it remains uncertain if the triennial shipments actually originated from Ophir. Even if they did, the goods might not have been indigenous to Ophir but simply traded there.
Ophir was renowned for its treasures of gold, precious stones, and almugwood. When David selected the finest materials for the construction of the Lord’s temple, he procured resources from Ophir. The gold and fine wood from Ophir were utilized to symbolize God’s holiness and magnificence in His temple, as “splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary” «Honour and majesty are before him: Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. », (Psalm 96:6).
