Bible Strands
1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Jehoshaphat’s naval project immediately after noting Edom’s shift to deputy rule. The account precedes Jehoshaphat’s refusal to let Ahaziah’s servants join his fleet.
The words — The text employs עָשָׂה (‘āśâ), meaning “he made” or “constructed,” and אֳנִיּוֹת (’ōniyyôṯ), meaning “ships.” These terms denote the physical preparation of a maritime expedition.
The thread — The venture parallels Solomon’s earlier gold-fleet operations at Ezion-geber and Ophir (1 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 10:22; 1 Kings 9:28). The narrative places Jehoshaphat’s failed departure alongside the successful trade missions of the Solomonic period.
Why it lands — The verse states a factual outcome: a royal economic plan that was wrecked before sailing. It asks the reader to observe the gap between administrative ambition and actual execution without adding unverified causes.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion–geber.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 9:26 King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.
- 1 Kings 10:22 For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
- 1 Kings 9:28 They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.
- Numbers 33:35 They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.
- 2 Chronicles 25:7 But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites.
- Psalms 45:9 The daughters of kings are among your honored women; the queen stands at your right hand, adorned with the gold of Ophir.
- Psalms 48:7 With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.