1 Kings 22:48

“Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish, etc.] Ships to go to sea, particularly the Indian sea, (<111022>1 Kings 10:22). Tarshish is used for the sea in general, (<194807>Psalm 48:7 <230216>Isaiah 2:16), in the Cetib, or text, it is “ten”; in the Keri, or margin, it is “made”, which we follow, and may be put together, as in the Tigurine version, and read, “he made ten ships to go by sea”: even to go to Ophir for gold; as Solomon did; of which place (see <110928>1 Kings 9:28), but they went not, for the ships were broken at Eziongeber; the port where they were built: as soon as they were launched, or sailed, they were broken to pieces against the rocks near the harbour, which stood up like a man’s…”

“The expression, “ships of Tharshish,” probably designates ships of a particular class, ships (i. e.) like those with which the Phoenicians used to trade to Tharshish (Tartessus, 1 Kings 10:22 note). Compare the use of “India-man” for a vessel of a certain class. Jehoshaphat’s fleet was constructed at Ezion-Gaber, on the Red Sea 2 Chronicles 20:36, where Solomon had previously built a navy 1 Kings 9:26. Being lord-paramount of Edom, Jehoshaphat had the right of using this harbor. return to 'Top of Page'”

“22:48-49 Jehoshaphat built this fleet of trading ships in alliance with Ahaziah (see 2 Chr 20:35-37). Like Solomon, the two kings planned to send a fleet to Ophir in search of gold (1 Kgs 9:27-28; 10:11). The venture was ill-fated; to fulfill a prophetic warning (2 Chr 20:37), the Lord destroyed the fleet before it left port. Jehoshaphat wisely did not become entangled with Ahaziah a second time. • Ezion-geber was Solomon’s port city on the Gulf of Aqaba (1 Kgs 9:26).”

“Jehoshaphat: Ch2 20:35, 36-21:1 made ships: or, had ten ships, Kg1 10:22; Ch2 9:21; Psa 48:7; Isa 2:16, Isa 60:9; Jon 1:3 Tharshish: Josephus and the Chaldee and Arabic paraphrasts explain this place of Tarsus in Cilicia; the LXX, Theodoret, and Jerome, understand it of Carthage; but the learned Bochart makes it Tartessus, an island in the straits of Gades. Ibn Haukal describes Tarsousa as belonging to Andalus, or Andalusia; and Festus Avienus expressly says, Hic Gadir urbs est dicta Tartessus prius, "the city Cadiz was formerly called Tartessus." to Ophir: Kg1 9:28; Psa 45:9 they went not: Ch2 20:37, Ch2 25:7 Eziongeber: Kg1 9:26; Num 33:35, Num 33:36 3 Kings (1 Kings) 22:50”