Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 22:48
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
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 backbone, whence the port had its name; (see Gill on “<110926>1 Kings 9:26”), and if this was Calzem, as there observed, near to it was a dangerous place for ships, and where many were lost, and is supposed to be the place where Pharaoh and his host were drowned f467; the reason of this shipwreck was, because Jehoshaphat joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, for which he was reproved by the prophet Eliezer, and this was his punishment, (<142035>2 Chronicles 20:35-37).
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
