Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
and the Kidron, or valley of Jehoshaphat. Halfway down it on its eastern face is the (“Fount of the
Virgin,” so called; and at its foot the lower outlet of the same spring—the Pool of Siloam. In (2
Chronicles 27:3) Jotham is said to have built much “on the wall of Ophel.” Manasseh, among his
other defensive works, “compassed about Ophel.” Ibid. (2 Chronicles 33:14) It appears to have
been near the “water-gate,” (Nehemiah 3:26) and the “great tower that lieth out.” ver. (Nehemiah
3:27) It was evidently the residence of the Levites. (Nehemiah 11:21)
Ophir
(abundane).
•The eleventh in order of the sons of Joktan. (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23) (B.C. after 2450.)
•A seaport or region from which the Hebrews in the time of Solomon obtained gold. The gold was
proverbial for its fineness, so that “gold of Ophir” is several times used as an expression for fine
gold, (1 Chronicles 29:4; Job 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12) and in one passage (Job 22:24)
the word “Ophir” by itself is used for gold of Ophir, and for gold generally. In addition to gold,
the vessels brought from Ophir almug wood and precious stones. The precise geographical situation
of Ophir has long been a subject of doubt and discussion. The two countries which have divided
the opinions of the learned have been Arabia and India, while some have placed it in Africa. In
five passages Ophir is mentioned by name - (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:18; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 9:10)
If the three passages of the book of Kings are carefully examined, it will be seen that all the
information given respecting Ophir is that it was a place or region accessible by sea from
Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, from which imports of gold, almug trees and precious stones were
brought back by the Tyrian and Hebrew sailors. The author of the tenth chapter of Genesis certainly
regarded Ophir as the name of some city, region or tribe in Arabia. It is almost certain that the
Ophir of Genesis is the Ophir of the book of Kings. There is no mention, either in the Bible or
elsewhere, of any other Ophir; and the idea of there having been two Ophirs evidently arose from
a perception of the obvious meaning of the tenth chapter of Genesis on the one hand, coupled with
the erroneous opinion, on the other that the Ophir of the book of Kings could not have been in
Arabia. (Hence we conclude that Ophir was in southern Arabia, upon the border of the Indian
Ocean; for even if all the things brought over in Solomon’s ships are not now found in Arabia,
but are found in India, yet, there is evidence that they once were known in Arabia and, moreover,
Ophir may not have been the original place of production of some of them, but the great market
for traffic in them.)
Ophni
(mouldy), a town of Benjamin, mentioned in (Joshua 18:24) the same as the Gophna of Josephus
a place which at the time of Vespasian’s invasion was apparently so important as to be second only
to Jerusalem. It still survives in the modern Jifna or Jufna, 23 miles northwest of Bethel.
Ophrah
(fawn).
•A town in the tribe of Benjamin. (Joshua 18:23; 1 Samuel 13:17) Jerome places it five miles east
of Bethel. It is perhaps et-Taiyibeh, a small village on the crown of a conspicuous hill, four miles
east-northeast of Beitin (Bethel).
•More fully, OPHRAH OF THE ABIEZRITES, the native place of Gideon (Judges 6:11) and the
scene of his exploits against Baal, ver. (Judges 6:24) his residence after his accession to power
ch. (Judges 9:5) and the place of his burial in the family sepulchre. ch. (Judges 8:32) It was probably
In Manasseh, ch. (Judges 6:15) and not far distant from Shechem, (Judges 9:1,5)
520
William Smith