1 Kings 22 48

1 Kings 22:48 kjv

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

1 Kings 22:48 nkjv

Jehoshaphat made merchant ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber.

1 Kings 22:48 niv

Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail?they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.

1 Kings 22:48 esv

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

1 Kings 22:48 nlt

Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships never set sail, for they met with disaster in their home port of Ezion-geber.

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 48 Meaning

King Jehoshaphat of Judah attempted a significant economic venture by constructing a fleet of large "ships of Tarshish" with the intention of sailing to Ophir to acquire gold. However, this endeavor ultimately failed completely; the ships were wrecked while still in port at Ezion-geber and never embarked on their intended voyage. This outcome underscores that while Jehoshaphat initiated the project with ambition, its success was not granted, foreshadowing divine intervention against a compromised alliance, as later explained in parallel biblical accounts.

1 Kings 22 48 Context

1 Kings chapter 22 concludes the account of King Ahab's reign in Israel and describes Jehoshaphat's alliance with him, which leads to Ahab's death in battle at Ramoth-gilead. The specific verse (22:48) appears within the summary of Jehoshaphat's generally righteous rule over Judah (1 Kgs 22:41-50). Although Jehoshaphat "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," he notably failed to remove the high places entirely and formed a dangerous alliance with the northern kingdom of Israel's wicked kings. The building and subsequent destruction of these "ships of Tarshish" for gold from Ophir illustrates Jehoshaphat's economic ambition, possibly in an effort to restore Judah's wealth and prestige to the level of Solomon's era. Its abrupt failure serves as a testament to God's sovereign hand, a theological truth fully revealed in the Chronicler's parallel account (2 Chronicles 20), which directly attributes the shipwreck to divine judgment for Jehoshaphat's unholy alliance with Ahab's wicked successor, Ahaziah.

1 Kings 22 48 Word analysis

• Jehoshaphat (וִיהוֹשָׁפָט - vîhōwšāfāṭ): The King of Judah. His name means "Yahweh has judged" or "Yahweh is judge." He was largely considered a godly king, though prone to making unholy alliances with the wicked kings of Israel, Ahab and his son Ahaziah.

• also made (עָשָׂה - ‘āśāh): Derived from the verb "to make, to do, to build." It implies that Jehoshaphat personally initiated and oversaw the construction project, reflecting a deliberate effort on his part.

• ships of Tarshish (אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ - ʾǒnîyōt Tarshîsh): This term does not necessarily mean ships built in or sailing specifically to Tarshish (a location possibly in modern-day Spain). Rather, it denotes a type of large, robust, and capable vessel designed for long-distance oceanic voyages and deep-sea trade, similar to those used by Solomon. It indicates an ambition for grand, international commerce.

• to go (לָלֶכֶת - lālěḵeṯ): "To walk, to go, to proceed." It highlights the definite intended journey of these vessels.

• to Ophir (אֹפִירָה - ʾōp̄îrāh): A renowned distant land, frequently mentioned in Scripture as a source of exceptionally fine gold, precious stones, and rare woods. Its exact geographical location is uncertain but widely debated among scholars, likely in Arabia, East Africa, or India.

• for gold (לַזָּהָב - lazzāhāḇ): Specifies the primary valuable commodity that Jehoshaphat sought to obtain through this expedition, a symbol of royal power, national wealth, and prosperity.

• but they did not go (וְלֹא הָלָכוּ - wə-lōʾ hālaḵū): This phrase creates a stark contrast, introducing the complete failure of the enterprise. "Did not go" conveys an immediate and ultimate failure to even begin their intended mission.

• for (כִּי - kî): A conjunction providing the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, in this case, why the ships did not go.

• the ships were broken (נִשְׁבְּרוּ הָאֳנִיּוֹת - niššĕbrû hāʾŏnîyōt): From the root šābar, "to break, smash." The verb form (Niphal passive) suggests an action inflicted upon them, rather than something they did themselves. This indicates total destruction, not merely damage, possibly by storm, submerged rocks, or structural failure.

• at Ezion-geber (בְּעֶצְיוֹן גָּבֶר - bĕ‘eṣyōwn Gāḇer): An ancient port city located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, a strategic harbor on the Red Sea. It was previously a successful shipbuilding and naval base for King Solomon's expeditions (1 Kgs 9:26).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Jehoshaphat also made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold": This entire clause sets forth the king's ambitious maritime initiative, aiming for Solomonic-era prosperity. It emphasizes the scale ("ships of Tarshish"), the sought-after wealth ("gold"), and the distant destination ("Ophir"), showcasing a royal enterprise of grand economic scope.
  • "but they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber": This subsequent clause presents a direct, abrupt negation of the preceding ambition. The immediate failure, explicitly stated ("did not go"), with the explanation of the ships being "broken" at their point of origin, signifies a complete thwarting of human plans. The location, Ezion-geber, historically a place of naval success for Judah, ironically becomes the scene of its current failure.

1 Kings 22 48 Bonus section

• Prophetic Forewarning: While not detailed in 1 Kings, the full scope of this event in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 reveals that a prophet, Eliezer, explicitly declared divine judgment on Jehoshaphat's venture due to his alliance with King Ahaziah. This highlights the critical role of prophets in delivering God's interpretation of events in Israel's history, often revealing the underlying spiritual reasons for prosperity or failure.
• Divine Intervention in "Natural" Disasters: The breaking of the ships could be attributed to strong Red Sea winds, hidden reefs, or a catastrophic storm. However, from a biblical perspective, particularly evident in the Chronicler's account, even natural events are often seen as instruments of divine will, carrying out God's judgment or blessing. This challenges a purely materialistic or coincidental understanding of historical setbacks.
• Repetition of Folly and Learning: Interestingly, 1 Kings 22:49 mentions that Ahaziah later offered to send his servants with Jehoshaphat's servants for trade, but "Jehoshaphat would not." This suggests that the King of Judah, having experienced such a catastrophic failure (financially and presumably, spiritually interpreted), had learned a bitter but essential lesson regarding ungodly alliances and was wise enough to reject a similar proposal.

1 Kings 22 48 Commentary

This verse narrates a significant failure in King Jehoshaphat's reign, marking a clear moment of divine intervention. Despite Jehoshaphat's generally righteous character and devotion to the Lord, his persistent weakness was forming alliances with the wicked kings of Israel. The construction of the "ships of Tarshish" for gold from Ophir reveals a legitimate desire for national prosperity and an attempt to emulate the renowned wealth and trade of Solomon's era. However, the subsequent, definitive statement, "they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber," highlights God's sovereignty over human endeavors. The Chronicler provides the explicit divine perspective: this economic disaster was not accidental but a direct judgment, proclaimed by the prophet Eliezer, for Jehoshaphat's unholy partnership with Ahaziah of Israel (2 Chr 20:35-37). Thus, this incident serves as a biblical example illustrating that while a ruler may plan and strive, the Lord's will ultimately determines the outcome. It underscores the spiritual truth that compromising divine standards through ungodly associations can negate even well-intentioned efforts and result in frustrating or destroying one's labor, even for those generally faithful to the Lord.