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

But king Josaphat made navies on the sea, to sail into Ophir for gold: but they could not go, for the ships were broken in Asiongaber.

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

And there was no king in Edom: a deputy was king.

Yet truly, king Jehoshaphat had made a navy on the sea, which would sail to Ophir for gold. But they were unable to go, because the ships were broken down at Eziongeber.

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.

Ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold - In the parallel place (2-Chronicles 20:36) it is said that Jehoshaphat joined himself to Ahaziah, to make ships to go to Tharshish; and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. Concerning these places, and the voyage thither, see the notes on 1-Kings 9:26-28 (note); 1-Kings 10:11 (note), 1-Kings 10:22 (note). Some translate, instead of ships of Tharshish, ships of burden. See Houbigant, who expresses himself doubtful as to the meaning of the word.

Jehoshaphat made ships of (c) Tharshish to go to (d) Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
(c) By Tharshish the scripture means Cilicia and all the Mediterranean Sea.
(d) Josephus writes that Ophir is in India, where the Egyptians and Arabians traffic for gold.

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish,.... Ships to go to sea, particularly the Indian sea, 1-Kings 10:22. Tarshish is used for the sea in general, Psalm 48:7, 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 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 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 (y); 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, 2-Chronicles 20:35.
(y) Vid. Geograph. Nub. Climat. 3. par. 3. in fine.