Tharshish
“Yellow jasper; or possibly a place name of uncertain origin”
Summary
Tharshish is an alternate spelling of Tarshish, referring both to a distant maritime region and to a Benjamite descendant of Bilhan.
☩The Place
Tharshish as a place name is the same as Tarshish, the distant region to which Solomon's fleet sailed on three-year voyages, returning with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. The ships of Tharshish became proverbial for large ocean-going vessels engaged in long-distance trade. The location is usually identified with a region in the western Mediterranean, possibly Spain or its vicinity.
☩The Person
Tharshish was also the name of a Benjamite, one of the sons of Bilhan in the house of Jediael. He appears only in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 7:10. This individual has no connection to the famous maritime destination but shares the same name, which may mean 'yellow jasper' or refer to a precious stone.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Tharshish," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Tharshish," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Tharshish," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Tharshish," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).