King Solomon's gold from Ophir
Published Nov 11, 2018 12:05 am
GENTLE BREEZE
By NELLY FAVIS VILLAFUERTE
(Part II)
While there is mention of a place called Ophir (which supplied gold to King Solomon) in the various books of the Old Testament – nowhere in the Bible is there mention of its location.* * *
Through all these years, there have been many theories/speculations advanced on the exact location of the fabled King Solomon’s mine of Ophir. Today, there is yet no conclusive evidence where the lost mine of Ophir is located. No wonder people continue to speculate, to wonder, and to weave stories about the mystery surrounding the land of Ophir. Especially because through all these centuries, gold never lost its luster and value. Because stories of King Solomon’s fabulous wealth, mostly in the form of pure gold, never die down. Movies and books about King Solomon’s legendary wealth including his voluminous gold accumulations continue to awe many of us. After all, it is not every day that we hear of stories of the likes of King Solomon’s Temple built around the mid-10th century which was bedecked in gold (golden throne, gold foot-stool, golden life-size replicas of lions forming a guard of honor for King Solomon’s throne, golden shields, golden cups, golden plates – to cite a few).* * *
Not many of us know that one of the countries being theorized as the mysterious land of Ophir is our own country – the Philippines. “In a book found in Spain entitled Colección General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas (General Collection of Philippine Islands related Documents), the author described how to locate Ophir. According to the section "Document No. 98," dated 1519-1522, Ophir can be found by travelling from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, to India, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to Borneo, to Sulu, to China, then finally Ophir. Ophir was said to be " in front of China towards the sea, of many islands where the Moluccans, Chinese, and Lequios met to trade..." Jes Tirol asserts that this group of islands could not be Japan because the Moluccans did not get there, nor Taiwan, since it is not composed of "many islands." Only the present-day Philippines, he says, could fit the description. Spanish records also mention the presence of Lequios (big, bearded white men, probably descendants of the Phoenicians, whose ships were always laden with gold and silver) in the Islands to gather gold and silver.” (Reference: http://newsguru.asia/where-is-the-ancient-land-of-ophir-that-found-in-the-bible) In another related opinion found in the same internal report as aforementioned: “At the emergence of the hydrography of Spanish colonies in Asia in the early 17th century, Dominican Gregorio García wrote that Ophir was indeed located in the Moluccas and the Philippines. In 1609, Juan de Pineda wrote a diverse collection of literature relating Biblical accounts of Solomon, Ophir, and the islands. Former Prime Minister Pedro A. Paterno said in one of his works on conjectural anthropology that Ophir is the Philippines because the scented wood Solomon received from Ophir also exists in the Islands. This notion was, however, later dismissed by modern historians as merely alluding and comparing the Philippines′ position to the Spanish economy with that of Ophir to Solomon′s kingdom—the sudden discovery and colonization of the Islands bringing wealth and prosperity to the realm. “Other evidence has also been pointed out that the Philippines was the Ancient Ophir.”* * *
Although many scientists, historians, archaeologists, and other Bible scholars do not agree on one theory as to the exact Ophir’s location, according to Biblical information, there is a seaport on the Red Sea known as Ezion Gebar that served as the point of departure for ships that undertook voyages in search of Ophir and its gold during the ancient Biblical days. As the debate regarding the location of Ophir continues, more places are being speculated to be the lost land of Ophir. Among these places are some areas in Africa (like Mozambique and the African shore of the Red Sea), and in Asia like India and the Philippines.* * *
My dear readers, what if the lost land of Ophir is really the Philippines?* * *
This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 LRV Building, Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred. Be joyful and forgiving! (Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected])