The Sandalwood and Peacocks of Ophir

This short paper deals with the general problem of Ophir only in so far as that problem has a bearing on the more specific question of commercial relations between India and the West in the tenth century B.C. For my purpose it is unnecessary to discuss the words lenhabbim and qophim, usually translated 'ivory' and 'apes.' The words may have those meanings or they may not. Even if they are accurately translated, India is not the only country from which ivory and apes could have come. Only the words 'sandalwood' and 'peacocks' are crucial. It is also unnecessary to discuss the muchdisputed 'ships of Tharshish' and to decide whether the phrase is merely metaphorical or whether it really refers to ships which sailed to Tharshish, as the Chronicler would have it. It is immaterial for my purpose whether there was one voyage to Ophir or many, and whether the ships sailed to Ophir alone or to both Ophir and Tharshish.