The Island Tarshish

Scholars still argue about where Tarshish was. These are some of the proposed places:

Tartessos in southern Spain. Many accept this theory. The texts speak of long sea voyages and of trade in metals like silver and tin. Ancient Spain had plenty of both.

Carthage in North Africa. Some suggest Carthage because it was a leading sea power.

Places in the eastern Mediterranean or Anatolia. These come from different readings of the texts and from archaeology.

Wherever it was, the Bible always shows Tarshish as far away, wealthy and powerful. It mattered in sea trade. In biblical times it stood for the far edge of the known world.

Context: Here Tarshish appears as a descendant of Javan. Javan was a son of Japheth, and Japheth was a son of Noah. This makes Tarshish a founding father. It suggests a nation or region named after him.

"The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim."

Genesis 10:4

2. 1 Kings 10:22

"For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."

1 Kings 10:22

Context: This passage describes King Solomon’s wide trade network. “Ships of Tarshish” means large ocean-going ships built for long voyages. They brought wealth and exotic goods. They point to prosperity and foreign trade under Solomon.

"For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys."

2 Chronicles 9:21

Context: This verse matches the account in 1 Kings. It shows Solomon’s wealth and trade ties, and how much wealth came with Tarshish.

"May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts."

Psalm 72:10

Context: Tradition credits this psalm to Solomon. It prays for the king’s rule and for the respect of foreign nations. Here Tarshish stands for far lands and strong kingdoms. They honor the king’s authority with gifts and tribute.

"The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them."

Isaiah 23:1

Context: The prophet Isaiah announces judgment on Tyre, a leading trade city. The “ships of Tarshish” stand for the merchants and trade routes that will mourn Tyre’s fall. They point to economic loss and disruption.

"I will set a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations."

Isaiah 66:19

Context: In this vision God says His glory will reach even far nations, Tarshish among them. It stands for the worldwide reach of His message and salvation.

"Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise."

Ezekiel 27:12

Context: The prophet Ezekiel speaks to the city of Tyre and lists its many trade partners. Tarshish is named for trading valuable metals. That shows its economic weight and its wealth in resources.

"But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Yahweh. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of Yahweh."

Jonah 1:3

Context: In this well-known story the prophet Jonah tries to escape God’s command. He flees to Tarshish. Tarshish is thought to be the farthest known place west of Israel at the time. It may match a region in today’s Spain. Jonah wanted to get as far as possible from his divine task.

"And he prayed to the Lord and said, 'O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.'"

Jonah 4:2

Context: Here Jonah explains why he first fled to Tarshish. He admits God is merciful. Again Tarshish is the faraway refuge in Jonah’s mind.

"Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your host to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?'"

Ezekiel 38:13

Context: In a prophecy about Gog and Magog, Tarshish appears with other nations. They question the aims of a great invading army. Tarshish is still a major player in world affairs.

All verses containing Tarshish

Book and Verse	Context/Description	Verse
Genesis 10:4	Tarshish is mentioned as one of the sons of Javan, a descendant of Noah, linking it to the ancient peoples of the Mediterranean.	"The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim."
1 Kings 10:22	Describes King Solomon's fleet that brought back wealth from Tarshish every three years, including gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.	"For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."
1 Kings 22:48	Mentions King Jehoshaphat's attempt to build ships to go to Tarshish, but they were wrecked at Ezion-Geber.	"Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-Geber."
2 Chronicles 9:21	Similar to 1 Kings 10:22, describes Solomon’s fleet bringing back wealth from Tarshish.	"For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram. Every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."
2 Chronicles 20:36-37	Refers to Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahaziah to build ships to go to Tarshish, but God disapproves and the ships are wrecked.	"He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-Geber. Then Eliezer…prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, 'Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.' And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish."
Esther 1:14	Lists Tarshish as one of the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to King Ahasuerus, though this reference may be a different Tarshish.	"The men next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom."
Psalms 48:7	Mentions the breaking of the ships of Tarshish by a powerful east wind as a symbol of divine intervention.	"By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish."
Psalms 72:10	Refers to kings of Tarshish bringing gifts to King Solomon, indicating Tarshish's wealth and distance.	"May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!"
Isaiah 2:16	Prophecies against all ships of Tarshish, symbolizing the judgment against wealth and pride.	"against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft."
Isaiah 23:1	A lamentation for Tyre, referring to the ships of Tarshish as the trading ships of Tyre.	"The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor!"
Isaiah 23:6	Calls for the inhabitants of Tyre to flee to Tarshish, indicating a close connection between the two cities.	"Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coast!"
Isaiah 23:10	Urges Tarshish to expand its trade due to Tyre's downfall.	"Overflow your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore."
Isaiah 60:9	Refers to the ships of Tarshish bringing the wealth of nations to Zion, symbolizing prosperity and restoration.	"For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God."
Jeremiah 10:9	Describes the wealth of Tarshish as part of the critique of idolatry, mentioning silver from Tarshish.	"Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz."
Ezekiel 27:12	Describes Tyre's trade with Tarshish, highlighting the wealth of Tarshish in metals like silver, iron, tin, and lead.	"Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares."
Ezekiel 27:25	Mentions the ships of Tarshish as part of the fleet of Tyre, signifying the extensive maritime trade network.	"The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas."
Ezekiel 38:13	Mentions the merchants of Tarshish and its young lions as participants in the trading and alliances of the nations.	"Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoil?'"
Jonah 1:3	Jonah attempts to flee from God's command by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish, symbolizing the farthest possible destination away from Nineveh.	"But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it."
Jonah 4:2	Jonah references his earlier flight to Tarshish, revealing his reluctance to follow God's command due to his knowledge of God's mercy.	"That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster."

Long before the Bible was written, ancient trade networks spanned continents. The goods listed in 2 Chronicles 9:21 are gold, silver, ivory, apes and monkeys. They could have come from several regions with rich resources and established trade routes.

1. India and South Asia

Gold. India was known for its gold. It was mined and traded widely.

Ivory. Indian elephants were a main source of ivory.

Apes and monkeys. Many kinds of apes and monkeys live in South Asia. That makes India and its neighbors a likely source.

Peacocks. If the word means peacocks, India is their native land. They were highly prized in ancient trade.

2. Africa (especially East Africa)

Gold. Africa was known for its gold mines, above all in Nubia (today’s Sudan) and Ethiopia.

Ivory. African elephants were a major source of ivory. East Africa was famous for its ivory trade.

Apes. Africa, above all its central and western regions, is home to several kinds of apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas.

Monkeys. Many kinds of monkeys live in Africa. They were exported in ancient times.

3. Arabian Peninsula and the Near East

Gold and silver. The Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamia got gold and silver through mining and through trade.

Ivory. Ivory was rarer here than in Africa or India. Still, Arabian trade routes reached Africa and India and could carry it.

Exotic animals. Through their wide networks, Arabian merchants could have brought in apes, monkeys and other exotic animals from Africa and India.

4. Southeast Asia

Gold. Southeast Asia, including today’s Indonesia and Malaysia, had gold.

Ivory. Southeast Asia has its own elephants, so it was also a source of ivory.

Apes and monkeys. Many kinds of apes and monkeys live in its dense forests. That makes it a possible source.

5. Southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa

Gold and silver. This region, including today’s Yemen and the Horn of Africa, traded in precious metals.

Ivory and exotic animals. It had strong trade ties with Africa and India. That makes it a likely middleman for ivory, apes and other exotic goods.

2 Chronicles 9:21 says “once every three years.” That could mean a voyage of 18 months each way. It is a reasonable reading, given how ancient sea trade worked.

Considerations for the 18-Month Voyage Theory:

Ancient maritime capabilities. In ancient times long sea voyages were hard and slow. They needed careful planning, good weather and stops for supplies. A three-year round trip could include 18 months of sailing each way. The rest of the time went to trading, loading and unloading cargo, and waiting for good sailing weather.

Trade routes and distance. Some scholars place Tarshish, or the source of its goods, very far away. It may have been in the western Mediterranean, like Tartessos in Spain. It may even have tied into networks reaching India or East Africa. If so, an 18-month voyage each way makes sense. That covers the great distances, the limits of ancient ships and the need to stop at many ports.

Seasonal sailing. Ancient sailors had to plan around the monsoon winds, above all on routes through the Indian Ocean. The timing of these winds was critical. It could set much of the schedule. It led to long waits and made the whole voyage longer.

Complex trade networks. The three-year cycle may also reflect the time needed to work through complex trade networks. Merchant ships often did not sail straight from one point to another. They stopped many times to trade, and that made the voyage longer. This was most true for luxury goods like gold, silver, ivory and exotic animals. These may have come from different regions.

In the age of European colonies and trading companies like the Dutch East India Company (VOC), some trade routes took up to three years for a round trip. The voyages were long because of the huge distances and the need to sail around whole continents. Trade talks and loading cargo took time too. Below are key examples of routes that usually took about three years.

1. Portuguese India Route (Carreira da Índia)

Route. This sea route ran from Lisbon, Portugal, to Goa, India. Sometimes it went further east to Southeast Asia or Japan.

Duration. A round trip could take two to three years.

Itinerary:

Depart from Lisbon, sail down the west coast of Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope.

Cross the Indian Ocean to reach Goa, a major Portuguese colony and trading center in India.

Further voyages could extend to Southeast Asia (Malacca, Macau) or Japan.

Challenges. The Carreira da Índia was known for its length and for the dangers of rounding the Cape of Good Hope. The return trip meant waiting for good winds, which often caused more delay.

2. Spanish Manila Galleon Route

Route. This trade route crossed the Pacific Ocean between Acapulco, Mexico, and Manila, Philippines.

Duration. Each leg could take six months to a year. The whole round trip, with the time spent in Manila, could take about two to three years.

Itinerary:

Depart from Acapulco, cross the Pacific Ocean to Manila.

The galleons carried silver from the New World to trade for spices, silks, and other goods in Asia.

The return trip to Acapulco involved a long and perilous journey across the Pacific.

Challenges. Crossing the vast Pacific was hard and dangerous. Storms, piracy and scurvy were constant threats. Ships often stayed in Manila a long time to secure cargo and prepare for the trip back.

Factors Affecting Voyage Duration:

Seasonal winds and monsoons. Many of these routes depended on the timing of the monsoon winds, above all in the Indian Ocean. The winds could delay departure or lengthen the stay at a trading post.

Trade negotiations. Long negotiations, loading cargo and local politics could delay the ships.

Resupply stops. Ships had to stop at many ports for fresh water, food and repairs. That added to the total time.

So routes like the VOC run from Europe to the East Indies, the Portuguese India Route and the Spanish Manila Galleon Route often took about three years. The distance was long, and ships had to wait for good winds.