In the genealogical table of the Noachidæ, Tarshish is given as the second son of Javan and is followed by Kittim and Dodanim (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7). As with all these names, Tarshish denotes a country; in several instances, indeed, it is mentioned as a maritime country lying in the remotest region of the earth. Thus, Jonah flees to Tarshish from the presence of YHWH (Jonah 1:3, 4:2). With Pul, Tubal, and Javan, it is mentioned as one of the remote places that have not heard of YHWH (Isaiah 66:19, comp. 60:9; Psalms 72:10; Ezekiel 38:13). Any large vessel capable of making a long sea-voyage was styled a “ship of Tarshish,” though this did not necessarily mean that the vessel sailed either to or from Tarshish (Psalms 48:7; 1 Kings 10:22, 22:48; Isaiah 2:16; et al.). It seems that in parallel passages referring to Solomon’s and Jehoshaphat’s ships (I Kings l.c.) the author of Chronicles did not understand the meaning of “ships of Tarshish” (2 Chronicles 9:21, 20:36).
Tarshish appears to have had a considerable trade in silver, iron, tin, and lead (Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:12). It gave its name, besides, to a precious stone which has not yet been satisfactorily identified ( See Gems). The Targum of Jonathan renders the word “Tarshish” in the prophetical books by “sea,” which rendering is followed by Saadia. Moreover, the term “ships of Tarshish” is rendered by Jewish scholars “sea-ships” (comp. LXX., Isaiah 2:16, πλοῖα θαλαρρης). Jerome, too, renders “Tarshish” by “sea” in many instances; and in his commentary on Isaiah (l.c.) he declares that he had been told by his Jewish teachers that the Hebrew word for “sea” was “tarshish.” In Isaiah 23:1 the Septuagint, and in Ezekiel 27:12 both the Septuagint and the Vulgate, render “Tarshish” by “Carthage,” apparently suggested by Jewish tradition. Indeed, the Targum of Jonathan renders “Tarshish” in 1 Kings 22:48 and Jeremiah 10:9 by “Afriḳi,” that is, Carthage.
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Author: Jewish Encyclopedia
Keywords: Tarshish
Source: Isidore Singer (editor), The Jewish Encyclopedia (12 Volumes), (1906).
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.