by the hands of. Figure of speech Pleonasm.
ships. From Tyre, in the Mediterranean, to the Red Sea. To show that this was not insuperable (as some have imagined) the next clause is added.
that had knowledge of the sea. This is the explanation of the possibility of such voyages being possible. And why not?
Ophir. First occurrence Genesis 10:29, where Ophir, the son of Joktan, was the ancestor of several Arabian tribes. Rhodesia is probably the land indicated. About five hundred ruins are scattered over. large area. There are evidences' of gold-smelting in the great Zimbawe buildings, where the ancient ruins resemble the ruins in Syria, temple and fortress being combined. Tharshish ships for Ezion-geber sailed thither to Fast Africa, as well as to Arabia and India. The Queen of Sheba being mentioned in close connection with Ophir (2 Chronicles 8:10), as hearing about Solomon, furnishes further evidence. Compare 1 Kings 9:28.