2 Chronicles 2:8
Send ... cedars <07971 0730> [Send me also.]
algum <0418> [algum trees. or, algummim.]
Called in the parallel passage, by a transposition of letters, {almuggim,} or "almug-trees;" which is rendered by the Vulgate, {ligna thyina,} the thya or lignum vit‘ wood. Theophrastus say that "the thyon of thya tree grows near the temple of Jupiter Ammon (in Africa), and in the Cyrenaica; that it resembles the cypress in its boughs, leaves, stalk, and fruit; and that its wood (from its close texture) never rots." The LXX. render here [peukina;] and Josephus calls it [xyla peukina,] torch or pine-trees; but cautions us against supposing that the wood was like what was known in his time by that name; for these "were to the sight like the wood of the fig-tree, but more white and shining." The Syriac version has {kaiso dekee-sotho,} probably cypress wood; and Dr. Shaw supposes it denotes the cypress. Several critics understand it to mean gummy wood; and Celsius queries whether it may not be the sandal-tree, as the Rabbins and Dr. Geddes suppose.
[almug-trees.]
2 Chronicles 8:18
Huram <02361> [Huram.]
[See on]
[Hiram. Ophir.]
Conjectures respecting the situation of Ophir are endless. Grotius conjectures it to be a part of Arabia called Aphar by Arrian; while Bochart and others have placed it in the island of Ceylon. Calmet supposes it to have been situated in Armenia; but his late editor places it at the head of the Indus. Josephus says that Ophir is the Indies, called the Gold country; by which he is supposed to mean Chersonesus Aurea, now Malacca, opposite Sumatra; and Le Poivre observes that the inhabitants of these places call their gold mines {ophirs.}
took .... 450 <03947 0702> [took thence.]
