Emily Dickinson Lexicon

Ophir, proper n. [L. < Heb. ōphīr.]

Son of Joktan (see Genesis 10:29); descendent of Shem in the Old Testament; Biblical location where gold is refined (see Job 22:24); legendary location of Solomon's mines (see 1 Kings 9:28); source of gold for the temple in Jerusalem; place where King David procured gold, ivory, wood, and precious stones to build the temple; possibly, the rich natural resources of South America (see ED letters 395, 585, 593, 677); place name associated with some of the most productive mines in the Gold Rush of northern California; a boomtown in the California gold mine district from 1849-1853 (see the Springfield Republican 1856 May 2 p. 2; see also 1874 Dec 31 p. 8, 1875 Oct 28 p. 5, and 1882 Nov 11 p. 5).