Ivory: General Scriptures Concerning
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Ivory, a precious material derived from the tusks of elephants and other animals, is mentioned several times in the Bible, often symbolizing wealth, luxury, and opulence. Its use in ancient times was primarily for decorative purposes, and it was highly valued in trade and craftsmanship.

1. Solomon's Throne and Wealth: King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and wealth, had a throne made of ivory, overlaid with fine gold. This throne is described in 1 Kings 10:18: "Then the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold." The use of ivory here underscores the grandeur and splendor of Solomon's reign, reflecting the prosperity and artistic achievement of Israel during his time.

2. Ahab's Palace: The opulence of the Northern Kingdom of Israel is highlighted by the mention of ivory in the construction of King Ahab's palace. In 1 Kings 22:39, it is recorded: "As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory house he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?" This reference indicates the luxurious lifestyle and the extent of wealth accumulated by Ahab.

3. Trade and Commerce: Ivory was a significant commodity in ancient trade, as evidenced by its mention in the context of Tyre's extensive trading network. Ezekiel 27:15 describes the trade of ivory: "The men of Dedan were your merchants; many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony." This passage highlights the value placed on ivory and its role in the economic exchanges of the ancient world.

4. Symbol of Decadence: The prophet Amos speaks against the excesses of the wealthy in Israel, using ivory as a symbol of their indulgence and moral decay. In Amos 6:4, he declares: "You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves." Here, ivory is associated with the complacency and self-indulgence of those who have turned away from righteousness.

5. Craftsmanship and Artistry: The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating love and beauty, uses ivory metaphorically to describe the beloved's features. In Song of Solomon 5:14, the beloved's hands are likened to "rods of gold set with beryl, his body is an ivory panel inlaid with sapphires." This imagery conveys the exquisite beauty and craftsmanship associated with ivory.

Throughout the Scriptures, ivory serves as a symbol of wealth, artistry, and sometimes moral decline. Its presence in biblical narratives provides insight into the cultural and economic contexts of the ancient Near East, reflecting both the splendor and the potential pitfalls of material prosperity.
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Songs 5:14
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
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Songs 7:4
Your neck is as a tower of ivory; your eyes like the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: your nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
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Ezekiel 27:15
The men of Dedan were your merchants; many isles were the merchandise of your hand: they brought you for a present horns of ivory and ebony.
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Library

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... religion which is delivered in the Scriptures, and which ... so much delighted with gold,
driver, ivory, marble, gems ... custom is just a kind of general pestilence in ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Apprehending God
... and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces." "My ... power plainly beckoning us
through the Scriptures of truth ... company of angels, to the general assembly and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/iv apprehending god.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... especially for the purpose of elucidating the Scriptures. ... have made more distinct
the general historical background ... lapis lazuli, couches of ivory, thrones of ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

Psalm LXXVI.
... because through the mountains to me the Scriptures were displayed ... seen himself to
lie on an ivory or golden ... iv. p. 40, and General Index, sub voce "Marriage."--C ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxvi.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... No such general use of the prophetical writings was ever ... added to a collection of
sacred Scriptures which was ... near; that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

"The Sun of Righteousness"
... from the secret chambers of the ivory palaces, and ... manifestation of our Lord to the
general multitude. ... remember that Christ is the center of the Scriptures. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the sun of righteousness.htm

The Bible
... Peter, corroboratively speaking of these very Scriptures of the ... who remained alive
after the general slaughter were ... to room, down all the ivory galleries of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

Book ii.
... of obtaining the books of our sacred Scriptures; accordingly, he ... of the universe,
and permits the priests in general to be ... admired, had the use of ivory and of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... that the promises of God are general to the ... of victories; and such as are nowadays
concerning our daily ... by the prophets of God in the Holy Scriptures' (Romans 1 ...
/.../english version of the second.htm

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... on earth, which are given in a general statement or ... Hence His people cry concerning
it, "Remember, O Lord ... our best judgment and compare other Scriptures, so as ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

Resources
What was the significance of the horns of the altar (Amos 3:14)? | GotQuestions.org

Ivory: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Ivory

Ivory: Ahab's Palace Made of

Ivory: Chittim

Ivory: Exported from Tarshish

Ivory: General Scriptures Concerning

Ivory: Other Articles Made of Beds

Ivory: Other Articles Made of Benches

Ivory: Other Articles Made of Stringed Instruments

Ivory: Other Articles Made of Thrones

Ivory: Other Articles Made of Vessels

Ivory: Other Houses Made of

Related Terms

Inlaid (8 Occurrences)

Elephant

Ape

Ebony (2 Occurrences)

Peacock

Crafts (2 Occurrences)

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)

Overlayeth (19 Occurrences)

Tarshish (24 Occurrences)

Tarshish-ships (3 Occurrences)

Turn (963 Occurrences)

Trading (24 Occurrences)

Monkeys (2 Occurrences)

Plated (29 Occurrences)

Peacocks (3 Occurrences)

Bench (1 Occurrence)

Baboons (2 Occurrences)

Adorned (20 Occurrences)

Apes (2 Occurrences)

Marble (5 Occurrences)

Sea-lands (24 Occurrences)

Bedstead (1 Occurrence)

Coastlands (29 Occurrences)

Bedchamber (6 Occurrences)

Islands (32 Occurrences)

Isles (32 Occurrences)

Ethiopia (26 Occurrences)

Bed (142 Occurrences)

Jewels (54 Occurrences)

Merchandise (34 Occurrences)

I've (7 Occurrences)

Ahab (85 Occurrences)

Tower (74 Occurrences)

Assyria (124 Occurrences)

Boats (11 Occurrences)

Carrying (88 Occurrences)

Ships (46 Occurrences)

House (20110 Occurrences)

Kittites (2 Occurrences)

Nosejewels

Nose-jewels (1 Occurrence)

Navy (4 Occurrences)

Oak-trees (1 Occurrence)

Overlooking (11 Occurrences)

Oaks (14 Occurrences)

Oars (4 Occurrences)

Ornamented (14 Occurrences)

Ophir (12 Occurrences)

Larch (3 Occurrences)

Lounge (1 Occurrence)

Lading (7 Occurrences)

Woods (37 Occurrences)

Winter-house (2 Occurrences)

India (2 Occurrences)

Ivva (1 Occurrence)

Fattened (19 Occurrences)

Finest (23 Occurrences)

Fishpools (1 Occurrence)

Floors (12 Occurrences)

Fleet (7 Occurrences)

Fish-pools (1 Occurrence)

Tarshish-fleet (1 Occurrence)

Traded (16 Occurrences)

Tusks (1 Occurrence)

Traffickers (9 Occurrences)

Thyne (1 Occurrence)

Tharshish (3 Occurrences)

Rodan (1 Occurrence)

Rare (8 Occurrences)

Rule (291 Occurrences)

Rabbim (1 Occurrence)

Recline (14 Occurrences)

Rounded (7 Occurrences)

Refined (26 Occurrences)

Exploration

Encrusted (2 Occurrences)

Expensive (6 Occurrences)

Dedan (10 Occurrences)

Ivory: Exported from Tarshish
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