Ivory: Other Houses Made of
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Ivory, a precious material derived from the tusks of elephants and other animals, is mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of wealth and opulence. In ancient times, ivory was highly valued for its beauty and rarity, often used in the construction and decoration of luxurious buildings and furnishings.

Biblical References:

1. Ahab's Ivory House:
The most notable reference to a house made of ivory in the Bible is 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 palace he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?" This passage highlights Ahab's wealth and his desire to display his prosperity through the construction of an ivory-adorned palace. The use of ivory in Ahab's palace signifies the king's status and the luxurious lifestyle of the Israelite monarchy during his reign.

2. Ivory in Amos' Prophecy:
The prophet Amos also references houses adorned with ivory in his denunciation of the excesses of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In Amos 3:15, the Lord declares, "I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end," declares the LORD. This prophecy serves as a warning against the complacency and moral decay associated with wealth and luxury. The mention of "houses of ivory" underscores the opulence that had become prevalent among the elite, which Amos condemns as a sign of their departure from righteousness and justice.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, ivory was a luxury item often imported from distant lands, such as Africa and India. It was used not only in architecture but also in the creation of intricate carvings, inlays, and decorative items. The presence of ivory in a building or household was a clear indicator of wealth and high social standing.

The use of ivory in construction and decoration was not limited to Israel. Archaeological discoveries have unearthed ivory artifacts and decorations in various ancient sites, including those of the Assyrians and Egyptians, who also valued this material for its aesthetic appeal and symbolic significance.

Symbolism and Theological Implications:

In the biblical narrative, ivory serves as a symbol of both material wealth and the potential moral pitfalls associated with it. The construction of houses adorned with ivory reflects a focus on earthly riches and the temptation to prioritize material prosperity over spiritual and ethical values. The prophets, like Amos, often used such imagery to call the people of Israel back to a covenantal relationship with God, emphasizing justice, righteousness, and humility over opulence and self-indulgence.

The biblical references to ivory houses remind readers of the transient nature of material wealth and the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. The destruction of these luxurious dwellings, as prophesied by Amos, serves as a powerful metaphor for the ultimate futility of relying on earthly riches and the need for repentance and spiritual renewal.
Nave's Topical Index
Psalm 45:8
All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made you glad.
Nave's Topical Index

Amos 3:15
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, said the LORD.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Carcass and the Eagles
... away the evil day, while with the other they drew ... The woodwork of the divans, inlaid
with ivory, had caught ... in some of his peeps into the great houses, and he ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the carcass and the eagles.htm

Concerning the Sabbatic River which Titus Saw as He was Journeying ...
... There was also wrought gold and ivory fastened about ... upon temples was here represented,
and houses overthrown, and ... of ships; and for the other spoils, they ...
/.../chapter v concerning the sabbatic.htm

The Great Stone Face
... her rivers, and gathered up the ivory tusks of ... whatever was iron or brass in other
houses was silver ... and Mr. Gathergold's bedchamber, especially, made such a ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the great stone face.htm

Of Images, and the Ornaments of Temples, and the Contempt in which ...
... great poet, a man of sagacity in other things, in ... apt to be broken to pieces, when
houses fall through ... set off and adorn their gods with gold, ivory, and jewels ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv of images and the.htm

The Destruction of Babylon.
... wood, and all kinds of vessels of ivory, and all ... of the earth, and partially by other
agencies. ... the spoliation of churches and religious houses, wherever the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the destruction of babylon.htm

The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by which the Gods are ...
... On the other hand, apes are admired by those who ... to stone, and wood, and gold, and
ivory images, and ... shame and fear, they depict in their houses the unnatural ...
/.../exhortation to the heathen/chapter iv the absurdity and shamefulness.htm

The Gladness of the Man of Sorrows
... the houses of ivory shall perish." These ivory houses relate, I ... if we have a mutual
joy in each other, so that ... aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the gladness of the man.htm

Knox and Queen Mary (Continued), 1561-1564
... of the godly; dreams that came through the Ivory Gate; with ... preachers, then or later,
were driven also to other industries, such as keeping public-houses. ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xv knox and queen.htm

Greek and Jew
... About it were neglected houses; not a sign of festivity was ... and each fired it to
keep the other from possessing ... end, facing a chair wholly of ivory set beside ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter viii greek and jew.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... I will be thy King: where is any other that may save thee?" Hosea 13:9, 10. ... "The
houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.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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