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Ivory

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• ܫܶܢܳܐ
• ἐλεφάντινος
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ı̄´vō̇ - ri ((1) שׁן , shēn , "tooth" (translated "ivory," 1 Kings 10:18; 1 Kings 22:39; 2 Chronicles 9:17; Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 5:14; Song of Solomon 7:4; Ezekiel 27:6 , Ezekiel 27:15; Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4 ); (2) שׁנהבּים , shenhabbı̄m ; Septuagint ὀδόντες ἐλεφάντινοι , odóntes elephántinoi , "elephants' teeth" (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chronicles 9:21 ); (3) ἐλεφάντινος , elephántinos , "of ivory" (Revelation 18:12 )): Shēn occurs often, meaning "tooth" of man or beast. In the passages cited it is translated in English Versions of the Bible "ivory" (of "crag," 1 Samuel 14:4 , 1 Samuel 14:5; "cliff," Job 39:28 twice; "flesh-hook of three teeth," 1 Samuel 2:13 ). Shenhabbı̄m is thought to be a contracted form of shen hā -'ibbı̄m , i.e. hā , the article, and 'ibbı̄m , plural of 'ibbāh or 'ibbā' ; compare Egyptian ab , ebu , "elephant," and compare Latin ebur , "ivory" (see Liddell and Scott, under the word ἐλέφας , eléphas ). On the other hand, it may be a question whether -bı̄m is not a singular form connected with the Arabic fı̂l , "elephant." If the word for "elephant" is not contained in shenhabbı̄m , it occurs nowhere in the Hebrew Bible.

Ivory was probably obtained, as now, mainly from the African elephant. It was rare and expensive. It is mentioned in connection with the magnificence of Solomon (1 Kings 10:18 , 1 Kings 10:22 ), being brought by the ships of Tarshish (2 Chronicles 9:17 , 2 Chronicles 9:21 ). An "ivory house" of Ahab is mentioned in 1 Kings 22:39 . It is mentioned among the luxuries of Israel in the denunciations of Amos (Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4 ). It occurs in the figurative language of Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 5:14; Song of Solomon 7:4 . It is used for ornamentation of the ships of the Tyrians (Ezekiel 27:6 ), who obtain it with ebony through the men of Dedan (Ezekiel 27:15 ). It is among the merchandise of Babylon (Revelation 18:12 ).

We do not learn of the use of elephants in war until a few centuries before the Christian era. In 1 Maccabees 8:6 , there is a reference to the defeat of Antiochus the Great, "having an hundred and twenty elephants," by Scipio Africanus in 190 bc. 1 Maccabees 1:17 speaks of the invasion of Egypt by Antiochus Epiphanes with an army in which there were elephants. 1 Maccabees 6:28-47 has a detailed account of a battle between Antiochus Eupator and Judas Maccabeus at Bethsura (Beth-zur). There were 32 elephants. Upon the "beasts" ( θηρία , thērı́a ) there were "strong towers of wood"; "There were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him."

In Job 40:15 , the King James Version margin has for "behemoth," "the elephant , as some think."