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ı̄´vō̇-ri ((1) ש×ן, sheÌ„n, “tooth†(translated “ivory,†; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ); (2) ש×× ×”×‘Ö¼×™×, shenhabbı̄m; Septuagint ὀδοÌντες ἐλεφαÌντινοι, odoÌntes elephaÌntinoi, “elephants' teeth†(; ); (3) ἐλεφαÌντινος, elephaÌntinos, “of ivory†()): SheÌ„n occurs often, meaning “tooth†of man or beast. In the passages cited it is translated in English Versions of the Bible “ivory†(of “crag,†, ; “cliff,†twice; “flesh-hook of three teeth,†). Shenhabbı̄m is thought to be a contracted form of shen haÌ„-'ibbı̄m, i.e. haÌ„, the article, and 'ibbı̄m, plural of 'ibbaÌ„h or 'ibbaÌ„'; compare Egyptian ab, ebu, “elephant,†and compare Latin ebur, “ivory†(see Liddell and Scott, under the word ἐλεÌφας, eleÌphas). 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 (, ), being brought by the ships of Tarshish (, ). An “ivory house†of Ahab is mentioned in . It is mentioned among the luxuries of Israel in the denunciations of Amos (; ). It occurs in the figurative language of ; ; . It is used for ornamentation of the ships of the Tyrians (), who obtain it with ebony through the men of Dedan (). It is among the merchandise of Babylon ().
We do not learn of the use of elephants in war until a few centuries before the Christian era. In 1 Macc 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 Macc 1:17 speaks of the invasion of Egypt by Antiochus Epiphanes with an army in which there were elephants. 1 Macc 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†(θηÏιÌα, theÌ„rıÌa) there were “strong towers of woodâ€; “There were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.â€
In , the King James Version margin has for “behemoth,†“the elephant, as some think.â€