Ivory Artifacts Consistent with Biblical Narrative in I Kings

IFCJ Canada  |  November 14, 2025

The Times of Israel reports that the University of Haifa published findings this month analyzing over 1,500 artifacts and fragments, made from ivory, imported from sub-Saharan Africa to biblical Israel between 1600 to 600 BCE. These artifacts came through a southbound network of trade that is consistent with biblical narratives from about the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. Sheba is the country we know today as Yemen.

Dr. Harel Shochat of University of Haifa said that the ivory trade network to Israel and Judah remained despite the constant transitions of Israel at the time including when it fell under Egyptian rule in the Late Bronze Age and was conquered and destroyed by the Assyrians. Even when Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians later, the monopoly on ivory continued. Items such as boxes, combs, bottles, and other articles were made from ivory. Mechanical components like spindles and handles would also be made from the material, as well as furnishings.

Ivory’s prominence is also reflected in the Bible, which features the material in several narratives, referring to extreme opulence, such as King Solomon’s “large ivory throne” (I Kings 10:18), King Ahab’s palace adorned with ivory (I Kings 22:39) and firebrand warnings from the prophet Amos to stop lolling on ivory-inlayed beds and couches (Amos 6:4).

“In the archaeology of the biblical periods, whether the narrative that describes the events of King Solomon truly happened [is debated], and I am unable to solve the question with my study on ivories,” Shochat said.

“However, what I can say is that the story of the Queen of Sheba and others mentioned in the Bible, such as the port in Ezion-Geber, point to a southbound exchange network in addition to the Mediterranean one, and we can attest that,” he added.

The book of I Kings recounts that Solomon built a fleet at Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea, in modern-day Eilat (I Kings 9:26).

Research teams analyzing the ivory also found that most had come from elephants, and about 15% of them were from hippopotamuses. Three items in the collection were found to be crafted from boar tusks. It was previously thought that when Assyrians came to control the African regions, the ivory trade had stopped – but the fact that the ivory came from African and not Asian elephants shows that the route was still up and running.

The Scriptures also reflect the historical context of the times. Shochat said that the biblical connection to the southern trade route in question will be looked at in upcoming studies.