1 Kings 10:18

18 The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with fine gold.

1 Kings 10:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:18

Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory
To sit on and judge his people; and ivory being white, may denote the purity, justice, and equity with which he judged; the white throne in ( Revelation 20:11 ) may be an allusion to this; the ivory he had from Tarshish, ( 1 Kings 10:22 )

and overlaid it with the best gold;
for the greater splendour and majesty of it; not that he covered it all over, for then the ivory would not be seen, but interlined it, or studded it with it, whereby it appeared the more beautiful and magnificent. Such a throne of gold and ivory was decreed to Caesar by the Romans ^F16.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Appian. Alex. l. 2.

1 Kings 10:18 In-Context

16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, using 15 pounds of gold on each shield.

17 He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold, using four pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall [which he called] the Forest of Lebanon.

18 The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with fine gold.

19 Six steps led to the throne. Carved into the back of the throne was a calf's head. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.

20 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.