Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 22:39

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

39. the ivory house that he made [R.V. built ] The verb is the same as in the next clause. The house was of course not of ivory, but largely adorned with it. That such adornment prevailed in Oriental lands, see Amo 3:15. The family of Ahab were great builders. It was the father of this king who in his short reign built Samaria, and Ahab apparently built several cities, i.e. perhaps restored and beautified them. Omri’s building of Samaria, however, was the founding of a new capital.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The ivory house – So called from the character of its ornamentation. Ivory was largely used in the ancient world as a covering of wood-work, and seems to have been applied, not only to furniture, but to the doors and walls of houses.

Nothing is known of the cities built by Ahab; but the fact is important as indicating the general prosperity of the country in his time, and his own activity as a ruler. Prosperity, it is plain, may for a while co-exist with causes – such as, the decay of religions – which are sapping the vital power of a nation, and leading it surely, if slowly, to destruction.

The book of the chronicles … – See above, 1Ki 14:19; 1Ki 15:31; 1Ki 16:5, 1Ki 16:14, 1Ki 16:20, 1Ki 16:27.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. Ivory house] A royal palace which he built in Samaria, decorated with ivory, and hence called the ivory house. Amos the prophet speaks against this luxury, Am 3:15.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The ivory house, Heb. the house of the tooth or teeth, to wit, of elephants: see 1Ki 10:18. Not that it was made wholly of solid ivory, but because the other materials were covered, or intermixed, or adorned with ivory. Compare Amo 3:15.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made,…. Which, being a very curious and extraordinary thing, is particularly mentioned; though perhaps it might not be made wholly of ivory, but inlaid with it; we read of ivory houses in Am 3:15,

and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? in which the acts of his predecessors were recorded, see 1Ki 14:19 not the Scripture book of Chronicles, for there none of these things are related.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

E. CONCLUDING NOTE ON THE REIGN OF AHAB 22:3940

TRANSLATION

(39) And the rest of the deeds of Ahab and all which he did, and the house of ivory which he built, and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? (4) And Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son ruled in place of him.

COMMENTS

As the account of Ahabs reign concludes, two other brief notices about his accomplishments are given. Ahab, like his father, was a city builder, and apparently was responsible for building several towns. He was perhaps most famous for his ivory palace, i.e., a house with ivory inlays (1Ki. 22:39). Upon his death Ahab was succeeded by his son Ahaziah whose name means whom Yahweh upholds (1Ki. 22:40). This name perhaps suggests that, notwithstanding his flirtation with Baal worship, Ahab remained a believer in Yahweh.

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

(39) The ivory house.See Amo. 3:15. We note that now, for the first time since the days of Solomon (1Ki. 10:18-20), the use of ivoryin this case for inlaying the walls of housesso characteristic of Zidonian art, is mentioned. The undesigned coincidence, in relation to the renewed intercourse with Zidon, is remarkable.

All the cities . . .Possibly the cities ceded by Ben-hadad, and rebuilt as strongholds. The description shows that Ahabs reign was externally one of power and prosperity, as yet unimpaired even by his death and disaster at Ramoth-gilead. The fruits of spiritual corruption had not yet ripened.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

39. The ivory house Probably his royal palace at Samaria was so ornamented and inwrought with ivory as to be called the ivory house. Of his works no other record now remains.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ahab’s Obituary ( 1Ki 22:39-40 ).

Ahab’s experiences with the prophets now end with the usual final summary. Anyone interested in his achievements and his secular history could consult the court annals of Israel which had clearly been preserved and brought to Judah. The author was only marginally interested in them.

1Ki 22:39

‘ Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?’

The ivory house would be built of stone, but with ivory inlaid in the royal furniture and decorations with Phoenician, Egyptian and local motifs. Such houses are known to have been popular amongst great kings (e.g. Nimrud), and were seen as very prestigious. See Amo 3:15 for his view of them. Ahab is also credited with fortifying many cites. He would no doubt have completed Samaria when his father Omri died, and we also know from excavations of his building work at Megiddo and Hazor. Jericho was also rebuilt in his time (1Ki 16:34). No doubt more information awaits.

1Ki 22:40

‘ So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned instead of him.’

That Ahab ‘slept with his fathers’ indicated that he had not been assassinated. His son Ahaziah, third in the dynasty of Omri, (a record in Israel), succeeded him.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

1Ki 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Ver. 39. And the ivory house which he had made. ] For pomp and pleasure: as the emperors of Constantinople had a room made of porphyry, wherein their empresses were delivered, and their children were there hence called Porphyrogeniti.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)