Ivory Box with Ritual Scene

This ritual scene was carved twice on a cylindrical ivory box from Hazor, about 2.7 inches high and 2.2 inches in diameter (7 × 6 cm). A kneeling man raises his hands in prayer toward a stylized tree (likely a young palm tree), with a winged sphinx (cherub) standing behind the tree. (The broken lines represent missing parts of the image reconstructed on the basis of parallel images.) The tree may represent an asherah, a tree or treelike object standing at a place of worship that the Bible usually prohibits, considering it a feature of Canaanite idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:5; 16:21). These objects may have symbolized fertility, nourishment, or divine protection, or—originally, at least—the Canaanite fertility goddess of the same name, Asherah, which is likely why biblical law considers them illicit. The sphinx is either guarding the tree or is itself an object of worship or a pedestal for an invisible object of worship (see “Figurine of a Young Bull”). The style of the box is Phoenician, but because the Bible mentions cherubs and trees at Israelite sanctuaries, it is possible that this scene illustrates Israelite practice, albeit one forbidden in biblical law. The prayer gesture also appears on a seal impression on a container from Hazor (see Prayers), and upraised hands are depicted on “Small Limestone Incense Altar from Lachish.”