precious stones Summary and Overview

PRE'CIOUS STONES About twenty different names of such stones are found in the Bible. In many instances it is at present impossible to determine precisely what gem was intended by these names. This whole subject is one of great difficulty, for the mineralogy of ancient times was very vague and imperfect. The same word was often used for different gems or substances possessing some common property. Thus, "adamant" ("unconquerable") might mean steel, quartz, corundum, or any other very hard substance; "crystal" (kerach) meant either ice or transparent quartz. The same ancient names were applied differently by different authorities, and even by the same writer. Even where a word has passed unchanged in form from Hebrew through Greek or Latin into modern use, it cannot be certainly concluded that the present application is the early one. The stones of the high priest's breastplate were engraved with the names of the tribes, Ex 28:21, but it is certain that at that time the art of cutting the harder gems was unknown. According to Professor Maskelyne, a recognized authority, we must for this reason exclude from the breastplate the diamond, sapphire, emerald, and topaz. In place of these there may be substituted, respectively, rock-crystal (or chalcedony), lapis-lazuli, garnet, and chrysolite. The ruby and chrysoberyl would be too hard to claim a place in this list. Few diamonds were ever known of the size of these stones, which Josephus tells us were large, and which probably reached at least an inch square. If the diamond is mentioned in the Bible, it is probably only in the N.T. See Jasper. The sacred ornament of the high priest was probably broken up early in our era, but the gems which composed it are doubtless somewhere in existence in the Turkish empire or in Persia. It is not probable that all of these large engraved precious stones will always remain in obscurity. "What a source of rejoicing, both to archaeologists and, above all, to the religious world, will be the identification of even one of these venerable relics! - a contingency by no means to be pronounced chimerical in an age which has witnessed the resuscitation of Sennacherib's own cup, signet, and queen's portrait." (See C. W. King's Precious Stones and Metals; art. "Urim and Thummim.") In the very earliest times men set a high value on some of these minerals. Gen 2:12; 1 Chr 29:2. The Tyrians traded in precious stones, which they obtained from India, Arabia, and Syria. Eze 27:16, Josh 11:22. Figuratively, the various gems are used in the Bible to emphasize such ideas as value, beauty, and durability, in Song 5:14; Isa 54:11-12; Lam 4:7; Rev 21:18-20; and passages already mentioned. STON'ING was the most general punishment inflicted on notorious criminals, and is usually meant where no other description of capital punishment is expressly mentioned, as in Lev 20:10. Idolaters, blasphemers, Sabbath-breakers, incestuous persons, and stubborn or rebellious children were liable to it. The culprit was led out of the city and, as some have supposed, was bound. The witnesses against him were required to commence the work of death, and probably they divested themselves of clothing that it might be done more effectually. Acts 7:58. At the murder of Stephen they committed the custody of their clothes to Saul, who was not improbably, from his talents and ardor, a ringleader of the mob and one of the most violent of the persecutors, and the multitude followed the example of the leaders until the victim was beaten to death. The Rabbinical writers say that the first stone was cast by one of the witnesses on the chest of the convict; and if this failed to cause death, the bystanders proceeded to complete the sentence. Some think that the frequent taking up of stones by the Jews to throw at our Saviour, and the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7:59, and of Paul, Acts 14:19, were vestiges of a punishment called the "rebels" beating," inflicted by the mob, with fists, staves, or stones, on the excitement of the moment.

(See AGATE; CARBUNCLE, etc.) Josephus' nomenclature for the stones in the high priest's breast-plate is confirmed by the Vulgate of Jerome, at a time when the breast-plate was still open for inspection in the Temple of Concord, situated in the Forum.