Hebrew Gemstones in the Old Testament: A Lexical, Geological, and Archaeological Analysis

Author:

Harrell James E.1,Hoffmeier James K.2,Williams Kenton F.3

Affiliation:

1. University of Toledo

2. Trinity International University

3. Trinity International Universtiy

Abstract

Abstract The Hebrew text of the OT names 27 rocks, minerals, and other materials that have been identified as gemstones in translations. These are mentioned most notably in the descriptionsof the high priest's breastplate (Exod 28:17–20 and 39:10–13 [36:17–20 LXX]) and the prince of Tyre's canopy (Ezek 28:13), but they are also found in dozens of other passages. Thisstudy attempts to identify these materials following a multidisciplinary approach that includes linguistic analysis (examining etymologies and descriptions of the stones),archaeological evidence (looking at the gemstones actually used in the Near East during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages as well as the ancient mines that may have supplied them), andgeological evidence (combining mineralogical and petrological data with knowledge of known gemstone deposits in the region). One or two possible identities are proposed for eachthe 27 materials, most of which are true gemstones.

Publisher

The Pennsylvania State University Press

Subject

General Medicine

Reference302 articles.

1. E. Clapton , The Precious Stones of theBible: Descriptive and Symbolical, Being a Treatise on the Breast Plate of the High Priest, and the Foundation of the New Jerusalem with a Brief History of Each Tribe andEach Apostle, 2nd ed. (London: Simpkin, 1899); W. M. F. Petrie, “Precious Stones” in Dictionary of theBible, ed. J. Hastings (New York:Scribner's, 1902), 619–21; G. F.Kunz, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (Philadelphia:Lippincott, 1913), 275–306; C. W.Cooper, The Precious Stones of the Bible with an Account of the Breastplate of the High Priest, the Ephod and Urim, andThummin (London: Allenson, 1924); P. L. Garber and R. W. Funk,“Jewels and Precious Stones,” in The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, ed.G. A. Buttrick (Nashville:Abingdon, 1962), 898–905; J. S.Harris, “An Introduction to the Study of Personal Ornaments of Precious, Semi-precious and Imitation Stones Used ThroughoutBiblical History,”The Annual of Leeds University Oriental Society4 (1962–63): 49–83; J. Patrick andG. R. Driver, “Jewels and Precious Stones,” inDictionary of the Bible, ed. J. Hastings, F. C. Grant and H. H.Rowley (New York: Scribner's, 1963),496–500; J. S. Harris, “The Stones of the HighPriest's Breastplate,”The Annual of Leeds University Oriental Society5 (1963–65): 40–62; E. L. Gilmore,“Which Were the Original Twelve Gemstones of the First Biblical Breastplate?”The Lapidary Journal22 (1968): 1130–34; A. Swersky,“The High Priest's Breastplate,”Ariel: Quarterly Review of Arts and Letters in Israel54 (1983): 107–20; E. Raymond,The Gem Stones in the Breastplate (Muskogee: Artisan Sales,1987); R. V. Wright and R.L. Chadbourne, Crystals, Gems and Minerals of the Bible: The Lore and Mystery of the Minerals and Jewels of Scripture fromAdamant to Zircon (New Canaan: Keats, 1988); W. Zwickel, “Die edelsteine im brustschild des hohenpriesters und beim himmlischenJerusalem,” in Edelsteine in der Bibel, ed. W.Zwickel (Mainz am Rhein: Philippe von Zabern, 2002),50–70; V. Gontero, “Un SyncrétismePagano-Chrétien: La Glose du Pectoral d'Aaron dans le Lapidaire Chrétien,”Revue de l'Histoire des Religions4 (2006): 417–37; E. G. Hirsch,“Gems,” in The Jewish Encyclopedia (New York: Funk &Wagnalls, 1901–06). Online: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6574-gems; The Temple Institute, “The Breastplate of the High Priest”(Jerusalem: Temple Institute). Online: http://www.templeinstitute.org/beged/priestly_garments-7.htm.

2. J. A. Harrell , “Old Testament Gemstones: APhilological, Geological, and Archaeological Assessment of Septuagint,”Bulletin of Biblical Research21/2 (2011): 141–71.

3. J. I. Durham , Exodus, WBC3 (Waco, TX: Word, 1987), 387.

4. C. Houtman , Exodus, 20–40,HCOT 3 (Leuven: Peeters, 2000), 498.

5. F. N. Hepper , “On the Transference of AncientPlant Names,”PEQ109 (1977): 129–30.

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