328 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



engraving on the precious stones in the high priest's breast-plate, 

 must have been effected by it, since no other substance could be 

 found sufficiently hard for the purpose. This, however, is a mis- 

 take, for it is now known that such engraving was commonly, done 

 by a hard stone, called * Smir^ or * Smiris.' John, in Rev. xxi. 19, 

 20, where he is thought by several writers to have an eye to the 

 stones in the high priest's pectoral, does not mention the diamond ; 

 which, perhaps, should have some weight. The word translated 

 * diamond,' in Jer. xvii. 1, is not the same as this, but shemir. 



EMERALD. 



WE have already given the reasons that have been adduced for 

 supposing the carbuncle of the English bible to be the emerald. 



This gem was known among the ancients by the name of an- 

 thrax ; it is of the same degree of hardness with the sapphire ; its 

 color is a deep red, with an admixture of scarlet ; but when held 

 up against the sun, it loses its deep tinge, and becomes of the color 

 of burning charcoal whence the propriety of the name which the 

 ancients gave it. 



JACINTH. 



THIS precious gem, which is mentioned in Rev. xxi. 20, where it 

 is called in the Greek text hyacinth, as it also is in Pliny, is now 

 thought to be the amethyst of the moderns. The amethysts of the 

 ancients are now called garnets, 



JASPER. 



THE Greek and Latin namejaspis, as well as the English jasper, 

 is plainly derived from the Hebrew jaspeh, says Park hurst, and 

 leaves little doubt what species of gem is meant in Exod. xxviii.20, 

 Ezek. xxviii. 13, &c. The jasper is a genus of scrupi, of a com- 

 plex irregular structure, of great variety of colors, and emulating the 

 appearance of the finer marbles, or semi-pellucid gems. 



