254 chev. \v. r. jekvTs, f.g.s., on the minerals and 



There still remain three foundations in the Revelations to be 

 identified, viz. chrysolite, topaz and hyacinth, in addition to 

 some conjectures made already. 



When Moses took the offering special mention is made of 

 " onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the 

 breastplate," for the Lord had spoken unto Moses on Mount 

 Sinai, saying, speak unto the children of Israel that they 

 bring me an offering for the tabernacle, and besides metals and 

 other requisites were specified " onyx stones and stones to be 

 set in the ephod and in the breastplate." Bezaleel and 

 Aholiab " wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, 

 graven as signets are graven, with the names of the children 

 of Israel, and he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that 

 they should be as stones for a memorial to the children of 

 Israel." And in the breastplate they set four rows of stones : 

 the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle; and the second 

 row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row 

 a figure, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, 

 an onyx, and a jasper. (Ex. xxv, 7 ; xxviii, 15-21 ; xxxv, 9 ; 

 xxxix, 6, 10-13.) 



B.C. circum 1015. In describing to Solomon the things he 

 had prepared for the temple David specifies among the rest 

 u onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers 

 colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones 

 [? oriental alabaster] in abundance." (I Chron. xxix, 2.) 



The servants of Hiram anr) Solomon brought precious stones 

 from Ophir, as well as gold ; the queen of Sheba likewise 

 brought Solomon precious stones, (n Chron. ix, 1, 10.) 



B.C. 588. We learn that Tyre procured certain precious _ 

 stones through Syria. " Syria was thy merchant by reason of 

 the multitude of the wares of thy making ; they occupied thy 

 fairs with emeralds (oriental garnet ? see ante), purple and 

 broidered work, and fine linen, and coral and agate " (Kadkud), 

 supposed to have been zircon, garnet, or tourmaline, but not 

 certain, K. Take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus and 

 say unto him, " Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God ; 

 every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius (noble 

 carnelian) the topaz (zircon, garnet, tourmaline) and the diamond 

 (chrysoprase ?) the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, the sapphire (lapis 

 lazuli), the emerald (carbuncle or precious garnet ?), carbuncle 

 (emerald) and gold." (Ezek. xxvii, 16, 22; xxviii, 13.) 



