40 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
3rd Row. 
Hebrew Greek English 
Léshem Ligurion Ligure 
Shebé Achates Agate 
Ahlamah Amethustos Amethyst 
4th Row. 
Hebrew Greek English 
Tarshish Berullion Beryl 
Shéham Onuchion Onyx 
Yashepheh Taspis Jasper 
The Ephod of the High Priest, as fully deseribed in Exo- 
dus, chapters 28 and 39, was a sort-of coat of fine linen made . 
in two pieces, one for the front and one for the back of the’ 
wearer. The pieces were joined over the shoulders by a couple 
of clasps, made of gold, each set with an onyx stone on which 
was engraved the names of the twelve tribes, six names on each 
stone, as a memorial of the promise of the Lord to Israel. ‘The 
breastplate which was about 8 to 10 inches square, was made 
of the same material as the Ephod, and was folded to form a 
bag in which the ceremonial stones Urim and Thummin were 
placed. On the outside of the gorget or breastplate, were 
mounted in gold settings, the twelve stones. There is some dif- 
ference of opinion amongst students as to the nature and use 
of the stones Urim and Thummin, but the best authorities hold 
that they were used by the Priests in a kind of sacred lottery, 
Urim meaning “aye” and Thummin “nay.” If we turn to the 
Hebrew text of 1 Sam. 14, 41-42, as given in the Septuagint 
translation, we find it is a good deal fuller than in the Autho- 
rised Version, and runs thus:—“And Saul said: ‘O Jehovah, 
God of Israel, why dost Thou not answer Thy servant today? 
If this fault be in me or in Jonathan my son, give Urim, and 
if it be in Thy people Israel, give Thummin. And the lot fell 
upon Saul and Jonathan, and the people escaped. And Saul 
said:—‘Cast (the lot) between me and Jonathan my son, and 
on whomsoever Jehovah shall cause the lot to fall let him die.’ 
So they cast (the lot) between him and Jonathan his son, and 
Jonathan was taken.” This makes it clear that by means of a 
series of tests, the replies to which were “yes” and “no,” the 
guilt or otherwise of suspected parties was determined by the 
aid of the stones. There is ample evidence that the ceremonial 
use of Urim and Thummin ceased at a comparatively ‘early 
period, though the stones still continued to form part of the 
