Approx. 681 words

MINERALS & GEMS OF THE BIBLE

By Mae Ondracek

©1/30/02

We should all realize how important minerals and gems were through biblical times and up through the ages. I found the following passages and hope you find them as interesting as I did.

First look in Genesis 2:11, it reads “…. where there is gold” and verse 2:12 states, “And the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and onyx stone.” (The dictionary says that bdellium, pronounced del ‘ eam, is a gum resin obtained from various trees. It is similar to myrrh and used in incense and perfumes.)

Exodus 3:22 says “…. Of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold …” In 11:2 “…. Jewels of silver, jewels of gold.” Over to Exodus 25:7 it reads, “Onyx (beryl) stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.” (Ephod was a vestment type apron worn by the high priest in Hebrew rites.) Same chapter, verses 10 to 13 describes the dimensions of the ark of the covenant, “And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold …. and make upon it a crown of gold around about ….” “….cast four rings of gold for it ….” “….make staves …. and overlay them with gold.”

Exodus 26:1 through 13 explains about the curtains for the ark, and in verse 6 it reads, “…. Make 50 taches of gold ….” (Taches, pronounced tacks, are devices that hold two pieces together.)

Chapter 27 of Exodus, among other things, states in verse 6 “…. And overlay them with brass.”

Chapter 28 of Exodus mentions gold in Aaron’s holy garments. In verse 9 it reads, “…. take two onyx stones, and grave (carve) on them the names of the children of Israel.” Later on it also mentions making settings and chains of pure gold. Verses 17-20 state, “…. set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius (a very hard, deep orange-red variety of chalcedony), a topaz, and a carbuncle (a deep red gem such as a garnet) and the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure (similar to a jacinth, of a reddish-orange color) and the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and jasper; they shall be set in gold in their settings.” On through the rest of chapter 28, it mentions gold many times.

Proverbs 11:22 reads: “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” (What a comparison!)

In Malachi 3:17 the Lord is saying “…. when I make up my jewels ….”

I’m not sure, but I may have missed a few chapters and verses in the Old Testament, but the best is in Revelation (the last chapter of the New Testament.) Chapter21:10-11 explains about “…. the holy Jerusalem …. Having the glory of God …. Was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as a crystal.”

Going on in this chapter it mentions the city and how big it will be. Then in verse 18: “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” Verse 19: “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second was sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald” Verse 20: “The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, saardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.” Verse 21: “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

In reading the explanation of this city and what it will be like, I can see this beautiful place in my minds eye. A place that all should want to enter someday.

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