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At the time of the Exodus, the Bible states that the Israelites took gemstones with them (Book of Exodus, 3:22; 12:35–6). When they were settled in the Land of Israel, they obtained gemstones from the merchant caravans traveling from Babylonia or Persia to Egypt, and those from Saba and Raamah to Tyre (Book of Ezekiel, 27:22).
Similarly, the prophet Elijah used twelve stones (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים, romanized: ʾəvānim, lit. 'stones') to build an altar (1 Kings 18:30–31). The stones were from a broken altar that had been built on Mount Carmel before the First Temple was erected. Upon the completion of the Temple, offerings on other altars became forbidden.
[12] [page needed] Though the Greek names for them in the Septuagint are more apparent, some scholars believe that they cannot be wholly relied on for this matter because the Septuagint's translations are contradictory. [13] Several Greek names for various gems have changed meaning between the classical era and modern times. [9]
The first of these were the twelve jewels, in engraved gem form, on the Priestly breastplate described in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 28:15–19), and the second the twelve stones mentioned in the Book of Revelation as forming the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:18–20)—eight of these are the same (or were in the Vulgate ...
The Bible refers to this place as Givat Ha'aralot, then says that Joshua called the place Gilgal because, in his words, "today I have removed (galoti) the shame of Egypt from upon you." [4] Some scholars speculate that the circle of 12 stones was the (unnamed) religious sanctuary that was condemned in Amos 4:4 and 5:5 and Hosea 4:15. [5]
Urim (אוּרִים ) traditionally has been taken to derive from a root meaning "lights"; these derivations are reflected in the Neqqudot of the Masoretic Text. [3] In consequence, Urim and Thummim has traditionally been translated as "lights and perfections" (by Theodotion, for example), or, by taking the phrase allegorically, as meaning "revelation and truth" or "doctrine and truth."
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The primary issue with the idea that jacinth (hyakinthinous, "hyacinthine") could have been referring to the sapphire, is the conflict that we see in Revelation 21:19-20, which lists both sapphire ("sapphiros") and jacinth (hyakinthinous, "hyacinthine") as completely different stones. [12