Exodus 28:20

a beryl Heb. tarshish, χρυσόλιθος (Revelation 21:10), chrysolithus: Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9; Ezekiel 28:13; Song of Solomon 5:14; Daniel 10:6. The name tarshishapparently points to its being obtained from Tarshish (Tartessus) in Spain. The chrysolite (-gold-stone") of the later Greeks (which was also obtained from Spain, Pliny, H. N.xxxvii. 127) is probably our topaz 1 [208], but as this was unknown in earlier times, some other gold-coloured stone must be intended, perhaps (Petrie) the yellow jasper. It is not however stated whether this stone is (or was) found in Spain. The rend. berylis as old as Abarbanel (1437 1508): the chalcedony(RVm.; Revelation 21:19) of the ancients, so called from its being found at Chalcedon (opposite to Byzantium), was the green transparent carbonate of copper, our copper emerald (Smith, DB.s.v.).

[208] By a curious interchange of terms, it seems that -the ancient chrysolite is the modern topaz, and the ancient topaz the modern chrysolite" (Smith, DB.s.v. Beryl).

an onyx Heb. shôham, βηρύλλιον (so LXX. here, but not consistently), onychinus: v.9, Exodus 25:7; Genesis 2:12; Ezekiel 28:13; Job 28:16; 1 Chronicles 29:2. This is usually supposed to be either the onyx(LXX. in Job; Vulg. mostly) or the beryl(LXX. here; Pesh. Targ. always): the onyx being a stratified stone, consisting of layers of white (resembling in colour the nail, whence the name), grey, and other colours (see DB.s.v.), and the beryl a clear blue, green, or pale yellow stone (see EB.s.v.). Myres, however (EB.iv. 4808), argues in favour of malachite(green carbonate of copper), -common in Egypt in all periods, obtained from the Sinaitic mine district," and also other sources of copper, as Cyprus, and known likewise in Babylonia and Assyria.

a jasper Heb. yâshepheh, ὀνύχιον, beryllus(but see on -diamond" in v.18): Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 21:19. In all probability the green jasper is intended.