Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 28 · Questions · Question 21
QUEST. XXI. Of the twelve precious stones, their names, colours, qualities, and congruitie with the twelve Tribes.
Vers. 27. A Rubie, Topaze, and a Carbuncle in the first row. In the severall application of these stones, these foure things shall be observed: 1. The name. 2. The colour. 3. The vertues and qualities. 4. The congruity with the tribes of Israel.
A Rubie. The first stone is called odeus of adam, which signifieth to wax red. Iosephus calleth it the Sardonix: the Septuagint the Sardie: it is most like to be the Rubie, 1. The Rubi…, or Sardi….Montan. Genevens. 2. The colour of it was red, Oleaster, as the signification of the word is, rather than yellow, of the colour of fire, as Iunius taketh it for Pyr…pus the Carbuncle, a precious stone like fire. 3. They say it repelleth feare, and cheareth and maketh bold, Tostat. sharpeneth the wit, and stancheth bloud at the nose, Magirus. 4. This stone, they say, stood for Ruben: Montanus maketh an allusion betweene Ruben and the Rubie: but Ribera giveth this reason: that as the Sardie is red and somewhat of a fiery colour: so he went into his fathers concubine, & igne libidinis incensus fuit, and so was set on fire with concupiscence.
A Topaze. 1. The Hebrew word is pitdah, in which there are three radicall or principall letters, p, t, d, which being transposed, t.p, d, make topad, or topaz, not much differing in sound,1. The Topaz… ▪ Montan. It is so called of the place where it was found, Topasos in Aethiopia, Marbach. Or the Isle Topazon gave the name to it, as Plinie lib. 37. cap. 8. so called of foreign, to seeke, because it was much sought for. Gloss. interlin. would have it called Topazium, as if we should say, topadium, that is, of all colour; but there is no reason of that etymology. 2. Some take it to be of greene colour, Montan. And so some of the Hebrewes thinke it to be the Smaragd. Ribera out of Plinie lib. 37. cap. 8. alleageth, that in greenenesse of colour it exceedeth all other precious stones. But it is rather of yellowish colour, mixt betweene gold and skie colour, Isider. Etymol. 16. Tostat. Gloss. interlin. There are two sorts of it: one of the colour of gold, which is more precious, the other like unto saffron, which is of the second sort, Marbach. And it seemeth to be of yellow colour, because Iob 28.19. the Topaze of Aethiopia, and the fine gold are named together. 3. It is availeable against phrensie, and lunacie, and melancholy, as Diascorides. 4. Simeon is resembled to this stone, not so much ob animum prasentem, for his present and resolute minde, which Ribera would have signified by the greene colour: as because he was inflamed with ire and rage, when he slue the Sichemites.
A Carbuncle. 1. Iosephus, with the Septuagint, call it the Smaragd, so also Iunius, Vatabius: 3. The Carbuncle, or Chrysolite.the Chalde also, and Latine Interpreter: but that stone is of greene colour, it seemeth rather to be the Chrysolit…, Montan. or the Carbuncle, Genevens. The word is bareketh, derived of barak, which signifieth to lighten. 2. It was then a precious stone that sparkled and glistred as the lightening, which could not be of greene colour: though the Smaragd be commended for the exceeding glistering brightnesse; in so much that a Romane Emperour is said to have seene in his Smaragd the sword players, as they did fight. But because barak signifieth lightening, as Ezech. 1.13. Out of the fire went (barak) lightning; this stone being named thereof, may better be taken for the Carbuncle, or Chrysolite. 3. The Carbuncle is of such exceeding brightnesse, that it giveth light, and shineth in the darke. 4. Hereunto some resemble Levi, Montan, Tostat. But it is more like that Levi was omitted, because the high Priest of Levi, who was to weare this glorious breast-plate, might stand for the whole Tribe: then Iudah was rather named in the third place, Ribera, Pelarg. whose royall power, streaming glory, and princely dignity, is more lively set forth in the shining Carbuncle, or glistering Chrysolite, Pelarg. than in the greene smaragd: as Marbach. And whereas the Carbuncle is so called of the similitude of fire, licèt ignes non sentiant, although these stones feele no fire themselves, Plin. 37.7. by this property Messiah the Prince of Juda is shadowed forth, who in that respect may be called apyrotus, not to be vanquished or overcome with the fire of affliction: Of his government (as the Prophet saith) there shall be no end, Isai. 9.10.
…. The Emraud, or Smaragd.Vers. 18. In the second row, an Emeraud, or Smaragd, a Saphir, a Diamond. An Emeraud, or Smaragd: 1. The word is naphech, which is of an obscure signification. Montanus deriveth it of haphach, which signifieth to turne, or change: some take it to be an obscure stone. But it is like that the Lord made choice of the most speciall and principall precious stones to adorne the priestly pectorall. Most take it for the Carbuncle, Septuag. Lat. Vatab. Marbach. Pelarg· Ribera. Sanctes Pagnine following R. David, taketh it to be a stone of a blacke colour. But it is most like to be the Smaragd, as the Chalde Paraphrast calleth it Semeragdin. So also Thargum Hierosol. Montanus, Oleaster therein also consent. Iunius translateth it the Chrysoprase, which is of a bright greene colour, as it were betweene the colour of gold, and greene: for so the word is compounded of foreign, gold, and foreign, Ieekes: but the Smaragd and Chrysoprase are two divers kinde of precious stones: the one is the fourth, the other the tenth in that order, set downe, Apoc. 21.19. 2. The colour of the Smaragd is exceeding greene, that other greene things being compared unto it, seeme not to be greene. 3. It is comfortable to the sight, it is glistering, & receiveth the images of things, and maketh a shew and representation of them, Plin. lib. 37. cap. 5. Isidor. Etymol. 16. it is good for the memory, Montan. resisteth poison, and is an enemy to venery, insomuch that it sometime breaketh in such uncleane acts, Borrh. 4. Ribera, Pelargus say that Dan was resembled hereby: who as fire consumed the City Lais: and Sampson of Dan, as fire devoured the Philistims: rather the Smaragd, which is of a greene colour, like the greene serpents, setteth forth Dan, whom Iacob resembleth to a serpent, Genes. 49.17. And Sampson of Dan, was as comfortable to Israel, as the Smaragd is to the eyes, and a preservative against the Philistims, as the other is against poison.
5. The Saphir.The Saphir. 1. So it is called also in the Hebrew, and therefore without all question it can be no other stone. Oleaster thinketh it to be the Iasper stone: but the same word in the originall, is a sufficient direction to led us to finde out the kinde. 2. There are divers sorts of Saphirs: some are white, and so hard, that they will abide the stroke of the hammer upon the anvill; which therefore are taken to be a kinde of Adamant, Montan. But the usuall colour is blewish, like unto the cleare heavens, Exod. 24.10. and it shineth with golden speckes in it, as Plin. lib. 37. cap. 9. whereupon the Nazarites were compared for their ruddy colour, to polished Saphir, Lament. 4.7. Riber. 3. It stayeth the flux of bloud, is good against poison, comforteth the heart, Tostat. It is good for the sight, and being beaten into powder, and so drunke, it healeth melancholy, and cureth the stinging of scorpions. 4. Montanus giveth this stone to Isachar; Tostatus to Dan: but the next in order of birth, which is here observed, was Nepthali, Levi being omitted, who is resembled to the Saphir, because of the heavenly colour; for that some of the Apostles are held to have beene of this Tribe, who delivered the heavenly doctrine of the Gospell. And so as Nepthali is compared to an Hind let goe, giving goodly words, Genes. 49.21. the Apostles were as Hinds let goe, and sent out by our Saviour, uttering heavenly and comfortable words, Ribera. And the Hind to the which Nepthali is compared, for spots and colour, is not much unlike the Saphir.
6. The Diamond.The Diamond. 1. The word is jahalam, which is derived of halam, to smite, which sheweth it to be a stone, that is not broken with smiting or beating: so O…kelas calleth it, cabehalam, of the same signification: it appeareth then to be the Adamant, or Diamond, which is of such hardnesse, that ne que igne, ne que ferro mollescit, it is neither mollified with fire, nor iron: the Arabians call it Almas for Adamas, the Adamant: R. Saadias, and R. Abraham, whom Montanus, Oleaster, Iunius, Pelargus follow, take it for the Diamond: the Septuagint, Iosephus, whom Ribera, Marbach, Borrhaius follow, take it for the Jasper, which is of greenish colour, with certaine bloudy speckes; but the Jasper is the last which is named, called also in Hebrew, Iaspheh. 2. The Diamond is in colour like unto Chrystall, somewhat yellower, but more shining and transparent. 3. It is of invincible hardnesse, yet may be mollified with goats bloud, Marbach. 4. This stone, Tostatus would have to resemble Nepthali, because he counteth Levi one; Montanus, Zebulon. but the next in order, Levi being not reckoned, is Gad, who for his courage and valour, is compared to a Lion, Deut. 33.20. and in that respect his invincible courage may be signified, by the hardnesse of the Diamond, Pelarg.
Vers. 19. In the third row, a Turkeis, an Achate, an Amethyst, &c.
A Turkeis. 1. The Hebrew word is lesem: Hierome following the Septuagint, and so also Iosephus before him,7. The Turkeis. call it Lygurium, the Lygurian stone. Some thinke it should be read the Lyncurian: which many thinke to be a stone engendred of the urine of the Lynx, which he covereth in the sand, Vatabl. Oleast. Marbach. Pelarg. and so the Chalde Paraphrast useth the word kanchyri, which commeth neere the word linkuri, Montanus. But Plinie denieth the Lyncurie to be a precious stone, but rather a kinde of Amber, lib. 37. cap. 3. Ribera thinketh it should be rather called the Ligurian, than Lyncurian; and thinketh Erasmus to be deceived, that in Hierom, for Lygurian, would have read, Lyncurian; and he taketh it for a kinde of Carbuncle, which was thought to be bred in Liguria, though Plinie deny it, lib. 37. cap. 7.Riber. lib. 3. c. 1… ▪ But it is more like to be the Turkeis, Genevens. which Iunius taketh for the stone called Cyanus, which is of a blew colour. Gloss. interlin. saith it is a stone of blew colour, which is found in renibus bovis, in the kidneyes of an oxe. But no such stone of price is like to be there ingendred, or of the Lynx urine, as to be thought meet to be put into the pectorall.
2. Ribera taketh this stone to be of a yellow and fiery colour, as the Carbuncle; but Hierome judgeth it rather to be the Hyacinth, which is a blew precious stone, as the Turkeis is. Tostatus saith, it hath colorem inter aureum & argenteum medium, a middle colour betweene gold and silver. This third order of stones rather imitated the purple colour, which was one of the foure used in the Tabernacle: as the first row did resemble the skarlet, the second the white colour, the fourth the blew or hyacinth, which were the foure colours of the Tabernacle.
3. The vertues of it are these: It taketh up strawes, as the Load stone draweth iron: it discovereth poison: is good for those that want colour, Tostat. They say it is comfortable to the stomacke, and stayeth the flix, Marbach.
4. Here, as Tostatus thinketh, was Gads name written: Montanus, the name of Dan. But Asher is the next in birth to Gad: whom Ribera and Pelargus would have resembled by this stone, in regard of the plenty of blessings, wherewith he was endowed, Deut. 33.24, 25. as of favour, multitude of children, abundance of oile, brasse, and iron: the Turcais is of a blewish metalline colour: and thereby might be signified the abundance of metals and minerals in Ashers countrey.
An Achate. 1. The Hebrew word is shebo: the Chalde translateth it tarkaia, 8. The Achate▪which Montanus taketh to be the Turcais before spoken of: the Septuag. Iosephus, Hierome with the rest, call it the Achate: which, as Plinie writeth, is so called, because it was found in Sicilia neere unto a river of the same name, lib. 37. cap. 10. 2. Isidor saith, it is of blackish colour, lib. 16. Etym. cap. 10. R. David, of blew or skie colour: but is indeed of divers colours, white, red, greene, blew, azure, Borrh. of such variety, that sometime therein are represented, woods, mountaines, beasts, rivers, Marbach. Pirrhus is said to have had such an Achate, that the nine Muses, and Apollo playing upon his Harp, might be descried therein, not by any artificiall workmanship, but the naturall mixture of divers colours, Borrh. 3. It is thought to resist thunder, to allay tempests, to procure dreames, to prevaile against poison, Tostatus. 4. Therein was not written Asher, as Tostatus; nor Nepthali; as Montanus; but Issachar rather, who followeth next in order: who is resembled to this stone of divers colours, because of his variety of vertues: and for his piety, for calling the people to the mountaine and service of God; Deut. 33.19. Pelarg. Ribera: but rather (saving that all these are meere conjectures) the variety of the colours representing mountaines, woods, cattell, sheweth Issachars desire to husbandry and tillage, to the which he should be addicted, Gen. 49.15.
The Amethyst. 1. The Hebrew name is achlamah, derived of chalam, which signifieth to dreame.9. The Amethyst. The Hebrewes hold that it causeth dreames, which seemeth rather to be one of their dreames, Oleaster: or rather, valet adversus insomnia, it availeth against dreames, Montan. It is usually called the Amethyst, Sept. Ioseph. Hierome, Vatab. Iun. with others. Some take it for the Hematite, Genevens. but that is another stone of the colour of bloud. 2. It is somewhat of violet colour, Plin. lib. 37. cap. 10. or neere to purple, Marbach. 3. It hath a singular force against drunkennesse, Dioscoridos. 4. In this stone was written, Issachar, as Tostatus; Gad, as Montan. rather Zabulun, who followeth in order: whereby is signified his charity and heavenly vertues: wherein he is joyned with Issachar, Deut. 33.19. Pelarg. Ribera: rather the violet and purple colour of the Amethyst betokened their shipping, sailes and streames, which were of blew and purple, Ezech. 27.7. And so Zabulun is celebrated for their navigation, voyages and goings out by Sea, Deut. 33.18.
Vers. 20. And in the fourth row, Beryll, Onyx, and Iasper.
Beryll. 1. In Hebrew the word is tarshish, which is taken for the Sea:10. The Beryll. it was then a pretious stone of sea colour, Chald. Montanus: so is Beryll, as Iunius translateth: not the Chrysolite, Sept. Latine, Genevens. Riber. Pelargus: for that is of yellow glistring colour like gold: much lesse can it be the Carbuncle, as the Sept. interpret, Tarshis, Ezech. 10. Some take it for the Turkais, B. but that was the seventh stone before; Vatab. for the Hyacinth. 2. For the colour thereof, it was like unto the sea, from whence it hath the name. David Chimhi saith, it was caerulei coloris, of a blewish colour: Sanctes and Vatab. of the colour of the Hyacinth, which was of a deepe blew: the Beryll rather is of a greene sea colour. 3. Beryll is good for watry eyes, and it cherisheth matrimoniall love, Dioscorides: the naturall qualities thereof we allow, the supernaturall are but after mens fansies, and therefore not to be insisted upon. 4. Here was written upon this stone Zabulun, as Tostatus; and as Montanus following the Chalde, Asher: but Ephraim followeth next in order, whom this sea colour resembleth, because he should mightily increase, as the Sea, Ribera: for his multiplicity of vertues, Pelarg. rather, because Ephraim in Ioseph is blessed with sweet dewes, and pleasant fountaines and depths below, Deut. 33.13.
The Onyx. 1. The Hebrew word is soham, which the Sept. Iosephus, Lat. Vatab. Paguine, take for the Sardonyx stone: so also Ribera, Pelarg. Iunius here taketh it for the Sardie: 11. The Onyx or Sardonyx.but before vers. 9. the same word he interpreteth the Sardonyx: Montanus will have it to be Beryll, because the Chalde useth the like word burla, and Tharg. Hieros. bedulha: yet he thinketh the Beryll to be a kinde of Onyx stone: whereof he saith, he had seene ten severall sorts, and one Iacobus Trezzius of Millaine promised to shew him eighteene sorts of the Onyx stone. But the Beryll is more like to be the stone of Tarshis, or Sea colour, next before described. 2. Tostatus saith, it is of a fiery colour, with white veines in it: but it rather resembleth the colour of the naile upon the flesh, whereof it is so called: foreign signifieth a naile, Plin. lib. 37. cap. 6. 3. It casteth the shape and images downeward, as we see in hollow glasses. It hath evill effects, procureth sorrow, kindleth strife, Tostat. but it rather being hung about the necke serveth to strengthen the body, and restraineth venery, Borrhaius ex Albert. Mag. 4. Here was written Ioseph, Tostat. Montanus: rather Manasses, who otherwise should be excluded: by the reddish whitenesse of this stone they understand candorem virtutum, the pleasant vertues in Ioseph, and in Manasses his sonne, his courtesie, and humanity, Pelarg. Ribera: the flesh colour of this stone may well signifie, the humane and fleshie and tender affection.
12. The Iasper.The Iasper. 1. The Hebrew word is answerable, which is Iosphe: Oleast. and in the Arabian tongue it is called jasp, Montan. Onkelos calleth it panteren, it may be because the Iasper is spotted like the Panther: the Septuagint, and Iosephus, whom Hierome followeth, translate here Beryll: but the originall word sheweth that it must be the Iasper. 2. It is of a greenish colour and transparent, Plin. lib. 37. cap. 8. But the Jaspers which are brought from the East, have spots and speckes like bloud, Borrh. 3. It hath a speciall astringent quality, and stancheth bloud, Borrh. 4. This stone, which as Plinie saith, tot habet virtutes, quot venas, hath as many vertues as veines, resembleth the perfection of vertues in Benjamine: in whose tribe it pleased the Lord to dwell, and there to build his Temple, Deut. 33.12. Ribera, Pelargus.