(7) Onyx stones.--The Hebrew shoham is rendered here by "sard" (LXX.), "sardonyx" (Vulg. And Josephus), and "beryl" (Rosenmller and others). In Job 28:16, the same word is rendered by the LXX. "onyx." There is thus considerable doubt what stone is meant. Only three such stones seem to have been required as offerings, one for the high priest's breast-plate (Exodus 28:20), and two for the shoulder- pieces of the ephod (Exodus 28:9-12). Stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.--Heb., stones of insertion for the ephod and for the breast-plate. The stones of the ephod were two only, both probably either onyx or sardonyx; those of the breast-plate were twelve in number, all different (Exodus 28:17-20). Verse 7. - Onyx stones. On the need of onyx stones, see Exodus 28:9, 20. Stones to be set in the ephod, etc. Rather, "stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastplate." The only stones required for the ephod were two large onyx stones; for the breastplate twelve jewels were needed (ibid. 17-20), one of them being an onyx. It has been proposed to translate the Hebrew shoham by "beryl" instead of "onyx;" but onyx, which is more suitable for engraving, is probably right. and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate; two onyx stones were set in the ephod, one of the garments of the high priest, and an onyx stone, with eleven other precious stones, were set in the breastplate of the high priest: these stones were doubtless among the jewels set in gold and silver the Israelites had of the Egyptians, and brought with them out of Egypt. |