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ANTIQUITY OF THE PEARL
the
old days, writers referred to them often in general terms rather than
by specific names, and these were translated into the names of later
times according to the understanding of the translator, who had neither
expert knowledge of his own nor reliable literature from which to
gather information or guidance. An illustration of this general
confusion occurs in the book of Job XXVIII. 18. It is written there,
"No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of
wisdom is above rubies." Scholars tell us that the words translated
here "coral" and "pearls," signify "found in high places," and are
thought to be precious stones though the variety is unknown. The Targum
renders the first " Sandalchin," probably our sardonyx. Junius and
Tremellius translated it "Sandaztros" in their Latin version of the
Old Testament, whereas Pliny described it as a sort of carbuncle having
shining golden drops in the body of it.
After
the same manner the last sentence, " For the price of wisdom is above
rubies " is rendered by the great oriental scholar Bochart, "The
extraction of wisdom is greater than the extrac-
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