276 THE CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
Paradise,
and wondrous tales are told of the luminous gems in the tent of Abraham
and the ark of Noah. Mohammedan legend represents the different
heavens as composed of different precious stones, and in the Middle
Ages these religious ideas became interwoven with a host of
astrological, alchemistic, and medical superstitions.
The following is the description of the breastplate given in Exodus (xxviii, 15-30) :
And
thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after
the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of
purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen shalt thou make it.
Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones : the first row shall be av sardiusj''a topaz, and a Carbuncle : this shall be the first row.
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a "diamond.
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold in their enclosings.
And
the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve,
according to their names, like the engravings of a signet ; every one
with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
And
the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the
two ouches, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod before it.
And
thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two
ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of
the ephod inward.
