ON THE RELIGIOUS USE OP VARIOUS STONES 281
It
would be both curious and interesting if we could trace a connection
between the significance of the names of the Hebrew tribes and those of
the breastplate gems assigned to the tribes. In ancient times names
were much more significant than they are to-day, and the tribal names
in particular possessed for the Hebrews a symbolic meaning, but this
does not appear to have induced any marked tendency to connect the
colors or the symbolic meanings of the different stones with the fame,
or with the characteristics or fortunes of the several tribes. On the
other hand, the foundation stones, as symbols of the Apostles, became
a favorite theme with the early Christian writers. Possibly the neglect
of ancient Hebrew writers to perform a similar task in connection with
the breastplate stones might still be made good, even at this late
date, and an effort in this direction might result in giving a wider
range to the symbolic value of certain well-known gems.
The
name Eeuben signifies "Behold a Son," and this has been given a
Messianic meaning by some commentators. In Jacob's enigmatic blessing,
"excellency of dignity" and "excellency of power" are attributed to·
Eeuben, but this birthright is taken from him because of a heinous sin
he has committed. Still we might see in the carnelian, the gem of
Reuben, a symbol of "dignity" and "power."
Simeon
has been variously rendered "Hearing" or ' ' Hearkener. ' ' The
blessing accuses him of an act of cruelty in which he was aided by his
brother Levi. To the peridot, or chrysolite, dedicated to Simeon, could
be appropriately assigned the meaning "good tidings."
The priestly functions of the tribe of Levi are expressed1 by
the name itself which means "attached" or "joined," that is, to the
altar. Hence in the emerald we should see the symbol of "dedication" or
"ministration," in addition to its
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