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in
connection with the introduction of man upon earth, as recorded in the
opening chapters of the Old Testament.* But be this as it may, it is
certain that, when the ideal state is revealed in the closing chapters
of the New Testament, we have presented to us, in the sublime
Apocalyptic vision, the city whose "Twelve gates were twelve pearls,"
while throughout " The Book " they are alluded to by various inspired
writers.
So
great was the importance attached to Pearls, and such the high
estimation in which they were held at all times and in all countries,
that we can hardly wonder that their origin should have been the
subject of much speculation and even wild conjecture. From a very early
period in their history, when a belief existed that they were formed
from drops of rain which fell into the open oyster-shell, down to our
own time, when science has busied itself with enquiring into their
origin, numerous
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* The word Bdellium ( Heb.; "Bedolach"') mentioned
in Genesis ii. 12, as one of the products of the land of Havilah, is
considered by many ancient interpreters to mean a costly aromatic gum,
and this opinion is held by the majority of modern commentators. The
Rabbinic interpreters, however, reject this explanation on the ground
that the aromatic gum Bdellium was not so valuable a product as to deserve mention along with gold and precious stones; they understood it to mean "Pearls," and Gesenius, following Bochart, concurs in this rendering.—See Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, vol. i., p. 173.
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