“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them,” etc., “and to work in all manner of workmanship.” This commission was for the Jews to adorn the ark of the testimony and to attach to the Esod a part of the vestiture of the grand sacerdotal of the Israelites. Our observation of this branch of art has been strictly in accordance with our intended plan. We have regarded almost solely all these beautiful stones in the light of art, with a view of considering their comparative art-merits; yet I have always seen in their history another and somewhat important phase, to me an interesting one: that is, their connection with the traditions, legends, and annals of religion. We find on them tenets of paganism, mysticism, mythology, and the Christian religion--symbols, dogmas, and pictured revelations of creeds of many nations and of people almost otherwise unknown--what may indeed be classified as religious stone-literature. Skilful utilization of the colored strata and maculation of onyxes and agates depict fire and water as objects of adoration; altars rendered sacred by their inscriptions, each with its patron god upon it or hovering near; characters there inscribed telling to whose service they were dedicated--now to a supreme being beloved, though absent; again, to a deity adored, though unseen. Every tribe seems to have had a Father above, though we do not meet with the vague superscription, “To the unknown God.” On every side objects of veneration: the heavens; innumerable mention of deities dwelling therein; plenteous aspirations and appeals to their clemency, forbearance, and protection. These talismanic gems, whenever they are religiously inscribed, I treasure as tablets of faith--a faith which, though often erroneously placed, was fervent and abiding as it was indelibly registered. Rambling in many strange countries, seeing palaces, costumes, men, and manners, this subject, paramount to them all, has often received my attention--a theme the most precious to the scattered races of the human family, their religion. It is worthy of remark that so large a proportion of the intaglios and seals were of a religious character. The ancient residents near the sea and on all the frontier of Asia Minor had their religious token-gems.