The tenth stone in the Breastplate is the Serpentine and on it was
engraved the tribe Naphtali.
=The Eleventh Stone of the Breastplate=
For reasons stated the Sapir is placed in the eleventh division of the
Breastplate instead of the SHOHAM, and we thus have complete harmony
between the eleventh sign of the zodiac, Aquarius, the eleventh division
of the Breastplate and the Sapir stone which is translated as Sapphire
in the Hebrew Bible, the Authorized Version, the Vulgate; as Lapis
Lazuli or Sapphire by Mr. Wodiska; and as Lapis Lazuli by Dr. Hirsch,
Rev. J. R. Dummelow, and others. The Targums indicate a stone of blue
colour, and that this is the Lapis Lazuli there is no reason to doubt.
In ancient times the Lapis Lazuli was termed SAPPHIRUS; Pliny describes
it accurately as “opaque, sprinkled with specks of gold,” and many
antique intagli in this stone have been found. The Lapis Lazuli was a
very highly esteemed stone amongst the old world peoples, who called it
“The Stone of Heaven,” “The Gem of the Stars,” and the Zemech Stone
connected with all things heavenly. Traditionally it is the stone on
which was engraved the law of Moses. In a quabalistic “Piut” is written:
“O, how dreadful is the place of the heavenly abode; for there the light
dwelleth with him: and above the firmament is a precious stone, as the
appearance of the Sapphire stone which forms the glorious throne, and
thereon He who is clothed with light is seated.” A close translation of
Ezekiel 1. 26, reads: “And above, the vault that was over their head was
like the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne: and
upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a
man above it.” Chapter X. 1, similarly treated, reads: “Then I saw and
behold, on the vault that was above the head of the Cherubim, there
appeared over them something like a sapphire stone, something similar in
appearance to the likeness of a throne.”
The connection of a blue stone with the blue heavens is consistent with
ancient philosophy, and authorities agree in connecting this colour with
the sign of the mighty heavens—Aquarius. According to tradition Moses,
the law-giver, was born under this sign. Akers in his “Introduction to
Biblical Chronology” gives the date of this event as A. M. 3319, Adar
third, year of the Julian period 2987, which answers to Thursday,
February 13th, 1727 B. C. At that time the sun would be in the Celestial
Aquarius. Aquarius is the water-bearer, and the incident of the striking
of the rock from which water gushed forth is mystically associated with
it. In the Mythologies this waterbearer is Ganymedes, son of Tros, King
of Troy, whom the gods, impressed by his beauty, carried away whilst he
was tending the flocks on Mount Ida, in order that the Lord of Olympus
might have a lovely cup-bearer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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