The twelve stones differed not only in color, but also in certain
qualities peculiar to each, and both quality and color had especial
reference to the tribe whose name it bore. Reuben's stone was the ruby,
that has the property, when grated by a woman and tasted by her, of
promoting pregnancy, for it was Reuben who found the mandrakes which
induce pregnancy.
Simeon's stone was the smaragd, that has the property of breaking as
soon as an unchaste woman looks at it, a fitting stone for the tribe
whose sire, Simeon, was kindles to wrath by the unchaste action of
Shechem. It was at the same time a warning to the tribe of Simeon, that
committed whoredom at Shittim with the daughters of Moab, to be mindful
of chastity, and like its stone, to suffer no prostitution.
Levi's stone was the carbuncle, that beams like lightning, as,
likewise, the faces of that tribe beamed with piety and erudition. This
stone has the virtue of making him who wears it wise; but true wisdom
is the fear of God, and it was this tribe alone that did not join in
the worship of the Golden Calf.
Judah's stone was the green emerald, that has the power of making its
owner victorious in battle, a fitting stone for this tribe from which
springs the Jewish dynasty of kings, that routed its enemies. The color
green alludes to the shame that turned Judah's countenance green when
he publicly confessed his crime with Tamar.
Issachar's stone was the sapphire, for this tribe devoted themselves
completely to the study of the Torah, and it is this very stone, the
sapphire, out of which the two tables of the law were hewn. This stone
increases strength of vision and heals many diseases, as the Torah,
likewise, to which this tribe was so devoted, enlightens the eye and
makes the body well.
The white pearl is the stone of Zebulun, for with his merchant ships he
sailed the sea and drew his sustenance from the ocean from which the
pearl, too, is drawn. The pearl has also the quality of bringing its
owner sleep, and it is all the more to the credit of this tribe that
they nevertheless spent their nights on commercial ventures to maintain
their brother-tribe Issachar, that lived only for the study of the
Torah. The pearl is, furthermore, round, like the fortune of the rich,
that turns like a wheel, and in this way the wealthy tribe of Zebulun
were kept in mind of the fickleness of fortune.
Dan's stone was a species of topaz, in which was visible the inverted
face of a man, for the Danites were sinful, turning good to evil, hence
the inverted face in their stone.
The turquoise was Naphtali's stone, for it gives its owner speed in
riding, and Naphtali was "a hind let loose."
Gad's stone was the crystal, that endows its owner with courage in
battle, and hence served this warlike tribe that battled for the Lord
as an admonition to fear none and build on God.
The chrysolite was Asher's stone, and as this stone aids digestion and
makes its owner sturdy and fat, so were the agricultural products of
Asher's tribe of such excellent quality that they made fat those who
ate of them.
Joseph's stone was the onyx, that has the virtue of endowing him who
wears it with grace, and truly, by his grace, did Joseph find favor in
the eyes of all.
Jasper was Benjamin's stone, and as this stone turns color, being now
red, now green, now even black, so did Benjamin's feelings vary to his
brothers. Sometimes he was angry with them for having sold into slavery
Joseph, the only other brother by his mother Rachel, and in this mood
he came near betraying their deed to his father; but, that he might not
disgrace his brothers, he did not divulge their secret. To this
discretion on his part alludes the Hebrew name of his stone, Yashpeh,
which signifies, "There is a mouth," for Benjamin, though he had a
mouth, did not utter the words that would have covered his brothers
with disgrace. [357]
The twelve stones in the breastplate, with their bright colors, were of
great importance in the oracular sentences of the high priest, who by
means of these stones made the Urim and Tummim exercise their
functions. For whenever the king or the head of the Sanhedrin wished to
get directions from the Urim and Tummim he betook himself to the high
priest. The latter, robed in his breastplate and ephod, bade him look
into his face and submit his inquiry. The high priest, looking down on
his breastplate, then looked to see which of the letters engraved on
the stones shone out most brightly, and then constructed the answer out
of these letters. Thus, for example, when David inquired of the Urim
and Tummim if Saul would pursue him, the high priest Abiathar beheld
gleaming forth the letter Yod in Judah's name, Resh in Reuben's name,
and Dalet in Dan's name, hence the answer read as follows: Yered, "He
will pursue."
The information of this oracle was always trustworthy, for the meaning
of the name Urim and Tummim is in the fact that "these answers spread
light and truth," but not every high priest succeeded in obtaining
them. Only a high priest who was permeated with the Holy Spirit, and
over whom rested the Shekinah, might obtain an answer, for in other
cases the stones withheld their power. But if the high priest was
worthy, he received an answer to every inquiry, for on these stones
were engraved all the letters of the alphabet, so that all conceivable
words could be constructed from them. [358]