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Breastplate of the Jewish High Priest

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Dictionary of Gems and Gemology

Aaron was the first high priest of the temple at Jerusalem to have worn this breastplate, several centuries before Christ. Later worn by the High Priest, when he was presented in the Holy Place, in the name of the Children of Israel. The stones of the breastplate appear as one of three lists of gems, in the Bible. In Ezekiel 28:13, in Revelations 21:19–20, and in Exodus 28:17–20 are lists of the 12 foundation stones. The authorized list is (1) red jasper (sardius), (2) citrine quartz (topaz), (3) emerald, (4) ruby (carbuncle), (5) lapis lazuli (sapphire), (6) rock crystal (diamond), (7) golden sapphire (ligure), (8) blue sapphire (agate), (9) amethyst, (10) yellow jasper (chrysolite), (11) golden beryl (onyx), (12) chrysoprase (jasper). The Hebrew names of these 12 stones are (1) Odem, (2) Pitdah, (3) Bareketh, (4) Nophek, (5) Sappir, (6) Yahalom, (7) Leshem, (8) Shebo, (9) Ahlamah, (10) Tarshish, (11) Shalom, (12) Yashpheh. Also called Aaron’s Breastplate or Breastplate of the High...

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York

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(2009). Breastplate of the Jewish High Priest. In: Manutchehr-Danai, M. (eds) Dictionary of Gems and Gemology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72816-0_2897

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