Since the translation of the Septuagint in the 3rd century BCE, scholars have attempted to identify the stones that populate the biblical text. This study rejects the long-standing reliance on ancient translations for identifying biblical stones. Despite the evident contradictions and historical inconsistencies, scholars traditionally presumed these translations to be reliable. By departing from this approach, this volume presents a novel synthesis of comparative linguistics and archeogemological data. Through rigorous analysis of valid cognates, it establishes correlations between Hebrew stone names and their counterparts in ancient languages, corresponding to known mineral species. This methodological shift enables a more accurate identification of stones mentioned in biblical texts, thus recovering their true historical context. The research not only advances our understanding of biblical mineralogy but also provides a fresh perspective on the material culture of the Ancient Levant, offering valuable insights for scholars and laymen, linguists and archaeologists alike.

The Breastplate of the High PriestUnlocking the Mystery of the Living Stones Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritualsacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Peter 2:5 Have you ever wondered what the stones in the breastplate of the High Priest represent?Since we are a royal priesthood and called by God to be living stones, we should knowabout the jewels of beauty that we have now become to the Lord. I was reading Ezekiel28:13 where it talks about Lucifer before the fall: he had nine stones as his covering.The Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart and asked me a thought provoking question.He said, Lucifer had nine of the twelve stones on the breastplate of the high priest whatrow was he missing So began this journey to discover what each stone and row meansin our lives; and as a living priesthood of believers, how we can appropriate this and shineas stones of beauty, for His glory. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, thesardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was preparedin thee in the day that thou wast created. Ezekiel 28:13

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.

This study of the sanctuary aims to give the reader an overall view of the entire sanctuary, including the earthly and the heavenly sanctuaries, and reaching its climax in the temple eternal, the earthly model as constructed by Moses, being a type or illustration of both the others. It also aims to make plain that the sanctuary symbolizes not only the redemptive work of Christ, but also the Christian experience of each of His followers, and of the church as a whole.

The book of Hebrews appeared during a critical time in the history of the early church. The destruction of Jerusalem was impending and many of the believers believed the end of the world was near. However, Paul warned the church against entertaining a false hope, for he knew they were misguided with their beliefs. It was a critical time—the apostles were passing away, and soon the church would be left alone. It was in this hour of perplexity that the book of Hebrews appeared with needed light and comfort. The people needed a clear conception of the work Christ was doing for them in the courts above, and this book explained the delay in His return, and restored their wavering faith. The conditions and problems which the church then had to meet are not unlike those facing the church today. While the early church was living at the time of the fulfillment of the first part of Christ’s prophecy—the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the temple, we are living at the time of the fulfillment of the second part of the prophecy—the coming of the Lord Jesus in the clouds of heaven. As there was misconceptions of Christ’s work in the sanctuary then, so there are those now who likewise err. There is as much need today of a thorough study of the Scriptures as there was then, and more so. The book of Hebrews was a great factor in stabilizing the apostolic church in the crisis hour before the fall of Jerusalem, and it is hoped that a discussion of the mighty themes of the book of Hebrews will be of some help to the church of God today. All need to have their eyes fastened on our great High Priest and the work He is doing in the sanctuary above. And may it be the blessed privilege of many with “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” (Heb. 10:19, 20.) This was the prayer and hope of the author of Hebrews, and this also is the hope of the author of this volume.