* onyx stones.
The meaning of the word {shoham} is not easily determined. It
has been variously rendered a beryl, emerald, prasius,
sapphire, sardius, ruby, carnelian, onyx, and sardonyx. It
may signify both the onyx and sardonyx. The latter stone is a
mixture of the chalcedony and carnelian, sometimes in strata,
and at other times blended together, and is found striped with
white and red strata, or layers. It is generally allowed that
there is no real difference, except in hardness, between the
carnelian, chalcedony, agate, sardonyx, and onyx. The onyx is
of a darkish horny colour, resembling the nail or hoof, from
which circumstance it has its name [(onyx).] It has often a
plate of a blueish white or red in it, and when on one or both
sides of this white there appears a plate of a reddish colour,
the jewellers call the stone a sardonyx.
25:7 28:9 35:9 Job 28:16 Eze 28:13
* ouches.
{Mishbetzoth,} strait places, sockets, to insert the stones
in, from {shavatz,} to straiten, enclose.
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