Twelve Stones : And the High Priest's Breastplate

By J. Ben Pickering

"Is one of the Bible's greatest mysteries solved Can we reveal the ancient Breastplate and discover its secrets? Over 3,500 years ago God gave His servant Moses an emblem for the priesthood that would represent His presence to His people... after all these centuries is God's mind revealed in this breakthrough ...see what was seen thousands of years ago, to experience the same by understanding its meaning is an amazing journey. To see in its meaning a message for the future is an irresistible challenge... After several years of research, the evidence is presented in this book for your consideration of the parable told in the Breastplate, the Ephod and the stones. In this book the ancient secrets are revealed - many scholars across the ages have wondered what this God-given Tabernacle article meant - after all this time can we unravel the secret?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447604365

Book preview

2003

Introduction

Despite being a study of no definitive parameter, few definite articles in Scripture have been so misunderstood and misrepresented by so many well-meaning individuals as the Breastplate of the High Priest. To make this God-commanded design fit other scriptural passages; an unfortunate mess of ideas has transformed the vision of a bygone artefact into something quite unlike that originally intended.

In this work we hope to correct the confusion, and from the best scientific, historical and scriptural sources produce for the reader a somewhat better vision of both the Breastplate and its meaning. Many analysts of the Breastplate have made the unfortunate conclusion of appropriating to a stone, design or function an explanation prior to collating all the necessary facts. This will be made evident by revealing those facts. You will see that some conclusions, as presented previously, have been based on some fantastic assumptions.

Having established this, there is one further qualification; there will be instances that will require further evidence before a definite conclusion is met. In these instances we will build no bridge of intricate guesswork. Instead there will be a true admission, where required, that there are no facts and that there can be no dogmatism in these instances. Speaking from a Spiritual standpoint this is important. All Scripture, being given by the inspiration of God; is meant for meaning. There is a feeling that we will never (in this age) know of the complete truth of the Breastplate. It is a parable, however. We have to look beyond the physical, to the spiritual. But beware; we cannot dream-up any idea we wish to presuppose.

In this way the Breastplate is a test! If you choose to take the test you must be prepared to do so only within the boundaries of reason and logic. The test is real. It requires an unswerving faith to participate on the basis of the rules. If this book fails - throw it away, it is no good for you. But if it is sound in reason, logic and interpretation - then with both hands grasp its truth. The author’s challenge is to stay within the rules of reality. If the Breastplate was a real artefact (as it was) then it deserves to be examined on the basis of real information…

Avoiding the Old Mistakes

Learning from the mistakes of others is a proven method for approaching any challenge. Several fundamental mistakes have been made in studies on this subject. Let’s analyse these for the purpose of avoiding them ourselves.

1. TRANSLATION…

Do not accept the Authorised Version of the Bible (AV) at face value without some reservations. This is important. While the AV is a reliable text, there have been several errors made in respect to the Breastplate. These will become apparent, particularly in a close study of the stones. Words used in the English language to describe those in the Hebrew are not only limited but clouded by the bias of its translators and the passage of time.

For reasons unknown, certain supposed components for the Breastplate have been incorrectly attributed as being used in the Breastplate. Some of these were not available to the Israelites during the time at which the Breastplate was constructed. How could this happen? We can only assume that the translators of our own English version filled these gaps with their own (assumed) information or worse still; applied by comparison. We will endeavour not to make the same mistake!

2. ALL THE INFORMATION…

Don’t forget the big picture. It is essential that we embrace all disciplines of investigation. Some scholars have made the error of approaching this subject with limited resources or preconceived ideas. The answers will not be found with either of these.

The Breastplate is a parable. A parable for life. Do not choose to look at it through a single pair of rose coloured glasses, nor borrow those of another. Consider all the facts!

When looking at the stones, we must face the fact that we are seldom given more than one clue per stone. This may take us directly to the stone as it was, although, with most we will need to look carefully.

On occasions we are required either to track forward or backward, through a maze of languages and history to discover the real truth. This method is best demonstrated in an examination of the Ligure Stone. This is one example where the answer is found in etymology not gemmology.

Show any lapidary Exodus 28 and you’ll certainly test their talent. Having said this, much of this research has been greatly enhanced by contributions of lapidaries and geologists. We must utilise all disciplines of science, this is fair. This is our reasonable service.

3. THE OLD TESTAMENT OCCURRED ‘BEFORE’ THE NEW…

Greek to Hebrew misinterpretations are among the most common of mistakes. Due mainly to the insistence of New Testament scholars to take the stones of latter Revelation to be the stones of the Breastplate. The intention is good. The problem however, lies in applying the method simply for the sake of it. The Breastplate was a real article.

Dream what you like through Greek interpretation but to demand that the Breastplate of some 1,600 years previous – which was a tangible physical item - be submissive to the record of Revelation is fantasy. The new may match the old. It is not wrong to suppose that they may be the same. But it is unreasonable to manufacture philosophies that are without sound basis because one cannot reconcile one text with another. It is by such guesswork that conclusions will become logically flawed.

4. OLD WORLD AVAILABILITY…

Do not assume unlimited availability of components. It is very important that we remember that at the time in which the Breastplate was constructed - a people of limited resources crafted it. The Israelites (the 12 tribes of Jacob’s sons) were refugees. They had travelled no great distance at that time. They had with them no vast fortune, apart from that which was given them by their Egyptian slave masters. If, in this time (1,500 BC), the Egyptians did not have such a mineral or component… then neither did the Hebrews. This is a very useful fact. This will help us eliminate many unlikely possibilities.

It has been tendered that another source for the required components came from traders. While this is true, we must admit that the only goods of value that they had to trade with was the very same components as required. We may also ask where the traders were from and where they were going to. The answer will one way or the other lead us back to the fact that if Egypt had a component then so could the Israelites.

Another point that should not be overlooked is that the route from Egypt that was taken by the Israelites and in particular the amount of time spent travelling up to the point in which the tabernacle was instituted was relatively short.

5. GET THE REAL MEANING…

It would seem no generation would benefit more from understanding the meaning and fulfilment of the Breastplate than the one in which we share. To gloss over it as irrelevant or too hard to understand would be a calamity. We have not seen the actual Breastplate but if we could see in it what they of that time saw, then we are in a wonderful position; one we ought not to waste. The God who instructed Moses to create, from the resources available, the Breastplate of