Exodus xxviii. 18. Shaphir. & xxxix. 11.SAPPHIRE, a precious Stone, which in Hebrew also has the Name of Shaphir. The Greeks and Latins write it Sapphirus, and it is often mentioned in Scripture. Job says, Job xxviii. 6.there are Places whose Stones are Sapphires ; that is to say, that Sapphires are very common in some Countries. Pliny says, that the best come out of Media ; perhaps, Plin. l. 37. c. 9. Gen. x. 30. Ezek. i. 26. & x. 1.out of the Country of the Sapires, or from Mount Sephar mention’d by Moses. The Oriental Sapphire is of a blue Sky-colour, or a fine Azure ; whence it is, that the Prophets describe the Throne of God, as it were of the Colour of a Sapphire ; that is, Exodus xxiv. 10.of a celestial Blue or Azure. Shaphir, in Hebrew, also signifies Beauty.
To express the Beauty and Value of the Tables of Moses, and of the wonderful Rod of this Legislator, the Hebrews say they were of Saphir. The Orientals had an extraordinary Esteem for this Stone ; those that had it about ‘em, thought it to be the Occasion of all their Happiness and good Fortune.