Pyreaux Posted May 15, 2022 Posted May 15, 2022 This topic should probably be in General Discussion but I am unable to post Topics at this time. I guess I'm still a Newbie, anyways. Its not a discussion per se. Its more of a request. I am studying the ancient Melchizedek Priesthood. Reading the Bible and extra-Biblical texts with my Mormon/Israelite-Royal-Cult Eyes and currently on the subject of Divination. Biblical sanctioned divination, not witchcraft. This is not the point of discussion but most might be unfamiliar about what I'm talking about so Here is a bit of an overview: Divination was common in ancient times, especially among the Kings (Royal Priests). Biblical Patriarchs like Joseph divined (Genesis 44:4-5) by sticking his seer stone in his cup and putting his face over it... that sounds familiar. Laban divined the truth, “I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you” (Genesis 30:27). High Priests divine by casting of lots (Leviticus 16:7-10), and use of the Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21). Judge Gideon’s divines with a fleece (Judges 6:36-40). Until the Israelite sinned and the Law of Moses banned the general Population of Israel from practicing divination (Deuteronomy 18:10). This did not apply to other nations, Non-Israelites that lived in the land nor the Melchizedek Priesthood among the Prophets and kings. That ist until an unsanctioned royal decree by King Saul against all diviners in the Land of Israel, not just Israelites (1 Samuel 15:23). The Melchizedek Priest-Kings were still exempt. Saul was a Prophet (1 Sa 10:56) and could divine with dreams and the Urim and Thummim, like the High Priest, but only when he fell out of favor with God (around the time he made his unsanctioned decree against all divination) that he could not (1 Sa 28:6). Desperate, Saul seeks out the Midianite Witch of Endor (recently denied her divining livelihood) to call up the Spirit of Samuel. He comes "up". Bible commentators try to say the woman is a fraud, but the texts explicitly says otherwise. It says the witch, not Saul, is fooled, that Saul knew "it was Samuel" and proceeds to have a full conversation will Saul, and everything the Spirit tells him was the truth (1 Sa 28:7-20). New Testament revival of the royal priesthood seems to bring back divining by dreams, astral signs and casting lots. Anyways I am doing a bit on Biblical Seer Stones, and how in Tzohar traditions and how in the Hebrew "Sefers" ('books') is similar and sometimes interchangeable with "Sapphires" (the precious stone). It is said after Adam left the garden of Eden, he had been given a book, the“ book of the generations of Adam” (Genesis 5:1). This turns into the story of the Book of Raziel, the angel of secrets, and the book of Adam was actually a sapphire that the angel gave to him. This is the origin of the Tzohar stone of Noah's ark. Simular things appear in the tradition that Moses' stone tablets were two sapphires that were beneath the throne and possible origin of the Urim and Thummim which make its first unexplained appearance after this time. I could use more info or sources about Hebrew, and relationship between Sefers and Sapphires. I haven't been able to find much so far. I merely just remembering reading about it before.
Robert F. Smith Posted May 15, 2022 Posted May 15, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Pyreaux said: ........................ I am doing a bit on Biblical Seer Stones, and how in Tzohar traditions and how in the Hebrew "Sefers" ('books') is similar and sometimes interchangeable with "Sapphires" (the precious stone). ...................... I could use more info or sources about Hebrew, and relationship between Sefers and Sapphires. I haven't been able to find much so far. I merely just remembering reading about it before. Quote sapphire (n.) precious stone, a blue-to-transparent variety of corundum next in hardness to diamond, mid-13c., saphyr, from Old French saphir (12c.) and directly from Latin sapphirus (source also of Spanish zafir, Italian zaffiro), from Greek sappheiros, name of a blue precious stone, from a Semitic source (compare Hebrew sappir "sapphire"), but according to OED probably not ultimately from Semitic. Some linguists propose an origin in Sanskrit sanipriya, a dark precious stone (perhaps sapphire or emerald), literally "sacred to Saturn," from Sani "Saturn" + priyah "precious." The gem meant by the Greeks apparently was not the one now so called, but perhaps rather lapis lazuli, the modern sapphire perhaps being signified by Greek hyakinthos. In Renaissance lapidaries, it was said to cure anger and stupidity. As an adjective from early 15c. As a color, a deep brilliant or bright blue, by 1680s. Related: Sapphiric. https://www.etymonline.com/word/sapphire . Edited May 15, 2022 by Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith Posted May 15, 2022 Posted May 15, 2022 8 hours ago, Pyreaux said: ........................ I am doing a bit on Biblical Seer Stones, and how in Tzohar traditions ...................... See Rabbi Nissim Wernick, “A Critical Analysis of the Book of Abraham in Light of Extra-Canonical Jewish Writings,” doctoral dissertation (Provo: BYU, Aug 1968), online at http://web.archive.org/web/20090829234905/http://geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2671/WERNICK.html . He has gathered all the talmudic stone traditions. 2
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