Shamir in the bible

Term designating a hard stone in the Targums, but in the Bible thrice Jer. In the post-Biblical literature of both Jews and Christians are found many legends concerning the shamir, shamir in the bible quality of splitting the hardest substance being the property especially emphasized. The shamir was the seventh of the ten marvels created in the evening twilight of the first Friday Ab.

In the Pirke Aboth, 5 , 8, we read that "ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath," among which was also the "Shamir. On 1Ki , "there was neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was in building," D. Kimchi writes thus; "By means of a worm called Shamir, when placed on a stone, it split. Although not larger than a barleycorn, the Shamir was so strong that by its touch mountains were removed from their places, and the hardest stones were easily split and shaped. By means of this worm Solomon prepared the stones for the building of the Temple. But who gave it to him? An eagle brought it to him from the Paradise, as it is written, 'He spake of beasts and of fowl' 1Ki

Shamir in the bible

So, how were the builders able to cut the stones without any iron tools? The stones could, however, be cut elsewhere and brought to the Temple Mount. Having said that, Jewish tradition holds that the stones for the Temple were cut entirely without the use of iron implements. What, exactly, was the Shamir, and what might modern science reveal about this mysterious object? The earliest source to mention the Shamir is the prophet Isaiah. Again, it implies something organic, as opposed to the iron stylus it is juxtaposed with in the same verse. Here we learn the Shamir is a substance of incredible strength. Rashi comments on this verse that the Shamir is a worm that splits rocks, or perhaps a type of hard flintstone, or even a particularly strong alloy of iron. The final direct mention of Shamir in the Tanakh is in Zechariah , where the nation is said to have hardened their hearts like the Shamir. Next, we learn in the Mishnah that God created ten special, mystical things on the eve of the first Sabbath, at the very end of Creation Avot In this list is included the miracle-working staff of Moses , the Two Tablets of Law, and the Shamir. Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura c. He also points out that it was with the Shamir that Moses created the choshen and ephod , the Priestly Breastplate, and engraved the names of the Tribes of Israel into the precious stones on that breastplate.

The material to be worked, whether stone, wood or metal, shamir in the bible affected by being "shown to the Shamir. In this list is included the miracle-working staff of Mosesthe Two Tablets of Law, and the Shamir. Easton's Bible Dictionary - Shamir.

In the Talmud and other sacred Jewish texts there are many references to the Shamir—a magical object—possibly living and possessing mysterious powers. It could disintegrate anything with a glance. The rabbinical literature describes it as being used by Moses to carve part of the breastplate of the High Priest—the Urim and Thummim , used for divination. King Solomon was eager to possess the Shamir because he had heard about it from earlier days. After a tremendous search the Shamir was found in a distant country, in the depths of a well, and brought to Solomon. But strangely, it lost its abilities and became inactive several centuries later, about the time the Temple of Solomon was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. February 23, Retrieved February 23, from Encyclopedia. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia. Reference Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps Shamir in the Bible. Shamir in the Bible columbia.

Shamir in the bible

The Greek word adamas means diamond. This stone is not referred to, but corundum or some kind of hard steel. It is an emblem of firmness in resisting adversaries of the truth Zechariah , and of hard-heartedness against the truth Jeremiah These dictionary topics are from M. Easton M. Public Domain, copy freely. An extremely hard substance. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

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Shamir 94680 [H] [S] a sharp thorn. Perhaps it used some kind of high-energy radiation to cut through stone. Vincent of Beauvais, Gervase of Tilbury, and Albertus Magnus relate similar stories, and the last-named expressly gives Jewish tradition as his source Cassel, l. The Shamir has been most often interpreted as a kind of worm or salamander. Easton M. McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia. But what did he speak to the fowl? He then goes and examines his seal, opens the hole, and drinks; after this he seals it up again and goes away. Categories : Solomon Solomon's Temple Jewish legendary creatures Mythological animals Mythological substances Islamic legendary creatures Judaism stubs. Ultimately, we may never know the true nature of the Shamir, for there are those who hold the future Third Temple will not require the Shamir in its construction. The material to be worked, whether stone, wood or metal, was affected by being "shown to the Shamir. Every day he also ascends on high and learns in the school above; then he comes down to study in the school below.

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The Shamir has been most often interpreted as a kind of worm or salamander. This is supported by contemporary scholars who believe that the shamir was emery , a bluegreen stone mined as an abrasive powder for thousands of years. All rights reserved. August 4, , page With its aid, moreover, Solomon built the Temple without using any tool of iron comp. Smith's Bible Dictionary - Shamir. In what is it kept, so that it will not break everything in the vicinity? For storage, the Shamir was meant to have been always wrapped in wool and stored in a container made of lead; any other vessel would burst and disintegrate under the Shamir's gaze. When they had found the nest of the wild cock containing young ones, they covered the nest with glass. After this the two set out. The wood-grouse used the shamir to cleave bare rocks so that he might plant seeds of trees in them and thus cause new vegetation to spring up; hence the bird was called the "rock-splitter". But where is he to be found? After a tremendous search the Shamir was found in a distant country, in the depths of a well, and brought to Solomon. It means that he would prepare the stones outside the Temple Mount using tools, and bring them inside already cut, so that no iron tools were used inside the Temple itself. The story runs as follows:.