Appendix II. Ms. <i>Sefer Gematriaot</i>, On Gems
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Jewish Magic and Superstition, by Joshua Trachtenberg, [1939], at sacred-texts.com
p. 265
APPENDIX II
MS. SEFER GEMATRIAOT, pp. 43a-44b, ON GEMS
(Notes on pp. 267-268)
This passage closely parallels Baḥya b. Asher's comment on Ex. 28:17, both apparently being derived from a common source. They were composed at about the same time, so that one could hardly have drawn from the other; each lacks passages present in the other; the language of the two is very similar, but Baḥya's text is longer and more wordy, while the present text contains several additional details about the use of the gems; and there are some interesting differences which illustrate the different environments (Spain and Germany) in which they were composed.
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NOTES TO APPENDIX II
1. Cf. Gen. R. ch. 98, 7; Rashi on Gen. 35:22.
2. Rubino, ruby; Baḥya continues with a long description of this gem which is lacking here.
3. Gen. 30:14.
4. See p. 182 above. From here to the end of the paragraph not in Baḥya.
5. Fels, mhd. vels, velsch; cf. Grimm, Deutsches Wörterbuch, s. v. Fels.
6. Gen. 37:21.
7. Gen. 42:22.
8. Gen. 41:42.
9. Perhaps this is the prasinum, a species of smaragd (cf. Ducange, s. v.); Baḥya: ונקרא פראש״מא והיא מין נופך שהוא מרק״די שהוא גם כן ירו׳ ככרתי.
10. Then this should read סמרלדא, smiraldus, smeraldus, another species of smaragd. This word does not appear in Baḥya.
11. Nu. 25:14.
12. Job 28:19.
13. Gen. 29:33.
14. Carbuncle.
15. Gen. 6:16.
16. Is. 54:12.
17. Deut. 33:50.
18. Ecc. 8:1.
19. Cf. Sotah 12a; Pirke de R. Eliezer, ch. 48.
20. Ex. 34:35.
21. From here to end of paragraph not in Baḥya.
22. Deut. 34:7.
23. Smaragd. Baḥya has here a discussion of the Arabic etymology of this word, and comments והוא ממין פראש״מא.
24. Cf. Gen. 38.
25. Gen. 37:33.
26. Gen. 49:9.
27. Preceding six words not in Baḥya.
28. Gen. 49:8.
29. I Chr. 12:32; Baḥya's name for this stone is שפי״לו.
30. Prov. 3:8; this paragraph is much longer in Baḥya.
35. Perla, pearl; the suggested reading is confirmed in Baḥya.
32. Gen. 30:20.
33. Topazia, topaz; Baḥya: אשטכסי׳.
34. Cf. Jud. 18.
p. 268
35. Turkiska, turquoise; Baḥya: טורקיזא.
36. Gen. 30:8.
37. Cristalo, crystal; Baḥya: קריסטא״ל.
38. Deut. 33:20.
39. Diamanti, diamond; Baḥya: ליאמן.
40. Job 39:4.
41. Is. 38: 16.
42. From here to end of paragraph not in Baḥya.
43. I have not succeeded in tracing this word.
44. Yakint, jacinth; Baḥya: קריאוליק׳.
45. Gen. 49:20; from here to end of paragraph not in Baḥya.
46. I Chr. 7:31.
47. Nichilus, nichilinus lapis, achetae species (Ducange, s. v.); Baḥya: אוניקלי.
48. Gen. 39:2.
49. Ibid.
50. Jasper; Baḥya: ישפיז.
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