ואבן משכית לא תתנו בארצכם

"Thou shalt not have the ABEN (the LIATH, the STONE) MESICHITH in "thy land." Leviticus c. xxvi. v. 1. Leviticus c. xxvi. v. 1. It is again forbidden in the following text, "Thou shalt destroy all their MESCHIOTHEM." Num. c. xxx. v. 52.

"In our common translation of the Bible ABEN MESICHITH is rendered a stone image, and MESCIOTHIM is translated pictures; but the LXX have translated the ABEN MESICHITH of the text by Ados sxoros, gemma speculationis, i. e. the stone of speculation, or inspection. This is exactly the meaning assigned by the Irish to their LIATH MEISICHITH, though it is very improbable that these translators knew that any such thing existed: this coincidence is therefore the more remarkable.

The difference in the two translations, I apprehend, originated in this circumstance; there are two roots to which the word in question may be referred, but neither of them indigenous as to the Hebrew language, but exotics; viz. which, in the Arabic signifies to be like, to resemble; likeness, resemblance; and the kindred verb D, which in the Chaldee signifies to view, to look at with attention, to contemplate. The translators of the common Bible have referred the word MESICHITH to the Arabic a representation, and, as it is preceded by ABEN, a stone, they have concluded that a STONE IMAGE was intended by ABEN MESICHITH. The LXX, on the other hand, refering to the Chaldee verb to view, to inspect with attention, &c. have very properly rendered the words by the stone of speculation or inspection.'

L

The ABEN MESICHITH was a stone to be inspected, it was indeed an impious imitation of the URIM and THUMMIM in the breast-plate of Aaron, invented by the Canaanitish priests to impose on the credulity of the people, and thus to place themselves on an apparent equality with the high priest; hence the prohibition in the texts quoted. To these stones of inspection I believe both to resemble, and to view, to look at attentively, primarily referred; the one expressing the act of looking, and the other the result of that act, viz. something seen; not indeed as a picture, an engraving, or a sculpture, but by reflection from the substance looked at ; as we see the representation of ourselves and surrounding objects on the glassy surface of the unruffled lake; in a mirror; or in any other substance having its surface either naturally or artificially polished. These two words seem to have been introduced into the Hebrew language, together with the knowledge of these heathen specula, or crystal mirrors, and the necessity of naming them.

Among all the superstitions which the wandering Phenicians introduced into the various countries which they visited, there are none to which the nations appear to have clung more tenaciously than to these CRYSTALS, and to the belief of a supernatural intelligence and virtue inherent in gems: hence their existence in Italy; in Gaul; and in Britain; so many centuries after the establishment of Christianity in these countries.

The CRYSTAL BALL is not identified with the MESICHITH by the similarity of its British name only, but by the similarity of its application to that which is implied in the terms ABEN MESICHITH, the Stone of Inspection; or, if you