There are many references to
a stone
in the scriptures
and we know that
Messiah Jesus/Yeshua
is the corner stone.
We are also told that our Heavenly Father
will give us a new heart of flesh
for our heart of stone.
However specifically it was a white stone that was given to the High Priest in Israel and worn in front within the ceremonial robes. This white stone was one of two stones used when seeking the will of the Heavenly Father on the behalf of the nation of the Hebrew Israelites.
The two stones were called the Urim and Thummin.
They were used to determine the answer regarding
direction and decisions, on matters presented
on behalf of the people.
by the High Priest,
to the Lord God.
The Hebrew words “אוּרִים” (Urim)
and “תֻּמִּים” (Thummim)
are often translated as
“lights” and “perfections,” respectively.
These objects were placed within the breastpiece,
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
Leviticus 8:8
These two stones are not to be mistaken with the breastplate holding the 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The gold breastplate of judgement hung from chains of pure gold twisted like cords. In a pouch behind the breastplate were the urim and thummim.
As noted the High Priest’s breastplate held
12 stones
each one engraved with the names of the
12 tribes of Israel.
One of the stones was actually white –
The Hebrew word
יַהֲלֹם Yahalom
pronounced: yah-hal-ome’.
It was stone number 6,
signifying the 6th son of Leah – Zebulun.
What’s important about Zebulun?
We read in Isaiah 9:1-7:
But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish [for with judgment comes the promise of salvation]. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make them honored [by the presence of the Messiah], by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them….For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore.
and quoted in Matthew 4:15
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, / to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: / “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— / the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
According to this interpretation, the sacred white stone is a symbol of Greco-Romans residing in Galilee who would receive light through the birth of Jesus/Yeshua.
Could the secret here be the Messiah Himself?
Could the white stone point to Jesus/Yeshua through the yahalom stone once adorning the breast of the High Priest of Israel? Perhaps?
for more on the yahalom click link below
https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-calling-part-2/
Another intriguing possibility is with the theme of priestly attire, as written in Revelation.
We read of a white stone in Revelation 2:17.
17. Mee asher-oz•na•yim lo yak•shiv et asher ha•Roo•ach ma•gid la•k`hi•lot lam•na•tze•ach e•ten min-ha•man ha•sha•moor ve•na•ta•ti lo even le•va•na ve•al-ha•e•ven cha•kook shem cha•dash asher eesh lo yi•ko•ve•noo bil•tee ha•m`ka•bel.
18. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no man knows except him who receives it.
“I will give him a white stone.”
This Scripture makes us think of another ancient custom which warned that if a man sins against a young woman of his tribe or of another tribe, he will be put to death.
However, sometimes the people accepted blood money and the culprit went free.
For the remainder of his life he lived in a white tent, or
rode a white camel,
and had a large white stone in front of his tent.
These were to show that no one had any right to harm him;
he is forgiven;
the price is paid
and it is now as though he had never
committed the sin.
Justified = Just as if I’d (never sinned)
“I will give him a white stone.”
Forgiveness,
vindication,
or
a proof of forgiveness
is shown by the white stone.
Judges 5:10 ye that sit on white asses in judgment. Palestinians aquainted with the law, religious or secular, in other words lawyers and rabbis usually select the white ass for their journeys in preference to the ordinary donkey or horse as it is much more impressive in looks and more sure footed. In Revelation we are told Messiah/Yeshua will return on a white horse.
In the first century, people understood that a white stone was a symbol of favor and overcoming against the odds.
The wording in the phrase “a white stone” is ordered differently in Greek. The Greek wording actually reads “psiephon leuken.”
The word psiephon refers to a stone or pebble, and leuken means white.
So rather than “a white stone,” it should be literally translated,
“A stone, a white one.”
This lays a particular emphasis on the color of the stone, so we must examine the primary way “white stones” were used in early New Testament times.
A white stone was commonly associated with
a vote of acquittal
or
a favorable vote.
This makes sense since Yeshua/Jesus took our guilt on the cross and paid the penalty for our sin in full.
The opposite was a black stone which indicated guilt.
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When a Roman trial concluded, and it was time for a panel of judges to vote for the defendant’s innocence or guilt, the judges registered their votes by casting a black or white stone into an urn. A black stone symbolized a vote for guilt, and a white stone denoted a vote for innocence. When all the votes had been cast, the stones were emptied from the urn and counted one by one. If there were more black stones, it meant the judges had found the defendant guilty; if there were more white stones, it meant they had found the individual to be not guilty.
There was another way the ancient Greeks also used white and black stones for vote-casting when elections were held in a city.
One of the greatest privileges in Greek society was to vote about civic issues in a public election. In these elections, people used white and black stones to cast their votes, similar to the way such stones were used in legal trials. Votes were customarily registered by casting a black or white pebble into large vases that were set up throughout the city at designated locations. When the time for voting had concluded, the pebbles were separated into white and black piles and then counted. A white stone represented a person voting in favor of some issue, whereas a black stone represented a person was voting against it.
The Nelson Study Bible also says there was a
“custom in the Greek athletic games of giving a white stone to the victor in a contest, or to gladiators at the Roman games who had won the admiration of the public and had been allowed to retire from further combat.”
This could be alluding to our faithfully keeping God’s commandments while living in this corrupt world system.
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