The 11th gemstone in the breastplate was used to carve cameos, the likenesses of the reigning kings. They were actually the first portraits of the kings and these onyx portraits were available for purchase in the market places. Dictators always had their portraits available for sale so that everyone in the kingdom could have one in their homes. It was expected and considered a form of kingly worship, so the Israelites would have understood the relevance of this stone.
Onyx comes in red, yellow, black, white, brown, blue, and green. Take notice of these colors. They are all the colors of LIFE!
While the Hebrews were in the wilderness, God told Moses to
“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.” Exodus 28: 9-12.
The High Priest would wear onyx on each shoulder with the names of the tribes of Israel. The priest carrying the onyx with the tribal names of the Israelites on his shoulders is likely to be a prophetic sign pointing to Jesus, Messiah carrying the cross. The shoulder onyx could have been any of the onyx colors. Black may culturally be representative of sin, within the American culture, but it is not definitively biblically representative of sin. In fact, scriptures depict sin as the color of red, not black. Isaiah 1:18 clearly states
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
The onyx gemstone was assigned to Manasseh and Ephraim who were born to Joseph and his Egyptian wife. Joseph is Jacob’s 11th son. The name Manasseh refers to “forgetting and letting go, relieved from debt.” And Ephraim’s name means “made me fruitful". Being created in the image of God means that we have these abilities, and we are expected to exercise them. This is part of God’s commandment to “be fruitful and multiply.” Forgiveness bears fruit and we are created in the image of God to bear fruit.
The month that is associated with this gemstone is Shevat (January 20 - February 18) and commemorates the harvest of 7 specific foods. God tells us to plant and harvest and this is important both physically and spiritually. Planting and harvesting, are acts of creating, which our Father does continually. This is our family resemblance. We were created to create, created to plant and harvest, and to do so both physically and spiritually. During the month of Shevat, the stars tell the same story. The constellation of the water bearer (Aquarius) shows up in the heavens. That's right. God did actually write the story of salvation in the heavens.
"The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands." Psalm 19:1
And why wouldn't the water bearer show up in the night sky during a month that is set apart to commemorate the harvest? I think it's clear that God through the breastplate is showing us that we are created in His image to do what He did. Plant, water, and harvest.
For more information on this and the other gemstones of the breastplate, and how God weaves all this together for our benefit and protection, read my book, Dressing for the Battle, Armed to Win, The breastplate of Righteousness.
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