Israel 2012 The High Priest's Breastplate, part two
From Stamps of the World
- Issue date: 17th April 2012
- four values
- Designed by: David Ben-Hador
- Printed by: Joh Enschedé, Netherlands, in sheets of 10 + 5 tabs
- Print process: lithography
- stamp format height 50mm (including tab) x width 40mm
- Perforations: 14 x 13.25
3.00sh ~ dark blue: issachar (lazurite /sapphire)
3.00sh ~ white: zevulun yahalom (quartz)
3.00sh ~ red-yellow: dan leshem (zircon)
3.00sh ~ red: naftali ahlamah (amethyst)
The requirements for making a breastplate are given in Exodus 28, 15-21. Considerable debate has centred around the identification of the gemstones (much hinges on varying translations of Exodus); the stamps illustrations are based on current knowledge of gems cut and used in the ancient world, and of mineral deposits / ancient mines in the Near East
