Exodus 28:11 - "As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel; you shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree."

In Palestine, the use of jewelry seems to have been common as long as 10,000 years ago. These ancient peoples wore ornaments of shell, bone, and fish vertebrae. In all times, both men and women wore jewelry, although in later times, aside from the very wealthy and the royalty, the men became more subdued in their ornamentation. Men did use staffs, which were often carved and inlaid, and they wore rings, which they used as signets. But this was generally the extent of their show.

Among the women, however, it was considerably different. Abraham’s servant took along two bracelets to give Rebekah. Earrings of the Israel…