Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 2:12

12. And the Gold of that Land is good , there is Bdellium , and the Onyx stone .

i. e. Better than ordinary.

Which signifies either a pretious gumme, of which see Numb. 11. 70. or Gems and Pearls. Once for all observe, that many of the Hebrew words or names of Stones, Trees, Birds, and Beasts are even to the Hebrew Doctors and others both antient and modern Interpreters of uncertain signification, and that without any considerable inconvenience to us who are free from the obligations, which the Jews were formerly under of procuring such stones, and abstaining in their Diet from such Beasts and Birds, as then were sufficiently known to them; and if any were doubtful, they had one safe course, to abstain from them.

A kind of pretious stone; of which see Exod. 25. 7. and 28. 9, 20.

Marginal references: 2 Chron. 3. 5.