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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 28:13 - 28:30
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The Breastplate
v. 13. And thou shalt make ouches of gold, clasps or buckles;
v. 14. and two chains of pure gold at the ends, attached to the clasps; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, by braiding gold wire, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches, so that the buckles, which probably had the form of rosettes, were firmly attached to the braided chains, the entire ornament being intended for holding the breastplate.
v. 15. And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment, that being its full technical name, with cunning work, with the highest artistic workmanship; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen shalt thou make it.
v. 16. Foursquare it shall be being doubled, folded together to form a sort of pocket; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof, a span being half a cubit.
v. 17. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, fill its outer side with rows of precious gems, even four rows of stones. The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle; this shall be the first row.
v. 18. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
v. 19. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
v. 20. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper (or a chrysolite, a beryl, and a jasper); they shall be set in gold in their inclosings, that is, in their settings. The modern names pretty accurately reproduce the Hebrew names, and may be accepted as fairly exact. The settings of the stones seem to have been ornamental clasps, which were of value also in fastening the stones to the heavy cloth of the breastplate. "The twelve precious stones denote the variety, manifoldness, and totality of the natural and gracious gifts bestowed on the people of God, and united in the one spirit of heavenly preciousness. "
v. 21. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; everyone with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes, corresponding both in number and in names.
v. 22. And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold. Cf v. 14.
v. 23. And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate, evidently above.
v. 24. And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold, the braids of gold wire, in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
v. 25. And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, in the clasps connected with the onyx stones on the shoulders, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod before it.
v. 26. And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward, on the lower edge, on the rear, or inner, side, facing the ephod.
v. 27. And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. The description indicates that these rings were placed on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the center below, where it was held together above the girdle.
v. 28. And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof, that is, the lower rings, unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, with threads of the hyacinth material which was used in the weaving of the cloth, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. It was not only to be prevented from moving up and down, but also from sliding back and forth as it was worn, and from falling forward as the high priest stooped over.
v. 29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment, of judicial sentence, upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the Holy Place, for a memorial before the Lord continually, v. 12.
v. 30. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment, in the pocket formed by its fold, the Urim and the Thummim (light and perfection; or revelation and truth); and they shall be upon Aaron's heart when he goeth in before the Lord; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually, that is, the sentence of salvation, or righteousness, and the sentence of judgment; as the high priest he was the mediator between God and the people. Every high priest appearing before the Lord with the Urim and Thummim thereby became the advocate of the people, and usually received from the Lord such illumination as served to protect the children of Israel in their promised rights, Num_27:21. Christ is our High Priest. He is our Advocate with the Father; He reveals to us God's light and truth, God's gracious and good will toward us, by which we receive counsel and comfort in dark days. The Word of the Lord is a lamp unto our feet and a light upon our path.