9 "You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel , 10 six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone , according to their birth . 11 "As a jeweler e engraves a signet , you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel ; you shall set e them in filigree settings of gold . 12 "You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod , as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel , and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial . 13 " You shall make filigree settings of gold , 14 and two chains of pure gold ; you shall make them of twisted cordage work , and you shall put the corded chains on the filigree settings.
15 " You shall make a breastpiece of judgment , the work of a skillful workman ; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold , of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. 16 "It shall be square and folded double , a span in length and a span in width . 17 "You shall mount e on it four rows of stones ; the first row shall be a row of ruby , topaz and emerald ; 18 and the second row a turquoise , a sapphire and a diamond ; 19 and the third row a jacinth , an agate and an amethyst ; 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper ; they shall be set in gold filigree . 21 "The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel : twelve e , according to their names ; they shall be like the engravings of a seal , each according to his name for the twelve e tribes . 22 "You shall make on the breastpiece chains of twisted cordage work in pure gold . 23 "You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold , and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece . 24 "You shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece . 25 "You shall put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod , at the front of it. 26 "You shall make two rings of gold and shall place them on the two ends of the breastpiece , on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod . 27 "You shall make two rings of gold and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod , on the front of it close to the place where it is joined , above e the skillfully woven band of the ephod . 28 "They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord , so that it will be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod , and that the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod . 29 "Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 28:9-29
Commentary on Exodus 28:6-14
(Read Exodus 28:6-14)
This richly-wrought ephod was the outmost garment of the high priest; plain linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests. It was a short coat without sleeves, fastened close to the body with a girdle. The shoulder-pieces were buttoned together with precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Thus Christ, our High Priest, presents his people before the Lord for a memorial. As Christ's coat had no seam, but was woven from the top throughout, so it was with the ephod. The golden bells on this ephod, by their preciousness and pleasant sound, well represent the good profession that the saints make, and the pomegranates the fruit they bring forth.
Commentary on Exodus 28:15-30
(Read Exodus 28:15-30)
The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men esteem them. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to God! The Urim and Thummim, by which the will of God was made known in doubtful cases, were put in this breastplate. Urim and Thummim signify light and integrity. There are many conjectures what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that they were the twelve precious stones in the high priest's breastplate. Now, Christ is our Oracle. By him God, in these last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, Hebrews 1:1,2; John 1:18. He is the true Light, the faithful Witness, the Truth itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of Truth, who leads into all truth.