12 Stones on the Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle
12 Stones on the Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

In the post from yesterday, we saw the High Priest behind the Incense Altar. The clothes of the High Priest are set out in Exodus Chapter 28. On the breastplate of the clothes are twelve stones.

On the front face of this square were set, in four rows, twelve precious stones, on each of which was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. These jewels in gold settings were in the first row, “a sardius [“ruby”], a topaz, and a carbuncle [“emerald”]”; in the second row, “an emerald [“carbuncle”], a sapphire, and a diamond [“sardonyx”]”; in the third row, “a jacinth [“amber”], an agate, and an amethyst”; and in the fourth row, “a beryl [“chalcedony”], and an onyx [“beryl”], and a jasper.” The exact identification and the order of these stones, as well as the tribe represented by each, are matters of speculation. The breastplate was worn over and fastened to the ephod. It hung over the breast of the wearer, and was secured to the shoulders of the ephod by gold cords (or chains).


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