Exodus 28:9-12
Stones of memorial upon his two shoulders
Two onyx stones carry six names each, engraved as a signet, and the purpose is stated as remembrance before the LORD.
Objects of the Bible
The ephod and the breastpiece
Working clothes with twelve names cut into stone, so that nobody could go in alone.
The ephod is a sleeveless garment of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen, joined at the shoulders, with two onyx stones set in gold on the shoulderpieces. On the stones are engraved the names of the children of Israel, six on one and six on the other, according to their birth, and the reason is given: for stones of memorial, and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders.
Scroll down to the story
The movements, in the order the text gives them.
The story of The ephod and the breastpiece
- 01
- 02
Exodus 28:15-21
Four rows of stones
Twelve stones are named one by one, and every one carries a tribe. The list is a jeweller’s inventory that is also a census.
- 03
Exodus 28:29-30
Upon his heart continually
The breastplate is called the breastplate of judgment, and the burden it names is not his own.
- 04
Exodus 28:33-35
His sound shall be heard when he goeth in
Bells and pomegranates alternate on the hem. The people outside can hear that the man inside is still moving.
- 05
Leviticus 8:7-9
He put upon him the coat
The vesting is done by Moses, piece by piece, in order, in front of the whole congregation at the door of the tent.
Why it matters
The breastpiece repeats the idea in a different place. A span square, doubled, set with four rows of three stones, and every stone is engraved with a name. It is fastened by chains of gold to the shoulderpieces and by a lace of blue to the ephod, and the instruction is that it be not loosed. So the high priest walks in with twelve names on his shoulders where weight is carried and twelve over his heart, and the text calls it the breastplate of judgment, and says he shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart continually.
1 song
The music
Every song in the catalogue whose passage falls inside these chapters.
