Exodus 28:11

11 Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter carves a seal. "Then put the stones in fancy gold settings.

Exodus 28:11 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone
Not in common but precious stones: Moses was not to do this himself, as it could not be supposed he should, but he was to employ an engraver, whose business it was, and one that was capable of doing it in a professional manner:

[like] the engravings of a signet shall thou engrave the two stones
with the names of the children of Israel:
as in signets or seals, by which impressions are made on wax, the letters or figures are cut deep, that they might on the wax stand out; so it seems the letters of the names of the children of Israel were cut in these stones: this shows that engraving on precious stones is very old, and the ancients indeed are said to excel in this art:

thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold;
in beazils or sockets, such as precious stones in rings are set in; these with the stones in them served as buttons to fasten together the hinder and fore part of the ephod on the shoulder pieces of it.

Exodus 28:11 In-Context

9 "Get two onyx stones. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on them.
10 Arrange them in the order of their birth. Carve six names on one stone and six on the other.
11 Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter carves a seal. "Then put the stones in fancy gold settings.
12 Connect them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones will stand for the sons of Israel. Aaron must carry the names on his shoulders as a reminder while he is serving me.
13 Make fancy gold settings.
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