Exodus 28:10

10 six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.

Exodus 28:10 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:10

Six of their names on one stone
The names of the six eldest on the stone upon the right shoulder:

and the other six names of the rest on the other stone:
the names of the six youngest on the stone upon the left shoulder; for these stones, as afterwards said, were put on the shoulders of the priests,

according to their birth;
the order of it; so that upon the first stone were engraven the names of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, and Naphtali; and on the second stone the names of Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin; and so they are disposed by Jarchi, with whom Josephus agrees ^F1; though some Jewish writers, and particularly Maimonides ^F2, place them otherwise; but this seems most agreeable to the letter and sense of the text.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 5.)
F2 Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, ut supra. (c. 9. sect. 9.)

Exodus 28:10 In-Context

8 And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

9 Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:

10 six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.

11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold.

12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.