Shemot 28:16

16 Ravu’a (foursquare, square) it shall be folded; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the width thereof.

Shemot 28:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:16

Four square it shall be, [being] doubled
That is, when it was doubled; for the length of it, according to Maimonides F3, was a cubit, which is two spans, and so, when it was doubled, was but one, and its length and breadth being alike, as follows:

a span [shall be] the length thereof, and a span [shall be] the breadth
thereof; a square, which is the measure, the form of the new Jerusalem, the church of Christ, ( Revelation 21:16 ) and may denote the perfection, firmness, and immovableness of it, ( Psalms 125:1 ) . Some have thought that this breastplate was doubled, in order to have something enclosed in it: some imagine, that within this fold were put the Urim and Thummim, which they suppose to be two words engraved on a stone, and different from the twelve stones in it; others, that the name of Jehovah was written and put there, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi on ( Exodus 28:30 ) and other Jewish writers, and others, fancy some little images were put within these folds, the name with the teraphim, and supposed to be the Urim and Thummim; but if these were hid in the folds, they could not be seen when consulted; it is most probable there is nothing put within the double, which was not done for any such use; but most likely that it might be strong to bear the weight of the precious stones, put in ouches of gold upon it.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 6.

Shemot 28:16 In-Context

14 And two sharsherot zahav tahor (chains of pure gold) at the edges; of braided artistic work shalt thou make them, and fasten the braided sharsherot (chains) to the mishbetzot (filigrees).
15 And thou shalt make the Choshen Mishpat with artistic work; like the work of the Ephod thou shalt make it; of zahav, of turquoise, and of purple, and of scarlet wool, and of twisted linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Ravu’a (foursquare, square) it shall be folded; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the width thereof.
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of even (stone), four rows of gemstones: the first row shall be a odem, a pitdah, and barekes: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be nofech, sapphire, and yahalom.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.