Exodus 28:15-30

The Chest Cloth

15 "Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.
16 Make it nine inches square. Fold it in half.
17 "Put four rows of valuable jewels on it. Put a ruby, a topaz and a beryl in the first row.
18 Put a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald in the second row.
19 Put a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row.
20 And put a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper in the fourth row. Put them in fancy gold settings.
21 "Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.
22 "Make braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. Make them like ropes.
23 Make two gold rings for the chest cloth. Connect them to two corners of it.
24 Join the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth.
25 Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.
26 "Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron.
27 Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron.
28 The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.
29 "When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving me.
30 "Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron's heart when he comes to serve me. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving me.

Exodus 28:15-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 28

This chapter informs us of the servants God would have to minister to him in the house, or tabernacle, he had ordered to be made, even Aaron and his sons, Ex 28:1 of the garments they were to wear in their service, Ex 28:2-5 and first of the garments of the high priest, and particularly of the ephod, with the girdle, on the shoulder pieces of which were to be two onyx stones, with the names of the children of Israel engraved on them, Ex 28:6-14, and that of the breastplate of judgment, with the Urim and Thummum in it, Ex 28:15-30 and of the robe of the ephod, Ex 28:31-35, and of the mitre, Ex 28:36-39 and then of the garments of the common priests, Ex 28:40-43.

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