Exodus 28:10

10 Six names on the first stone, and the other six names on the second stone, according to their births.

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.

---

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 woven work of the shoulder-pieces which is upon it, shall be of one piece according to the work, of pure gold and blue and purple, and spun scarlet and fine twined linen.

9 And thou shalt take the two stones, the stones of emerald, and thou shalt grave on them the names of the children of Israel.

10 Six names on the first stone, and the other six names on the second stone, according to their births.

11 the work of the stone-engraver's art; as the graving of a seal thou shalt engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel.

12 And thou shalt put the two stones on the shoulders of the shoulder-piece: they are memorial-stones for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel before the Lord on his two shoulders, a memorial for them.