Exodus 28:10

10 Six of their names on one stone, and [the] six names of the rest on the other stone, according to 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 curious girdle of the ephod, which [is] upon it, shall be of the same, according to its work; [even of] gold, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel:

10 Six of their names on one stone, and [the] six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

11 With the work of an engraver in stone, [like] the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod [for] stones of memorial to the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.