A Question About The Breastplates of the Ancient Hebrew Priests

[freespirit2001]

I hope a liberal Christian can ask a question to Messianic Jews in this forum(?)

I have a few Hebrew friends here on the eastern shore of Maryland, one who is a Jeweler, and a family friend---who does some work for my family. He grew up on the Diamond district in New York, with unbelievable gifts of perception. He married a german swedish girl, a dear friend. My grandfather had a lapidary and collected quite a few interesting rocks and cystals, some he donated to a whole wall at our community college in the science building. My friend, would help me to anylyze his rocks, ( almost all have location and mineral content in a small corner in each stone) and he helped give me more insight and knowledge into each interesting semi-precious gemstone or rock ( hence the stones of Chiastolite or "ANDALUSITE" in my signature) He has some great and wonderful knowledge.

MY BIG HEBREW QUESTION IS:

The Breastplates of the Priests during the time of Mosiac Laws and the Ten Commanments, had a specific design about them. Does anyone know the dates and the times this breastplate was worn by the ancient Hebrew Priests, anything about the design and if there was a design change of 12 stones to 9 stones, and if any of these breastplates were ever found in any archeological site. My jeweler friend is very wise, and I dearly am grateful for his Hebrew insight and wisdom, however he has told me the breastplate robe for the ancient Hebrew Priesthood had 9 stones (I didn't ask him why, but I assume possibly because rift of three tribes at one time???)

[bible]Exodus 39:10-14[/bible]

My Cruden's Concordance says:
"A piece of embroidery about ten iches square, of very rich work, which the high-priest wore upon his breast, and was set with four rows of precious stones, upon every one of which was engraven the name of one of the tribes of Israel. It was double, or made of two pieces folded, one upon the other, like a kind of bag, in which were put the URIM and THUMMIM."

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Just curious, about the book of Revelations 21:19-20, are these supposed to be the same twelve stones that were once used by the ancient Priests, that St.John of Patmos saw in his vision of the New Jerusalem?
[bible]Revelation 21:19-20[/bible]

 

[freespirit2001]

The full text the Breastplates of the Hebrew Priests, KJV:
[bible]Exodus 39:1-20[/bible]

 

[debi b]

I am not aware of there ever being a change from 12 stones to 9.

 

[visionary]

Emerald
Hebrew: nophek (Ex. 28:18; 39:11); i.e., the "glowing stone"
probably the carbuncle, a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest

It is mentioned (Rev. 21:19) as one of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. The name given to this stone in the New Testament Greek is smaragdos, which means "live coal."

Amethyst
Hebrew: "achlamah."

This is one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). It is mentioned only these three times in the Bible. It is probably the same gem that we are familiar with called the amethyst.

Some ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from a_, "privative," and _methuo, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name, the dream-stone, "achlamah" or "ahlamah", was derived by the rabbis from the Hebrew word halam, "to dream," from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.

The amethyst is a crystallized quartz, varying from purple, lilac, violet or mauve, to clear. In biblical times it was found in Persia and India, and also in different parts of Europe. Today, it is found in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Landka, Siberia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia and the USA.

Author: Matthew G. Easton and Paul S. Taylor

Jacinth
Properly, the jacinth is a flower of a reddish blue or deep purple (hyacinth), and hence a precious stone of that color (Rev. 21:20).

It has been supposed to designate the same stone as the ligure (Hebrew: leshem) mentioned in Ex. 28:19 as the first stone of the third row in the high priest's breast-plate. In Rev. 9:17 the word is simply descriptive of color.

Beryl
the King James Version translation of the Hebrew word tarshish, a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish

It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;" 39:13). The color of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the color of a beryl stone (1:16; 10:9; R.V., "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Song of Songs 5:14; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 21:20. In Ezek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-colored gem, the topaz of ancient authors.

Chrysoprasus
Meaning: golden leek

a precious stone of the color of leek's juice, a greenish-golden color (Rev. 21:20)

Chalcedony
Mentioned only in Rev. 21:19, as one of the precious stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. The name of this stone is derived from Chalcedon, where it is said to have been first discovered. In modern mineralogy this is the name of an agate-like quartz of a bluish color. Pliny so names the Indian ruby. The mineral intended in Revelation is probably the Hebrew nophekh, translated "emerald" (Ex. 28:18; 39:11; Ezek. 27:16; 28:13). It is rendered "anthrax" in the LXX., and "carbunculus" in the Vulgate. (See CARBUNCLE.)

 

[freespirit2001]

Emerald
Hebrew: nophek (Ex. 28:18; 39:11); i.e., the "glowing stone"
probably the carbuncle, a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest

It is mentioned (Rev. 21:19) as one of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. The name given to this stone in the New Testament Greek is smaragdos, which means "live coal."

I LOVE THIS MEANING! YOU HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGE...

"I love how you say this:...The name given to this stone in the New Testament Greek is smaragdos, which means "live coal."

Amethyst

Hebrew: "achlamah."

This is one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). It is mentioned only these three times in the Bible. It is probably the same gem that we are familiar with called the amethyst.

Some ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from a_, "privative," and _methuo, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name, the dream-stone, "achlamah" or "ahlamah", was derived by the rabbis from the Hebrew word halam, "to dream," from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.

The amethyst is a crystallized quartz, varying from purple, lilac, violet or mauve, to clear. In biblical times it was found in Persia and India, and also in different parts of Europe. Today, it is found in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Landka, Siberia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia and the USA.

Author: Matthew G. Easton and Paul S. Taylor

THANK-YOU AGAIN

Jacinth
Properly, the jacinth is a flower of a reddish blue or deep purple (hyacinth), and hence a precious stone of that color (Rev. 21:20).

It has been supposed to designate the same stone as the ligure (Hebrew: leshem) mentioned in Ex. 28:19 as the first stone of the third row in the high priest's breast-plate. In Rev. 9:17 the word is simply descriptive of color.

Beryl
the King James Version translation of the Hebrew word tarshish, a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish

It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;" 39:13). The color of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the color of a beryl stone (1:16; 10:9; R.V., "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Song of Songs 5:14; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 21:20. In Ezek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-colored gem, the topaz of ancient authors.

I remember reading beryl being in the aquamarine and emerald families...in mineral terms, but this spiritual reference to "the TOPAZ of the ancient authors" is wonderful. (From THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN ROCKS AND MINERALS)

Chrysoprasus
Meaning: golden leek

a precious stone of the color of leek's juice, a greenish-golden color (Rev. 21:20)

Chalcedony
Mentioned only in Rev. 21:19, as one of the precious stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. The name of this stone is derived from Chalcedon, where it is said to have been first discovered. In modern mineralogy this is the name of an agate-like quartz of a bluish color. Pliny so names the Indian ruby. The mineral intended in Revelation is probably the Hebrew nophekh, translated "emerald" (Ex. 28:18; 39:11; Ezek. 27:16; 28:13). It is rendered "anthrax" in the LXX., and "carbunculus" in the Vulgate. (See CARBUNCLE.)

I would like to have a pics of these gem stones in another forum ( I don't think I can share them here) but maybe in the history forum.

I couldn't find many pictures of how the Priest's Breastplate looked or the meaning of the UMIN and the THUMMIN...

Below are thumbnails of: "Imperial Topaz", a picture of the breastplate of the High Priest, and a picture of the Temple of Solomon...

 

[visionary]

Just think, it was laying over the Yeshua the High Priest's heart.

 

[freespirit2001]

I would like to see evidence of The Temple of Solomon found someday.

I think the Priest's Holy breastplate can still be reproduced now-a-days? I would love to see a reproduction with real gem stone...maybe the gemstone size, was very costly for the priests to wear, back in Moses and David's time?

At least , if only one jeweled breastplate could ever be found in an archeological find, or any true evidence that something was found or carried off before Babylon destroyed the Temple completely to the ground, or evidence that the Tabernacle and the Ark were actually buried by an earlier discreet bible prophet in the most discreet manner: ( The account of the Maccabees : 2 Maccabees 2:1,4-5:
"The Prophet Jeremiah...warned by an oracle [of the impending destruction of the Temple of Solomon], gave instructions for the Tabernacle and the Ark to go with him when he set out for the mountian which Moses had climbed to survey God's heritage. On his arrival Jeremiah found a cave dwelling, into which he brought the tabernacle, the Ark and the Altar of incense, afterward blocking the entrance.")

There was a rumor one of the tablets of the temple of Solomon was found in the mid 1990's. It was called the only true evidence of the Temple that ever existed. It was also found with an ossuary with the inscription of "James, brother of Jesus." Both were found with amazing patina---cracks and aged markings around the inscriptions. Both were found by the same man and both later proved to be hoaxes, by the Israeli government. Biblical hoaxes are really cruel, because there is no present archeological evidence from the true Temple of David or anything directly from Jesus' family or His person in time. This would be so precious a find, to find the very small hope of evidence existing of the bible being real history. There is no actual evidence in existence now, that these bible facts are facts about the Temple of David ever really existed at all. Its very sad to me, and I guess, to all the Christians of the world.

I love all the artists and artisan reproductions of what the Temple of David and Solomon might have looked....I love to see others vision and how they envision the craftsmanship and the times, the cultural ways, the elegance of the designs; even down to the outdoor landscaping.... By the actual bible plans, it appears to be a very humble, though of the very Holy Spiritual Architectual design, compared to cultural wealth and treasures of Egyptian and Greek Art and Architecture. I see the outside stone as very golden with breath-taking spiritual colors and the trees and palm trees around it would all look exquisitely clean and beautiful....

I wish we all could see an actual reproduction of the Priest's Breastplate, with real gemstones and inscriptions.

I wish there could be more classroom experiences of children with a spiritual art class with focus on the "What would the Temple of David it be like for you"...art lesson....

 

[freespirit2001]

Just think, it was laying over the Yeshua the High Priest's heart.

This is such a beautiful and wonderful thought...(!)

 

[visionary]

The Kabbala tells us that the twelve stones matched the attributes of the tribes. According to researchers the twelve stones also have healing values. The stone of Reuven, the Odem (ruby), is good for pregnant women, strengthens the heart and calms the mood; Shimon, the Piteda (topaz), cleanses the blood and teaches the benefit of the doubt; Levi, the Bareket (beryl), increases wisdom and aids learning; Judah, the Nofech (turquoise), calms the mood and removes worry; Isachar, the Sapir (sapphire), strengthens the eyes and brings peace; Zebulun, Yahalom (diamond), brings longevity, and helps in earning a livelihood; Dan, Leshem (jacinth), strengthens a weak heart, brings joy and success to the wearer; Naftali, Shvo (agate), brings peace and happiness and repels the “evil eye”; Gad, Ahlama (jasper), gives strength and removes worry and fear; Asher, Tarshish (emerald), increases wisdom, gives courage and the wearer finds favor in the eyes of fellow men, and it brings success in business; Joseph, Shoham (onyx), is a remedy for restoring memory and improving sight, enables the wearer to speak wisely; Benjamin, Yashfe (jade), prevents hemorrhaging, improves sight and aids in childbirth. As we see, the breastplate and the ephod had an important part in the Temple and in the life of the people of Israel.

http://www.templemountfaithful.org/Newsletters/2001/5761-9.htm

 

[visionary]

http://www.templeinstitute.org/priestly_garments.htm

Names that Defy Translation

Although we have provided a translation for these twelve stones as listed above, it is by no means definitive. We simply prefer to use these names, when faced with the alternative... that is, to present the original Hebrew names transliterated but untranslated. Our listing is rather more like a synopsis, or a sampling, representing different schools of thought. The exact, conclusive identification of these stones is actually one of the most difficult and elusive of all Temple-related studies. This is because the original Hebrew names of these stones as they appear here in the Bible are extremely obscure. They are not commonly used, and no description of the stones appears anywhere in the verses themselves. In the course of many years, as nations flourished and fell, and civilizations migrated to new lands, languages evolved and the meanings of words changed. Thus in one location, a word may have one meaning and connote a particular concept, while in another land, the same word may carry the exact opposite meaning.

Over 30 Different Opinions

Faced with this sort of situation, it becomes necessary to engage in what can be called "linguistic sleuthing" in an effort to arrive at a working conclusion. The names of these stones is particularly enigmatic: there are over 30 varying opinions as to the final identification of the 12 stones. These opinions include scholars and commentators from the entire historical spectrum of rabbinical literature and tradition, beginning with the most ancient-and therefore, in this case the most reliable opinions-those of the Aramaic translations of the Bible. And as is usual when it comes to eye-witness testimony, the information provided by Flavius Josephus is of interest and importance, since he himself was a priest who served in the Holy Temple.

In addition to the translational difficulties in this study, there are also other factors which should be taken into consideration in order to arrive at a realistic decision as to the true nature of these gems. These factors include various geological and gemological conditions and criteria, such as the respective degree of hardness and brightness of any candidate stone (since the stones are described by the sages as being both exceedingly bright, and strong as well - in order to withstand the engraving), and the regions on the earth where they can be found.

The Colors Correspond to the Tribes' Banners

In reality, the only fact which is known with absolute certainty is the color of each stone. Although absent from the Biblical passages, this is recorded by the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:7), where it is stated that each tribe's stone on the breastplate matched the background color of its flag (the tribes of Israel camped and journeyed according to their ensigns during the years of their desert travels).

Thus even if some doubt exists with regard to the scientific classification of the gems themselves, we can still be certain as to their appearance based on the Midrashic description of their colors (again, arbitrarily using the 12 "most representative" names we have chosen for the purpose of listing them):

Ruby - Reuben - Red
Jade - Shimon - Green
Agate - Levi - Red, White, and Black Striped
Carbuncle - Judah - Bluish-Green
Lapis-Lazuli - Issachar - Blue
Quartz Crystal - Zebulun - Clear
Turquoise - Dan - Blue
Amethyst - Naftali - Purple
Agate - Gad - Grey
Aquamarine - Asher - Blue-Green
Onyx - Joseph - Black
Opal - Benjamin - A Stone Possessing All the Colors

 

[yod]

I was at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem when they had just finished making THE Breastplate for the next High Priest (May 2001). As the previous article mentioned, there were some stones that they couldn't identify...and decided that the color of each stone was the important aspect of each name.

They probably have a picture of it somewhere on their website??

 

[freespirit2001]

The Kabbala tells us that the twelve stones matched the attributes of the tribes. According to researchers the twelve stones also have healing values. The stone of Reuven, the Odem (ruby), is good for pregnant women, strengthens the heart and calms the mood; Shimon, the Piteda (topaz), cleanses the blood and teaches the benefit of the doubt; Levi, the Bareket (beryl), increases wisdom and aids learning; Judah, the Nofech (turquoise), calms the mood and removes worry; Isachar, the Sapir (sapphire), strengthens the eyes and brings peace; Zebulun, Yahalom (diamond), brings longevity, and helps in earning a livelihood; Dan, Leshem (jacinth), strengthens a weak heart, brings joy and success to the wearer; Naftali, Shvo (agate), brings peace and happiness and repels the “evil eye”; Gad, Ahlama (jasper), gives strength and removes worry and fear; Asher, Tarshish (emerald), increases wisdom, gives courage and the wearer finds favor in the eyes of fellow men, and it brings success in business; Joseph, Shoham (onyx), is a remedy for restoring memory and improving sight, enables the wearer to speak wisely; Benjamin, Yashfe (jade), prevents hemorrhaging, improves sight and aids in childbirth. As we see, the breastplate and the ephod had an important part in the Temple and in the life of the people of Israel.

http://www.templemountfaithful.org/Newsletters/2001/5761-9.htm

I am so grateful for this information, visionary! I had tried to look this question up on the yahoo search engine myself, and got a few sites that had some good written knowledge about the Holy Breastplate, but most of the information was combined with astrological significance added to the meaning of the twelve stones. I don't think I could have found this site without you expertise. I'm very grateful.

This web site from templemountfaithful ( from visionary's reference) has the best picture of the authentic stones of the breastplate that I have yet found:

I haven't thought of even attempting to approach any Kabbala studies, but what I know as stone "lore" sounds alot alike what is mentioned in the Kabbala knowledge you mention. Pliny also wrote in his books, during the middle ages about special healing powers of the stones, and their special attributes about healing and strength, but I love how this significance is made more spiritual by reference to the twelve tribes of Israel and the original Breastplate of Ancient Hebrew Priests. I have also seen the significance of the twelve stones also applyed to the twelve disciples of Christ then back again to the twelve city doorways of the New Jerusalem. This is an incredible analogy about the Breastplate and the Holy Doorways of the New Jerusalem...its wonderful spiritual knowledge.

www.doweknow.com/html-files/precious-stones.htm
For example:

A.From the 12 tribes; Genesis 49,
B.Aarons' Breastplate; Exodus 28;39,
C.The 12 Apostles; Matthew 10,
D.Revelation 21:

1.A. Reuben---B.Sardius---C.Peter---D.Jasper
2.A.Simeon---B.Topaz---C.Andrew---D.Sapphire
3.A. Levi---B.Carbuncle---C.James---D.Chalcedony.....

I also liked this picture, which is not as authentic as the one above, but it was interesting :

www.christianhospitality.org/breastplate.htm
I have seen some good artists rendering of the stones and what their signature seals looked liked to him too:
www.art.net/TheGallery/Vision/dov2a.htm

 

[The Thadman]

I was at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem when they had just finished making THE Breastplate for the next High Priest (May 2001). As the previous article mentioned, there were some stones that they couldn't identify...and decided that the color of each stone was the important aspect of each name.

They probably have a picture of it somewhere on their website??

I wouldn't trust that breastplate. It's not kosher.

Deut 22:11 11 You shall not wear a mixed stuff, wool and linen woven together.

The threads of its fabric are gold, sky-blue, dark red and crimson wool, and twisted linen. (Temple Mount Institute)

Notice that the linen and wool are woven together!!! One would think that the breastplate was made of either linen or wool and then embroidered with the other materials to keep it kosher (Deuteronomy is a prohibition against wool and linen being weaved together). They obviously missed something

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[koilias]

Notice that the linen and wool are woven together!!! One would think that the breastplate was made of either linen or wool and then embroidered with the other materials to keep it kosher (Deuteronomy is a prohibition against wool and linen being weaved together). They obviously missed something

Peace!
-Steve-o

Heh! I don't think die in the wool Orthodox traditionalists like the Temple Mount Institute would miss anything...there's a halakhic reason. I'm sure a little web surfing would reveal the reason.

I've been to their museum and boy was everything minutely researched!!... Even the musical instruments were reconstructed. Of course, everything is not researched in a way I would call "scholarly", but interpreted according to the standards of the Talmud, etc.

 

[yod]

I wouldn't trust that breastplate. It's not kosher.


That picture doesn't look anything like the one I saw.

It was not made of cloth.

 

[The Thadman]

Then I'm rather confused as that image is directly from their website.

http://www.templeinstitute.org/index.htm

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[Henaynei]

Construction of the ephod
http://www.templeinstitute.org/archive/construction_breastplate.htm

 

[Henaynei]

[font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]

1 "You are to summon your brother Aharon and his sons to come from among the people of Isra'el to you, so that they can serve me as cohanim -Aharon and his sons Nadav, Avihu, El'azar and Itamar. 2 You are to make for your brother Aharon garments set apart for serving G-d, expressing dignity and splendor. 3 Speak to all the craftsmen to whom I have given the spirit of wisdom, and have them make Aharon's garments to set him apart for me, so that he can serve me in the office of cohen. 4 "The garments they are to make are these: a breastplate, a ritual vest, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aharon and his sons, so that he can serve me in the office of cohen. 5 They are to use gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and fine linen.

6 "They are to make the ritual vest of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely woven linen, crafted by a skilled artisan. 7 Attached to its front and back edges are to be two shoulder-pieces that can be fastened together. 8 Its decorated belt is to be of the same workmanship and materials - gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. 9 Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Isra'el - 10 six of their names on one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. 11 An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Isra'el on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings, 12 and put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Isra'el. Aharon is to carry their names before ADONAI on his two shoulders as a reminder. 13 "Make gold squares 14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; attach the cord-like chains to the squares.

15 "Make a breastplate for judging. Have it crafted by a skilled artisan; make it like the work of the ritual vest - make it of gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. 16 When folded double it is to be square - a hand-span by a hand-span. 17 Put on it settings of stones, four rows of stones: the first row is to be a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald; 18 the second row a green feldspar, a sapphire and a diamond; 19 the third row an orange zircon, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They are to be mounted in their gold settings. 21 The stones will correspond to the names of the twelve sons of Isra'el; they are to be engraved with their names as a seal would be engraved, to represent the twelve tribes. 22 "On the breastplate, make two pure gold chains twisted like cords. 23 Also for the breastplate, make two gold rings; and put the gold rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24 Put the two twisted gold chains in the two rings at the two ends of the breastplate; 25 attach the other two ends of the twisted chains to the front of the shoulder-pieces of the ritual vest. 26 Make two gold rings and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, at its edge, on the side facing in toward the vest. 27 Also make two gold rings and attach them low on the front part of the vest's shoulder-pieces, near the join, above the vest's decorated belt. 28 Then bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the vest with a blue cord, so that it can be on the vest's decorated belt, and so that the breastplate won't swing loose from the vest. 29 Aharon will carry the names of the sons of Isra'el on the breastplate for judging, over his heart, when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual reminder before ADONAI. 30 You are to put the urim and the tumim in the breastplate for judging; they will be over Aharon's heart when he goes into the presence of ADONAI. Thus Aharon will always have the means for making decisions for the people of Isra'el over his heart when he is in the presence of ADONAI. 31 "You are to make the robe for the ritual vest entirely of blue. 32 It is to have an opening for the head in the middle. Around the opening is to be a border woven like the neck of a coat of mail, so that it won't tear. 33 On its bottom hem make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet; and put them all the way around, with gold bells between them all the way around - 34 gold bell, pomegranate, gold bell, pomegranate, all the way around the hem of the robe. 35 Aharon is to wear it when he ministers, and its sound will be heard whenever he enters the Holy Place before ADONAI and when he leaves, so that he won't die. 36 "You are to make an ornament of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal, 'Set apart for ADONAI.' 37 Fasten it to the turban with a blue cord, on the front of the turban, 38 over Aharon's forehead. Because Aharon bears the guilt for any errors committed by the people of Isra'el in consecrating their holy gifts, this ornament is always to be on his forehead, so that the gifts for ADONAI will be accepted by him. 39 "You are to weave the checkered tunic of fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make a belt, the work of a weaver in colors. 40 Likewise for Aharon's sons make tunics, sashes and headgear expressing dignity and splendor. 41 With them clothe your brother Aharon and his sons. Then anoint them, inaugurate them, and consecrate them, so that they will be able to serve me in the office of cohen. 42 Also make for them linen shorts reaching from waist to thigh, to cover their bare flesh. 43 Aharon and his sons are to wear them when they go into the tent of meeting and when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they won't incur guilt and die. This is to be a perpetual regulation, both for him and for his descendants.

​

[/font][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]The Complete Jewish Bible[/font]

 

[Henaynei]

it is interesting that this is the only garment HaShem commanded to be made of both wool and linen together..... the rest of Israel is to never wear these together, just as it is a capital crime to mix the incenses of the Temple Altar together but they can be used separately.......

 

[freespirit2001]

I'm very grateful for this information about the "Breastplate of Judgement" or "Decision". The expertise in this forum is so wonderful! I feel the Lord's presence so real among all of you here, I am just so thankful for this information. What a wonderful Christmas meditation!

Peace be to Israel!

Peace and Shalom!