Four-square it shall be - Here we have the exact dimensions of this breastplate, or more properly breast-piece or stomacher. It was a span in length and breadth when doubled, and consequently two spans long one way before it was doubled. Between these doublings, it is supposed, the Urim and Thummim were placed. See Clarke on Exodus 28:30 ; (note). read more
Four rows of stones - With a name on each stone, making in all the twelve names of the twelve tribes. And as these were disposed according to their birth, Exodus 28:10 , we may suppose they stood in this order, the stones being placed also in the order in which they are produced, Exodus 28:17-20 ; : - Four Rows of Stones First Row Sons of Leah Sardius or Ruby Reuben ראובן Topaz Simeon שמעון Carbuncle Levi לוי Second Row Emerald Judah יהודה Sapphire Issachar יששכר ... read more
Thou shalt put in the breastplate - the Urim and the Thummim - What these were has, I believe, never yet been discovered. They are nowhere described. There is no direction given to Moses or any other how to make them. Whatever they were, they do not appear to have been made on this occasion. If they were the work of man at all, they must have been the articles in the ancient tabernacle, matters used by the patriarchs, and not here particularly described, because well known. It is... read more
The robe of the ephod - See Clarke on Exodus 28:4 ; (note). From this description, and from what Josephus says, who must have been well acquainted with its form, we find that this meil , or robe, was one long straight piece of blue cloth, with a hole or opening in the center for the head to pass through; which hole or opening was bound about, that it might not be rent in putting it on or taking it off, Exodus 28:32 . read more
His sound shall be heard - The bells were doubtless intended to keep up the people's attention to the very solemn and important office which the priest was then performing, that they might all have their hearts engaged in the work; and at the same time to keep Aaron himself in remembrance that he ministered before Jehovah, and should not come into his presence without due reverence. That he die not - This seems an allusion to certain ceremonies which still prevail in the eastern... read more
Thou shalt make a plate of pure gold - The word ציץ tsits , which we render plate, means a flower, or any appearance of this kind, The Septuagint translate it by πεταλον , a leaf; hence we might be led to infer that this plate resembled a wreath of flowers or leaves; and as it is called, Exodus 29:6 , נזר nezer , a crown, and the author of the book of The Wisdom of Solomon 18:24, who was a Jew, and may be supposed to know well what it was, calls it διαδημα , it was probably of... read more
May bear the iniquity of the holy things - הקדשים עון את אהרן ונשא venasa Aharon eth avon hakkodashim . And Aaron shall bear (in a vicarious and typical manner) the sin of the holy or separated things - offerings or sacrifices. Aaron was, as the high priest of the Jews, the type or representative of our blessed Redeemer; and as he offered the sacrifices prescribed by the law to make an atonement for sin, and was thereby represented as bearing their sins because he was bound to make an... read more
For glory and for beauty - See Clarke's note on Exodus 28:2 . read more
Linen breeches - This command had in view the necessity of purity and decency in every part of the Divine worship, in opposition to the shocking indecency of the pagan worship in general, in which the priests often ministered naked, as in the sacrifices to Bacchus, etc. On the garments of the high priest some general reflections have already been made; see Exodus 28:2 ; (note): and to what is there said it may be just necessary to add, that there can be no doubt of their being all... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:15
The breastplate of judgment - משפט חשן choshen mishpat , the same as the חשן choshen , see Exodus 25:7 , but here called the breastplate of judgment, because the high priest wore it upon his breast when he went to ask counsel of the Lord, to give judgment in any particular case; as also when he sat as judge to teach the law, and to determine controversies. See Leviticus 10:11 ; Deuteronomy 17:8 , Deuteronomy 17:9 . read more