Exodus 28:23-28 - Exposition

These verses present no difficulty. They describe very minutely, and with some tautology, the mode in which the breast-plate was to be fastened to the ephod. It was to have four rings, two at its two upper corners ( Exodus 28:23 ), and two just behind its two lower corners ( Exodus 28:20 ); a gold twist or cord was to be passed through each of the two upper rings, and then attached to the" ouches" or settings of the shoulder stones ( Exodus 28:25 ; compare Exodus 28:11-14 ). A blue lace or ribbon was to be passed through each of the two lower rings, and these laces were to be tied to two rings, sewn for the purpose on to the front of the ephod a little above the "curious girdle" ( Exodus 28:26 , Exodus 28:27 ). By these four fastenings at its four corners, the breast-plate was securely attached to the ephod, and could not readily get loose from it.