THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #174 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #155

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3860

THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #174

THE LIFE OF MOSES #155

MOSES AT MT.SINAI#54

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 13 )

THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE 12 STONES ON THE EPHOD ( BREASTPLATE )

As a starter, please note that this study is one of many views. Hence it cannot be dogmatic.

The Breastplate

(Choshen) was one of the eight priestly garments worn by the High Priest (Kohen Gadol) when serving in the Holy Temple. 

THE 12 STONES USED ALONGSIDE THE URIM AND THUMMIM

One of the purposes of the breastplate was to invoke Divine direction when the Jewish community was in doubt. 

When confronted with a weighty dilemma, such as whether to wage war against a neighboring nation, the High Priest would stand facing the Ark of the Covenant, and the king or another influential figure would stand behind him, facing his back. The individual would pose his question quietly so that only he could hear it, and the High Priest would reflect upon the Holy Name placed within the breastplate. 

Miraculously, as some commentators say, the light would shine out of the engraved letters, which when rearranged would form the answer in Hebrew words instead of just Yes or No answers from the Urim and Thummin.

However, this controversial view is not known to nor supported by many church teachers.

That is why some say the Urim and Thummim were two stones set alongside the Breastplate ( over the heart of the High Priest ) as they contained the first and last letter of the Jewish alphabets ( Aleph and Tav ) and become part of the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet  found in the 12 stones, two  shoulder straps of  different coloured stones and the Urim and Thummrim.

The ability to receive Divine answers via the breastplate ceased with the destruction of the First Temple.

The Breastplate featured twelve precious stones, corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel, and served as a medium through which God provided direction to the Jewish nation.

There is much dispute as to the exact identity of the twelve stones mentioned in Scripture as adorning the breastplate, as well as which tribe was inscribed on which gem. 

What follows is just one of over 30 opinions.

Remember the traditional thought which no one knows for sure is that the columns are arranged from right to left, following the direction of Hebrew script.

But for our ease of reference we follow the English reading from left to right.

FIRST ROW

 

Barekes 

(Carbuncle) 

Levi

Pitdah (Prase) 

Simeon

Odem (Ruby) 

Reuben

SECOND ROW

Yahalom (Pearl)

Zebulun

Sappir (Sapphire) 

Issachar

Nofech (Emerald) 

Judah

THIRD ROW

Achlamah (Crystal)Gad

Shevo (Turquoise) Naphtali

Leshem ( No description )

Dan

FOURTH ROW

Yashpeh (Jasper) 

Benjamin

Shoham (Onyx) 

Joseph

Tarshish 

(Chrysolite) 

Asher

WHAT DO THE 12 STONES SYMBOLIZE?

Here’s one approach:

1.Ruby and Reuben. 

Reuben sinned by transposing the beds of his mother Leah and his father’s concubine Bilhah.

The ruby’s red color represents the shame Reuben felt when admitting his misdeed.

2. Prase and Simeon. 

The tribe of Simeon sinned with the daughters of Moab and 

Midian, causing their faces to turn pale, adopting the greenish tinge of prase.

3. Carbuncle and Levi. 

The tribe of Levi devoted themselves to transmitting the teachings of God to their brethren.

The carbuncle’s brilliant sparkle symbolizes the Torah’s spiritual radiance.

4. Emerald and Judah. 

The emerald’s green color is reminiscent of Judah’s pale visage when his father incorrectly suspected him of murdering Joseph. 

The gem’s radiance represents Judah’s shining face when his father later praised him for saving Joseph from death.

5. Sapphire and Issachar. 

The tribe of Issachar was renowned for its greatness in Torah study. 

They are therefore associated with sapphire, the material from which the two tablets were formed.

6. Pearl and Zebulun. 

The tribe of Zebulun engaged in commerce, amassing great wealth. The white pearl resembles the color of silver coins.

7.Leshem and Dan. 

The streaks within the leshem appear similar to a backward human face. This alludes to the tribe of Dan’s “backward” conduct in fashioning an idolatrous image.

8.Turquoise and Naphtali. 

In days of old, turquoise was commonly carried by members of the cavalry. The closeness between the rider and his horse is associated with the name Naphtali, Hebrew for connection.

9. Crystal and Gad. 

Just as crystals are widespread minerals, the tribe of Gad were numerous and well-known.

10. Chrysolite and Asher. 

Chrysolite takes on the complexion of olive oil, a substance found in abundance in the land of the tribe of Asher.

11. Onyx and Joseph. 

The letters of the Hebrew name for onyx, Shoham, can be rearranged to spell Hashem (“the Name”), a common way of referring to God. 

This alludes to Joseph’s Divinely sourced success in the home of Potiphar.

12. Jasper and Benjamin. After Joseph’s sale into slavery by his brothers, Benjamin—who was not present at the time—deliberated whether or not he5 should reveal his brother’s whereabouts to his father, Jacob. This back-and-forth internal dialogue is reflected in jasper’s numerous colors.

CONCLUSION

One can draw gems of revelation knowledge from this study.

1.Each of the 12 tribes carried their corresponding colors on the Breastplate as their banners. 

Thus their battle belongs to the Lord.

2. Gemstones are inanimate matter, yet they shine and impart radiance. 

The stones of the breastplate thus empowered the Jews to refine their coarse animalistic souls and make them shine. 

3. Similarly, words of prayer may on their own be “inanimate,” but through imbuing them with feeling, each word becomes a dazzling gem.

4. As we have seen, the specific stones reflect each tribe’s unique character. 

This highlights how each individual is distinct and, through employing the appropriate effort, can reach the heights of his or her unique potential.

5. God used the Breastplate and Urim and Thummim to speak to His people before they codified the Torah.

Now that we have His recorded voice in our Bible, is He still speaking to us every day by His Word?

Shalom.

N.B. You will note from the diagrams above, the commentators are not agreed on the translations of the names of the jewels. 

I followed Jewish sources not those of Western commentators.

My preference is thus chart 2 -Gemstones of the High Priest's Breastplate.