Exodus 28:15-30
The Breastpiece of Judgment
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15You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
16It must be square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.
17And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
18in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount these stones in gold filigree settings.
21The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
22For the breastpiece, make braided chains like cords of pure gold.
23You are also to make two gold rings and fasten them to the two corners of the breastpiece.
24Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
25and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
26Make two more gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.
27Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband.
28The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.
29Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.
30And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The breastpiece of judgment will carry twelve gemstones, each engraved with the name of one of Israel's tribes. Gold chains, rings, and blue cord will fasten it securely to the ephod. When Aaron enters the Holy Place, the names will be over his heart as a continual reminder before the LORD.
God also commands Moses to put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. They belong to the priest's responsibility for Israel's judgment before God. This passage names them but does not describe their appearance or explain exactly how they work. We should not fill those gaps with a confident story.
What God does make clear is whom Aaron carries before Him: all twelve tribes, named individually. The breastpiece joins the people and their judgment in one priestly responsibility. It does not let Aaron treat decisions concerning Israel as his private business.
Questions
1 What do the twelve engraved stones represent?
AnswerEach bears the name of one of Israel's twelve tribes. Aaron carries those names over his heart when he enters the Holy Place.
2 What does this passage tell us about the Urim and Thummim?
AnswerThey are placed in the breastpiece of judgment over Aaron's heart before the LORD. Their role belongs to Israel's judgment, but their appearance and exact operation are not explained here.
3 Is Aaron's task merely to wear an impressive garment?
AnswerNo. He carries Israel's names and judgment before the LORD. The costly garment has a responsibility attached to it, involving the people he represents.
4 What should we remember when a decision affects someone else?
AnswerThat person will live with the result. We should listen, seek what is true, and acknowledge what we do not know rather than claiming that our first preference must be God's direction.
What This Means for Us
A family decision can sound sensible to the person making it and still overlook someone who will be affected. Before deciding, ask that person what you may have missed. Listening does not remove a parent's responsibility to decide, but it can expose an assumption that needs correcting.
We do not have Aaron's breastpiece or his office. We can still learn from the seriousness of making judgments before God: people are entrusted to our care, not handed over for our convenience.
Prayer
We pray: Holy God, give us leaders who carry people near their hearts. Make our judgments wise and compassionate, and keep our household attentive to those whose needs are easiest to overlook. Amen.
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