Exodus 28:15-21

Expanded Bible

The Chest Covering

¹⁵ “Make a ·chest covering to help in making decisions [^Lbreastpiece of judgment; ^Cso called because it contained the Urim and Thummim used to discern God’s will; 28:30]. ·The craftsmen should make it as they made the holy vest [^L…of skilled work like the ephod], using gold and blue, purple and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen. ¹⁶ It must be square—·nine inches [^La span] long and ·nine inches [^La span] wide—and ·folded double to make a pocket [^Ldoubled]. ¹⁷ Put four rows of ·beautiful gems [^Lstones] on it: The first row must have a ·ruby [or carnelian], ·topaz [or chrysolite], and ·yellow quartz [or emerald]; ¹⁸ the second must have turquoise, a ·sapphire [or lapis], and an ·emerald [or moonstone]; ¹⁹ the third must have a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; ²⁰ the fourth must have a chrysolite [or beryl], an onyx, and a jasper [^Cthe exact identity of some of these stones is unclear]. Put gold [^Lfiligree] around these ·jewels [stones] to attach them to it. ²¹ There must be twelve ·jewels on the chest covering [^Lstones]—one ·jewel [stone] for each of the names of the sons of Israel. ·Carve [Engrave] the name of one of the twelve tribes on each of the stones as you would ·carve [engrave] a ·seal [signet].