The Ephod

Made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet thread and fine linen artistically worked.

Joined together by two shoulder straps at its two edges.

Has an intricately woven band made with the same color threads, fine woven linen and the same workmanship of the ephod.

Has two onyx stones placed on the shoulders as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Six names engraved on one stone and six names on the other in order of their births. The engraver should put the names on the stones like the engravings of a signet. The stones were to be put in gold settings. Aaron shall bear the names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.

Has two chains of pure gold like braided cords fastened to two settings of gold.

The Breastplate

Referred to as the breastplate of judgment. (Vs. 15)

Artistically woven with the same workmanship of the ephod with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine woven linen.

Doubled into a square with a span in length and width. Wikipedia states that a span is the distance measured by a human outstretched hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip off the little finger. In ancient times, a span was considered to be half a cubit.

Has four rows of stones all set in gold settings. The first row of stones – a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald. The second row of stones – a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond. The third row of stones – a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. The fourth row of stones – a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. Each stone should have the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel similar to the engravings of a signet, according to the twelve tribes.

Has chains like braided cords of pure gold that were to be put in two gold rings on the ends.

The other two ends of the chains were to be fastened to the two settings and put on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front. Two rings of gold placed on the edge which is on the inner side of the ephod. Two other rings of under the shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward the front right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod. The rings of the breastplate and the rings of the ephod were to be bound using a blue cord so that it is above the ephod band so that it wouldn’t come loose. Aaron was to bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he went to the holy place, as a continual memorial before the Lord. The Urim and Thummin (gemstones) shall be over Aaron’s heart when he went before the Lord. Wikipedia says that Urim and Thummin traditionally translate as lights (Urim) and perfections (Thummin) or revelation and truth, respectively. They could also mean cursed (Urim) or faultless (Thummin).

Remember that the breastplate is referred to as the breastplate of judgment. So in reference to the deity’s judgment, Urim and Thummin were used to answer the question innocent or guilty.

Other Priestly Garments

Robe – Blue with an opening in the middle of it for Aaron’s head. It was to have a woven binding all around the opening similar to a coat of mail (Google source definition – a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armor) so it would not tear. The hem should have pomegranates of blue. purple and scarlet with golden bells alternating between them all around. It was so that when Aaron ministered, its sound would be heard when he went into the holy place before the Lord and when he came out, so that he would not die.

Turban – Made of fine linen and had a plate of pure gold attached by a blue cord on the front with the engraving like a signet that read HOLINESS TO THE Lord.

It should be on Aaron’s forehead, so that he would bear the iniquity of the holy things that the Israelites hallowed in all their holy gifts so that they would be accepted before the Lord.

Tunic – Skillfully woven with fine linen.

Sash – Made of woven work

For Aaron’s sons – Tunics, sashes and hats for glory and beauty.