Exodus 39:1–21

First and foremost we have full and detailed directions for the High Priest's garments of glory and beauty. When they were made and brought to Moses, he passed them all as work properly carried out (Ex. 39)... Ex. 28 describes each item, and Ex. 39 confirms that the divine directions were carried out.

The priest is above all the minister, and so his garments are again and again called "garments of service," and express this... It is the heart of the blessed Lord which makes Him serve. It is His spotless purity which lets Him draw near to God, when for men to see Him is to die.

The clothing of Aaron is the first step in his installation in his office. The garments are "for glory and for beauty." How beautiful is Christ in this mediatorial place! how glorious has He made a place of service!

Here we have the different aspects of "the man Christ Jesus." The "fine twined linen" pictures the spotless purity of His walk and character. The "blue, the purple, and the scarlet" present Him to us as "the Lord from heaven," who is to reign according to the divine counsels. But His royalty is to be the result of His sufferings. So we have a spotless man, a heavenly man, a royal man, a suffering man. These materials were not limited to the "curtains" of the tabernacle... [but were also used for] "the cloths of service and the holy garments of Aaron." (Ex. 39:1) In a word, it was Christ everywhere, Christ in all, Christ alone.

Blue, purple, and scarlet — the colours of heaven, royalty and blood — go into the making of the holy garments. It tells once more of Him who is the priest. The order is significant. The heavenly colour comes first, for He came from heaven's glory. The kingly colour next; He showed Himself in His kingly power, and the blood colour last, He died and shed His blood.

The office cannot be separated from the moral qualities of the office bearer. He is clothed with these holy qualities, as the priests of old were with their holy garments. Otherwise he cannot minister for men before God, just as they could not minister for Israel apart from their holy garments.

The essence of all service is obedience, and the test of everything done is whether or not it agrees with the revealed mind of God... They therefore met their responsibility towards God. So they received His approval and commendation in this repeated and significant statement: all their work was marked by obedience. This gives us the important principle that everything which claims to be of God must be ready to be tested by God's word.

Everything is done "as the LORD commanded." This expression is used seven times in chapter 39, and exactly seven times again in chapter 40, the last chapter of Exodus. Seven is the number of perfection and completion. All had been well done, and the LORD was pleased and could claim the work as His own, for He was the one who planned it.

The ephod was the main garment of the high priest. Attached to it was the breastplate, with its precious stones engraved with the "names of the children of Israel." Onyx stones, set in gold mountings and engraved with the same names, were for the shoulders of the high priest. These were also attached to the ephod. So the ephod was the garment of priestly office.

The old Greek translation of the Old Testament calls the ephod the "shoulder-piece," and this seems its most distinct feature. We see it stressed here by the two onyx stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, which were upon the shoulders. But that is not all. The ephod just as clearly links the breastplate to the shoulder-pieces, so the shoulder-pieces help to hold up the breastplate as well. So the ephod stands above all as the garment of service — keeping the people before God.

The ephod also included gold. The workers beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, then wove it into the blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen in an artistic design. So in this most important piece of clothing, the Lord Jesus is pictured first in His divine glory, as God over all. Then come His heavenly character (the blue), His royal character (the purple), His glory that attracts everyone (the scarlet) and His spotless humanity (the fine linen).

To change the order of these colours would bring confusion into His earthly history. Blue reminds us of Him as the heavenly One. Purple tells us of His sacrifice. Scarlet foretells that the glory of the world in government will be His. So His history in connection with earth comes out in regular order. Then the gold in the ephod bears witness to Him as a Divine Person.

The gold for the ephod was beaten into plates, then cut into fine wires. In that form it could be worked into each of the colours and seen in every part of the ephod. The Spirit of God is surely teaching us by this that we cannot look at the Lord Jesus in any of these features of glory without seeing His divine glory as Son of God. We can tell the perfections of His Manhood apart, but we can never separate them from what He is as God's own Son.

In the language of the typical teaching of Scripture, the ephod seemed to be saying that only when He shall come, in whom the pure gold of fullness of deity has taken in one Person the lovely colours of perfect manhood, will the people of God have the real Priest of God's thought. It is in fulfilment of this type that these two themes form the subjects of the opening chapters of Hebrews.

The golden wire-thread sparkled on the dress of the High Priest. It reminds us that Christ takes His place righteously as our great High Priest, since gold stands for divine righteousness. His High Priesthood rests on His redemptive work, and that is truly a firm foundation. Once we understand this, heart and conscience are at rest. Our relationship with our Lord has for its basis the glorious work of righteousness He accomplished on the cross for our salvation.

The essence of all service is obedience. The test of everything done is whether it matches the revealed mind of God... Ten times over in this chapter, the Spirit of God affirms that the work was carried out as the Lord commanded Moses. This gives us an important principle: everything that claims to be of God must be tested by God's word.

The ephod was the main garment of the high priest. Attached to it was the breastplate, with its precious stones engraved with the "names of the sons of Israel." Onyx stones set in gold, engraved with the same names, were for his shoulders. They too were attached to the ephod, which was therefore the garment of priestly office.

The gold wire was worked into all the other materials with great skill. It was inseparably joined to them, and yet perfectly distinct from them.

The gold was woven right through the blue and the other colours. No one could have pulled it out without destroying the whole beautiful fabric. And who can separate the human from the divine in our Lord Jesus Christ? The union of the human and the divine in His Person is one of the holiest mysteries of our faith.

So this most important piece of clothing pictures the Lord Jesus. His divine glory comes first, as God over all. Then come His heavenly character (the blue), His royal character (the purple), His glory that attracts everyone (the scarlet) and His spotless humanity (the fine linen).

Workers beat the gold for the ephod into plates, then cut it into fine wires. In this way it could be worked into each of the colours, and seen in every part of the ephod. Surely the Spirit of God is teaching us something here. We cannot view the Lord Jesus in any of these varied features of glory without also seeing His divine glory as Son of God. We can distinguish the perfections of the Manhood of the Lord Jesus, but we can never separate them from what He is as God's own Son.

Look at Christ on the Sea of Galilee. In the middle of the storm He lay asleep — a precious display of His perfect manhood! But in a moment He rises from real humanity into all the dignity and majesty of Godhead, and He hushes the storm and calms the sea. There is no effort, no haste, no bracing Himself for the occasion. He is as perfectly at home in the one as in the other.

Here we find the gold, which shows the personal glory of the Son of God, woven in with the other four materials. It was worked skilfully into the blue, purple, scarlet and linen. This teaches us that whatever moral or official glories we see in Christ, His glory as the Son of God underlies them all. It was because of this that all the other glories are seen in divine perfection in Him.

The golden wire-thread sparkled on the dress of the high priest. It reminds us that Christ takes His place righteously — gold speaks of divine righteousness — as our great High Priest. His High Priesthood is founded on His redemptive work, truly a firm foundation. Once you grasp this, there is rest of heart and conscience. Our relationship with our Lord rests on the glorious work of righteousness He accomplished on the cross for our salvation.

The ephod was the priest's own distinctive garment. "Doeg turned and struck down the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod." David "inquired of the Lord" with the ephod. The ephod was made of two pieces: one in front and one behind. There were two shoulder pieces, joined at the two edges; a girdle wound round the body to hold it in place; above that, a square piece — doubled, to be a breastplate — containing the names of the children of Israel.

The ephod is the distinctive garment of the priest. It is the badge of a service our Lord has entered on, never to lay it aside, to make good for us all the blessed results of His redeeming work.

Priesthood supposes accomplished redemption: it is not what brings us in, but what we receive once we are brought in… As a people, Israel was brought to God; but they were a weak and frail people, and they needed this help along the way. Redemption brings us into the light, as God is in the light; but down here we need His priesthood to keep our walk before Him in the light.

On the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones, with the names of Israel's tribes engraved on them, six on each stone. The shoulder is the place of power. So the good Shepherd lays His once-lost sheep on His shoulder, and brings it home rejoicing (Luke 15:5)… The Great High Priest remembers every saint like this, and sustains each one by His power. That power is victorious over all the might of Satan and of death. Merit has nothing to do with this; it is all of grace alone.

The ephod unites the breastplate with the shoulder, and in this way throws the burden on the shoulder. All the counsels of God in this great salvation are such a burden as Christ alone could sustain. It is not the King's shoulder that bears it, but the Priest's. The power shows itself in weakness, the victory of willing humiliation and self-sacrifice. Blessed be His name!

The ephod was the particularly characteristic garment of the high priest. Those in authority used it above all when they inquired of God on behalf of the people. The high priest was the true go-between for God and the people, just as Christ is the one Mediator between God and men. He represents God before the people, and He represents the people before God. Perhaps the joining of the ephod's two parts points to this same linking of the people with God.

The people appeared before the Lord by Aaron's shoulders, not by Israel's strength; by Aaron's breastplate, not by Israel's faithfulness. And Christ's strength and Christ's love keep us in the presence of our God.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the High Priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how Israel carried them out. Compare the two passages and one thought strikes you: the people took care to do the will of God to the very letter. "As the Lord commanded Moses" occurs seven times for the robes alone… God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail. Let us note this well as an example for ourselves today.

Two bands are mentioned here. One was on the vest. The other, the one our attention is drawn to, is called "the band of the ephod." The word used here for band is used for this special band of the ephod and for nothing else. It means "of skilful workmanship," and it points to the unique perfection of the service of Christ as our Great High Priest. There is no service like His. He always lives before the face of God to make intercession for us.

The band is the well-known symbol of service, and Christ is the perfect Servant. He serves the purposes and affections of God, and He serves the deep and many-sided need of His people. He girded Himself for His work with a whole-hearted devotion that nothing could dampen. When faith sees the Son of God girded like this, it is sure that no occasion can be too great for Him. This picture shows us that all the virtues, the dignities and the glories of Christ, in His divine and human nature, enter fully into His servant character.

The ephod also included gold. Workers beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to weave into the blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen in an artistic design. So this most important piece of clothing pictures the Lord Jesus first in His divine glory, as God over all, then in His heavenly character (the blue), His royal character (the purple), His glory that attracts all (the scarlet) and His spotless humanity (the fine linen).

The gold, the purple and the rest stand for the deity and the royalty of our Lord Jesus. When we think of that, it is overwhelming that such a Person could make Himself the servant of His people. Yet it is true, so wonderful is His grace. He took the form of a bond-servant when He became man, and He will never lay it aside… So He serves for us in the heavenly sanctuary while we travel through this world. And Luke 12:37 tells us that when He gets His waiting ones home, it will be His joy to gird Himself, have them sit down at the table, and come and serve them.

The band — the sixth of the garments — was splendid, like the ephod. The priest wore it across his chest and around his waist. It bound him so closely that the ephod, the shoulder pieces and the breastplate could not be separated. What is pictured here is a robing in personal glory.

Exodus 28 gives God's instructions about the high priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how the people carried those instructions out. Put the two passages side by side and one thing stands out: how careful the people were to do the will of God to the very letter. "As the LORD had commanded Moses" comes seven times in the part about the robes alone… Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers.

If obedience is missing, no service can be acceptable to God, however much real devotion and zeal there may be. And this is exactly where so many Christians fail.

So all the work was done in line with the Lord's instructions. It had to be that way if God was going to dwell in the tabernacle. The same is true today if the Church is to be a suitable dwelling place for Him... Scripture speaks of these things so often, and that shows how deeply important they are to our God and Father, so they call for our attention and meditation.

The Hebrew word translated "onyx" means "flashing out in splendour." It was a flesh-coloured gem, which Job calls "the precious onyx." Two of these precious gems had to be taken. The names of Israel's tribes were then cut deeply into them, "like the engravings of a signet" — unmistakable and permanent... That was the shadow — but what is the substance? With reverence we say that the names of the ransomed people of God are forever engraved in the very flesh of the Lord Jesus. He uses the figure Himself about Israel. "Behold," He says, "I have engraved you on the palms of My hands."

The names of the children of Israel were engraved in the jewels of the breastplate and of the shoulder pieces of the ephod, so that the stones would have to be broken before the names could be wiped out... No priest in Israel could therefore go in before the Lord without those names on his breast and shoulders. Transfer all that imagery to our blessed Lord. The very fact that He is a Priest and remains forever secures the eternal safety of His beloved people.

The onyx stones were gems — precious stones, picturing the excellencies of Christ. Combine that with their gold settings and we get two things. First, the names of His people appear on the shoulders of the Priest in all His beauty and excellency. And, as the gold symbolises, they are set in divine righteousness. The shoulder is the emblem of strength... What a comfort to us when we are conscious of our utter weakness! He who upholds all things by the word of His power maintains us before God... The settings that held the onyx stones were fastened by two braided gold chains, binding them on His shoulders in divine righteousness.

The "two shoulders" of the high priest bear up the weight of Israel's burden before Jehovah. The New Testament answers that symbol with words like these: "He is able to help," "He is able to save."... The people appeared before Jehovah by Aaron's shoulders, not by Israel's strength; by Aaron's breastplate, not by Israel's steadiness. And by Christ's strength, and by Christ's love, we are maintained in the presence of our God.

The names of the children of Israel were engraved in them according to their birth. Their birth was their title. In God's dealings with each He might distinguish one from another, either in His sovereignty or in the way He governs. For example, He set Ephraim before Manasseh, gave Judah the royal place, and gave Levi the priesthood. Here all are carried, according to their birth, on the shoulders of the high priest for a memorial before the Lord.

Our memorial is before Him continually, because Christ cannot be in the presence of God without our names being seen on His shoulders.

Two onyx stones were engraved with the names of the children of Israel, six names on one stone and six on the other. In Scripture the shoulder is the place of power. We read, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). One shoulder is enough for the government of the world. But when it is a question of Christ maintaining His people in the presence of God, we read of two shoulders.

The onyx stones were gems — precious stones that picture the excellencies of Christ. They were also set in gold. Put the two together and you get two things. First, the names of His people appear on the shoulders of the Priest in all His beauty and excellency. Second, as the gold symbolises, they are set in divine righteousness… What a comfort to us when we are conscious of our own utter feebleness!

The Hebrew word translated 'onyx' means "flashing forth in splendour." Job calls it "the precious onyx," a flesh-coloured gem. Two of these gems had to be taken, and the names of Israel's tribes cut deeply into them, "like the engravings of a signet" — unmistakable and permanent… That was the shadow — but what is the substance? With reverence we say that the names of the ransomed people of God are for ever engraved in the very flesh of the Lord Jesus. He uses the figure Himself about Israel. "Behold," He says, "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

The names were carried on the shoulders of the priest according to generation; in this all are alike. On the breastplate all are different.

Their birth was their title… Here all are borne, according to their birth, on the shoulders of the high priest for a memorial before the Lord.

The basic idea of the high priest is that he acted as the representative of the people before God. But he represented them on the basis of propitiation… Our blessed Lord, as the great High Priest, bears up His people before God with divine strength, because of His sacrifice. He maintains them there according to His own claims, in all the perfection and power of His own acceptability to God… He is a representative Person, and so His claim to be there is also our claim.

Our memorial is before Him continually, because Christ cannot be in the presence of God without our names being seen on His shoulders.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the High Priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how they were carried out. Comparing these passages, one is struck by the carefulness of the people to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As the LORD commanded Moses" occurs seven times in connection with the robes alone, and many more times in connection with the Tabernacle in general. The principle of human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and it was their desire to obey His word in every particular. Let us note this well as an example for ourselves today.

The essence of all service is obedience. The test of everything done is whether or not it matches the revealed mind of God… This gives us the important principle that everything which claims to be of God must submit to be tested by God's word.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the high priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how those instructions were carried out. Comparing the two, one thing stands out. The people were careful to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As the LORD had commanded Moses" appears seven times for the robes alone. It appears many more times for the tabernacle in general. Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail. Let us note this well as an example for ourselves today.

The golden wire-thread sparkled on the dress of the high priest. Gold stands for divine righteousness. It would remind us that Christ takes His place as our great High Priest righteously. His high priesthood is founded on His redemptive work, truly a firm foundation. Once we understand this, heart and conscience are at rest. Our relationship with our Lord has one basis and foundation: the glorious work of righteousness He accomplished on the cross for our salvation.

The breastplate was foursquare, speaking of Christ's universal authority. It was double, showing the strength and power that lay behind His authority. Its measure was a span — the measure of a man, for Jesus our Lord was perfect Man though truly God. The precious stones sat in settings of pure gold, for every glory of Christ is secured in relation to what He is in His divine nature.

The breastplate was attached inseparably to the ephod, never to be detached. There he carried the names of his people before the Lord. Dressed in the high priest's robes, he could not stand there without them. As it is put, he bore them on his heart before Jehovah continually. So we are borne ever before God by Christ. He presents us, as that which He has on His heart, to God. He cannot be before Him without doing so. Whatever claim the desire and wish of Christ's heart has to draw out the favour of God, it draws that favour out on us.

The names Urim and Thummim are pure Hebrew words, meaning Lights and Perfection. For some wise reason we are not told how they were placed in the breastplate, or how they worked. They were put in "the breastplate of judgment," and the breastplate clearly took this title from them. Judgment here does not mean condemnation, but discernment and guidance. In everyday speech we talk about a man of sound judgment, meaning one able to give wise counsel.

The Urim and Thummim were there — light and perfection. The high priest carried the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD. This concerned their present ways and their present relationship, and it went according to the light and perfection of God. We need this to get blessing. If we stood before God just as we are, we would draw down judgment. The alternative would be to stay outside and lose the effect of God's light and perfection. But since Christ bears our judgment according to these, our presentation to God is according to the perfection of God Himself.

Exodus 36 shows us the chosen workmen at their assigned tasks. They even begged Moses to stop the flood of gifts Israel kept bringing. The record gives as much detail to the doing as to the planning, right through Exodus 36–39. At the end Moses inspected it all, saw that they had done it as the Lord commanded, and blessed them.

This may perhaps be the most perfect earthly shape for a flat figure (the cube being perfect for a solid). It was the shape of the bronze altar, Ex. 27:1; Ex. 38:1; the breastplate, Ex. 28:16; Ex. 39:9; and the altar of incense, Ex. 30:2; Ex. 37:25.

The breastplate was foursquare, speaking of Christ's universal authority. It was double, showing the strength and power that lay behind His authority. Its measure was a span — the measure of a man, for Jesus our Lord was perfect Man though truly God.

The breastplate was made of the same material as the ephod. But it was doubled, to give a more solid backing for the precious stones set in it. It would be about 12 inches square.

It had four rows of different stones, each bearing an engraved name of a tribe, three in a row, twelve in all, each set in gold. Probably these rows were the four sides of a square, leaving the centre for the Urim and Thummim which were put in it.

The breastplate contained this instrument, and through it God gave His decisions. That is why it is called "the breastplate of judgement."

The chest is the symbol of the affections. So it teaches that if Christ holds His people up before God by everlasting strength on the one hand, He also carries them on His heart in everlasting love. Everlasting strength and everlasting love come together as the Priest presents believers before God.

On the onyx stones no difference is seen in any of the tribes: all were the same. This shows that all Israel stood on the same basis of acceptance. It pictures how God has accepted all believers in Christ. The twelve stones of the breastplate, however, are not alike. They show variety among the tribes, picturing the variety there is among believers.

We are used to the thought that divine mercy sees us as objects of pity, or that divine favour sees us as objects of kindness. But we are perhaps very little used to the thought that divine love sees us as objects of value and beauty — objects of adornment, of radiance and rarity. Ah, that is very different.

Exodus 36 shows us the chosen workmen busy at their given tasks. They even beg Moses to hold back the gifts, because Israel gave more than was needed. The work is described in as much detail in the doing as in the planning, all through Exodus 36-39. At the end Moses inspected everything, saw that they had done it as the LORD commanded, and blessed them.

The breastplate would be about 12 inches square. They set the stones in four rows of three stones each, the first row a sardius, a topaz and an emerald… all placed in settings of gold. Each stone was engraved with one of the names of the sons of Israel. So the high priest wore their names on his breast, a picture of the Lord Jesus holding His saints constantly in His affections.

One of the precious stones in the breastplate, Exodus 28:17; Exodus 39:10… In heaven the One who sat on the throne was "to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone," Revelation 4:3. It is thought to be the sard, a superior variety of agate, of various colours, some blood-red, and others golden.

The jasper and the sardius are named on the breastplate of the high priest of old (Exodus 28:17-20), the sardius first and the jasper last. They are named again among the stones describing the glory of the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13), the sardius first again and the jasper sixth. They meet us once more in the description of the holy Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19-20), the jasper first and the sardius sixth. In these three lists of precious stones, which reflect God in grace, in creation, and in glory, the order of the numbering changes. Is this a mere coincidence, or evidence of design in inspiration? Certainly the latter.

What the special meaning of each stone is, we are not able to say. That they have a special significance we do not doubt. A well-known expert in precious stones gave his considered opinion on the order in which these gems were chosen and arranged. It was beyond human skill; it could only have been done by Divine arrangement. Each precious stone had its own character in colour, density, power of refraction and so on, so that each stone was different from the others. In the same way God takes account of the different ways His character is produced in believers. God is surely not the Author of mass-produced articles that do not vary in the slightest degree. It is said that in nature no two blades of grass are alike, and one never sees two faces exactly alike in every detail. So doubtless it is in the realm of grace.

Every name on the breastplate had its own stone, but not one was larger or brighter than another. Each had a distinctive glory, but all had an equal place on the heart of the High Priest. Each name was engraved deep there, "like the engravings of a signet," and set to shine with equal brilliance in the light of the sanctuary… Each saint of God is infinitely precious to Jesus. Each one is loved by the same love that passes knowledge. He calls His own sheep by name.

The names of the children of Israel were engraved in the jewels of the breastplate and of the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. The jewels would have to be broken before the names could be wiped out. We are plainly told that the breastplate was joined to the ephod, to the shoulder-pieces, and to the belt, so that it could not be removed. No priest in Israel could therefore go in before the LORD without those names on his breast and shoulders. Transfer all that imagery to our blessed Lord. He is a Priest who lives forever, and that alone secures the eternal safety of His beloved people — their names engraved on what speaks of the unchanging perfections and glory of God.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the high priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how the people carried them out. Compare these passages and one thing stands out: the care of the people to carry out the will of God to the very letter. The words "as the LORD had commanded Moses" occur seven times for the robes alone, and many more times for the tabernacle in general. Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail.

In Exodus 28:7 we read of the priest's ephod and the shoulder pieces. Settings on them held two onyx stones. Each stone had six names of the children of Israel cut into it, according to their birth. The breastplate of judgment carried twelve precious stones. Each stone bore the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The priest carried the names on his shoulders according to generation; in this all are alike. On the breastplate all are different.

Still more strikingly, the breastplate presented the people of God. There all twelve names shone, each with its own splendour... Everything for Israel failed through sin, in priests as well as people. Grant that, and see what blessedness is pictured for us who believe in Him to whom it all pointed unfailingly! How immense the favour! He died to atone for our guilt, and He lives for us before God on high. He bears our judgment on His heart, not as if ashamed of us, but gloriously and continually!

The name "urim and thummim" given to the stones means "lights and perfections." The stones reflect the light, as believers reflect the light that is in Christ. Each stone also stands for a beautiful perfection of the Lord Jesus shining in a believer. One believer cannot reflect all these glories; it takes all of them to do it. The sardius, the first stone listed, is red, the warm, attracting colour of love. Some believers show this one above all. The blue sapphire is a contrast, for it is a cool colour. So one may reflect the calm, cool, collected character of the Lord Jesus.

The breastplate held settings of twelve precious stones. The names of the children of Israel were engraved in them, and each separate gem bore a name. Notice this: as with the onyx stones on the shoulder-pieces, so here the record names only the precious stones. The names of the tribes are not mentioned. Each name was in a gem, but the name is lost in the gem, and the gem alone is seen. It is the same in the heavenly city. The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are in the foundations. But their names stay unmentioned, and we see them only in the beauty and value of the costly stones. The high priest could not be in God's presence without bearing the names of the people of God on his heart before Him. Whether it is power or love, both are good to the weakest heart.

The Hebrew word in Exodus 28:18, Exodus 39:11 and Ezekiel 28:13 is yahalom. It occurs only in these places, and no one can identify it. Most hold that it is not what we now know as the diamond.

We are not to suppose that any one of the redeemed takes precedence over another on the high priest's breast, for all are loved perfectly.

Exodus 36 shows us the chosen workmen busy at the tasks given to them. They even begged Moses to stop the flood of gifts Israel kept bringing. The work is told in as much detail in the doing as in the plan, all through Exodus 36-39. At the end Moses inspected it all, saw that they had done it as the Lord commanded, and blessed them.

The breastplate was of the same material as the ephod, but doubled to make a more solid background for the precious stones set in it. It would be about 12 inches square. The stones were set in four rows of three stones each... the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst... Each stone carried the engraved name of one of the sons of Israel. So the high priest wore their names on his breast.

Aaron bore the names of the children of Israel on his heart, as well as on his shoulders. The breast is a symbol of the affections. So it teaches that if Christ holds His people up before God by everlasting strength, He also carries them on His heart in everlasting love... He has bound us on His shoulders — carrying our weight — with His own almighty strength. He has fastened us on His heart with His own love, a love that never dies and is deeper than we can measure.

The breastplate cannot be detached from the ephod. It is bound for ever to the priestly office of Christ... As Priest, Christ can never fail us. If He has once taken up our cause, He will never lay it down... If we cannot pray ourselves, Christ never fails to hold us up in His own prayer for us.

The first in the third row of gems in the breastplate. Some suppose it to be the hyacinth, others the lyncurium, and others amber; but its identification is uncertain.

No one can give the names of the precious stones either, because the meaning of the original words is unknown. The order of the tribes' names on the breastplate is unknown too, and God has His reason for that. We must not think that any one of the redeemed ranks above another on the high priest's breast, for all are loved perfectly.

The onyx stones showed no difference between the tribes: all were the same. This shows that all Israel stood on the same basis of acceptance... The twelve stones of the breastplate, however, show diversity among the tribes, picturing the diversity there is among believers. All are set in the breastplate — that is, all believers are one "in Christ." Yet each believer is God's workmanship, made to work in his own distinct way.

The ligure (or the opal) had on it the name "double fruit."... The agate is a many-coloured stone, which at once reminds us of Joseph and his coat of many colours. Joseph was a lovely picture of the Lord Jesus... The name on this stone is "forgetfulness." It reminds us again of Joseph, who called his son Manasseh and said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house."

The amethyst is the first stone in the third row, that is, on the left, because Hebrew runs from right to left... The amethyst is purple, and reminds us that men, in mockery, clothed the Son of Man in purple. But the Son of Man will soon appear in the glory that the purple pictures, and every knee will bow before Him... "Gift" is the meaning of this stone's name, recalling that He was the One God gave for the salvation of men.

The breastplate was of the same material as the ephod, but doubled to make a more solid background for the precious stones set in it. It would be about 12 inches square. The stones were set in four rows of three stones each… These were all placed in settings of gold. Each stone was engraved with one of the names of the sons of Israel. So the high priest wore their names on his chest. This is a picture of the Lord Jesus holding His saints always in His affections.

Each precious stone is enclosed in gold. This seems to say that we are kept before our God in Christ, who is our continuing righteousness — "made the righteousness of God in Him." But notice also how the shoulder-pieces are joined. Two golden chains of braided pure gold connect them, and gold is the emblem of divine righteousness. This assures us that the almighty power of Jesus the Son of God and His perfect love work together. They keep us in righteousness, and accepted in Himself, always before the face of God.

The twelve names are carried on his heart, the place of affection. So each name has its own stone. The stones are not alike, because each one is valued differently, but all of them are there, and all are in gold settings.

Notice that here, as with the onyx stones on the shoulder-pieces, only the names of the precious stones are given; the names of the tribes are not mentioned. Each name was in a gem, but the name is lost in the gem, and the gem alone is seen. It is the same in the heavenly city. The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are in its foundations, but their names are never given. We see them only in the beauty and value of the precious stones that adorn the foundation.

Here is what makes a precious stone so excellent: the stronger the light shining on it, the more brightly it shines. Light can never make a precious stone look dim. It only increases and brings out its brilliance. The twelve tribes, the smallest as well as the greatest, were carried all the time on the chest and shoulders of Aaron before the Lord. Whatever their weaknesses, their errors, or their failures might be, their names glittered on the breastplate with unfailing brilliancy. The Lord had set them there, and who could take them away?

There are three lists of precious stones, and each one shows the glory of God that He shares with others: in creation (Ezekiel 28:13), where the jasper is sixth in the list; in grace (Exodus 28:17-20), where the jasper comes last; in government (Revelation 21:19-20), where the jasper comes first. The jasper is also mentioned three times in the description of the heavenly city: as her light, as her security, and as the first foundation of the wall. So the glory of God is the light, the security, and the foundation of the glorified Church.

We know the cloudy jasper of earth, with its fine polish and varied colours. But no one has yet seen the clear, crystal-like jasper, which is like the transparent gold of heaven. Such symbols speak of splendours yet to come.

The fact that these things are spoken of so often indicates how deeply important they are to our God and Father, so that they call for our attention and meditation.

Everything is done "as the Lord commanded." This expression is used seven times in chapter 39 (verses 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31). It is repeated exactly seven times again in chapter 40, the last chapter of Exodus (verses 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). Seven is the number of perfection and completion. All had been well done, and Jehovah was pleased and could own the work, of which He was the originator.

The names were cut into the stones "with the work of an engraver in stone, like the engraving of a signet." The names could not be written or painted. They had to be cut deeply and permanently. The stones were then "set in settings of gold." So the names on the stones could never be erased. And the stones themselves could never fall out of their place.

Each name of the children of Israel was on a separate stone on the breastplate. On the two onyx stones, which were on the shoulders of the priest, there were six names on each. The names on the onyx stones were "according to their birth," but on the breastplate of judgment they were for "the twelve tribes." This speaks of the people of God as set here according to the sovereignty of God, in relation to the truth committed to us. Christ bears the people of God on His heart, according to the way God has been pleased to set us here in testimony.

Every name on the breastplate had its own stone, but not one was larger or brighter than another. Each had a distinct glory, but all had an equal place on the heart of the High Priest. Each name was deeply engraved there, "like the engravings of a signet," and set to shine with equal brilliance in the light of the sanctuary… No name in the breastplate was hidden from the Lord, and not one was obscure among them. Each saint of God is infinitely precious to Jesus. Each one is loved by the same love that passes knowledge. He calls His own sheep by name.

Aaron bore the names of the children of Israel on his heart, as well as on his shoulders. The breast is symbolic of the affections. So it teaches this. On the one hand, Christ upholds His people before God by everlasting strength. On the other, He bears them on His heart in everlasting love… He has bound us upon His shoulders — bearing our weight — with His own almighty strength. And He has fastened us upon His heart with His own undying and unfathomable love.

We notice the same thing here as with the onyx stones on the shoulder pieces. Only the names of the precious stones are given. The names of the tribes are not mentioned. Each name was in a gem, but the name is lost in the gem, and the gem alone is seen. It is like this in the heavenly city. The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are in the foundations, but their names are never mentioned. They are seen only in the beauty and value of the costly stones that adorn the foundation.

The workers placed gold rings on the two ends of the breastplate. Two chains of gold joined these rings to the settings of the onyx stones on the shoulders of the ephod. The ephod mattered greatly when the high priest asked God for guidance for the people, because it stands for the unity of all the tribes of Israel. The high priest was to leave none of them out when he asked God for His directing will.

Gold stands for Deity when it refers to Christ, and for divine righteousness when it is seen in relation to men. In Exodus, whenever gold stands for Deity, it is always "pure gold". When it stands for divine righteousness, Exodus uses the word gold without the adjective "pure."

Strands of twisted gold wire held the engraved jewels in their places — chains that older translations call "wreathen chains of gold." The many strands combined in one give a symbol of the many kinds of glory God displays. They unite in one chain of unbroken strength, holding up the purpose of God.

Aaron then bore the names of the children of Israel on his heart, as well as on his shoulders. The breast is symbolic of the affections. So it teaches that if Christ holds His people up before God by everlasting strength, He also bears them on His heart in everlasting love... He has bound us on His shoulders, bearing our weight, with His own almighty strength. And He has fastened us on His heart with His own love, a love that never dies and that no one can measure.

You remember that the names of the children of Israel were engraved in the jewels of the breastplate and of the shoulder pieces of the ephod. The jewels would have to be broken before anyone could erase those names. We are clearly told that the breastplate was joined to the ephod, to the shoulder pieces and to the belt, so that it could not be removed. So no priest in Israel could go in before the Lord without those names on his breast and shoulders.

The breastplate was fastened to the ephod — the priestly garment — by twisted chains of gold, a cord of blue, and rings of gold. Those chains of gold mean it is fastened in divine righteousness, divine righteousness as suited to the nature of God, by all that Christ is as divine. The rings show that the connection is eternal too, for a ring has no end. As Priest, Christ can never fail us. If He has once undertaken our cause, He will never lay it down.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the High Priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how the workers carried those instructions out. When you compare these passages, one thing stands out: the care of the people to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As the LORD had commanded Moses," occurs seven times for the robes alone, and many more times for the tabernacle in general. Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers.

Gold rings went on the two ends of the breastplate. Two gold chains joined them to the settings of the onyx stones on the shoulders of the ephod. Two more gold rings went on the lower corners of the breastplate, and two rings in the matching places on the ephod, so that a blue cord could tie them together. The ephod was vital when the high priest asked God for guidance on behalf of the people, because it stands for the unity of all the tribes of Israel. No tribe was to be left out when they asked God for His guiding will.

The onyx stones were gems — precious stones, picturing the excellencies of Christ. Put that together with their setting of gold, and it gives us two things. First, the names of His people appear on the shoulders of the Priest in all His beauty and excellency, and, as the gold shows, set in divine righteousness. The shoulder is the emblem of strength… So Christ, as pictured here, upholds His people in the presence of God in all His almighty strength. He has the right to do so, because they rest on His shoulders in divine righteousness… Two twisted chains of gold fastened the settings that held the onyx stones, binding them on His shoulders in divine righteousness.

The people's names were not only on the shoulder pieces; they were on the breast-plate also. Why this repetition? There are two reasons for it. First, God wants to show us that in Christ power and love combine for the blessing of His people… Notice the words "on his heart," repeated twice in the next verse. The changeless love of Christ is our comfort and joy… Gold chains joined the breast-plate to the shoulder-pieces, showing the union of power and love in the Lord Jesus for the good of His people.

So these precious stones were held firmly to the person of the High Priest. In the shoulder plates the onyx stones sat in sockets of gold. In the breastplate the precious stones sat in gold settings that enclosed them… With such a wealth of detail the Spirit of God stresses this glorious truth: divine love and divine power join together to keep the believer safe and to hold him before God in divine favor. Our Lord plainly said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish" (John 10:27-28). Eternal life could not be given, if it could be lost.

The breastplate was never to be separate from the ephod… Whenever the high priest went into the presence of God, it was in his garments. He could not go without representing the people. It is impossible for Christ to stand there in the presence of God without us.

Exodus 36 shows us the chosen workmen busy with the tasks given to them… Scripture describes the work in as much detail when it was carried out as when it was planned.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the High Priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows the workers carrying them out. Compare the two passages, and one thing stands out. The people were careful to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As Jehovah commanded Moses" occurs seven times about the robes alone. It occurs many more times about the tabernacle in general. Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail. Let us note this well as an example for ourselves today.

Golden rings went on the two ends of the breastplate. Two chains of gold connected them to the settings of the onyx stones on the shoulders of the ephod. Two more gold rings went on the lower corners of the breastplate, and two more in the matching places on the ephod. A blue cord bound these together. The ephod was vital when the high priest asked God for guidance on behalf of the people. It stands for the unity of all the tribes of Israel, and no tribe was to be left out when they asked God for His directing will.

Rings and chains of gold coupled the breastplate to the shoulders. These two were never to be separated. The breastplate was made of twelve precious stones. The names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on them, "like the engravings of a signet" — one name on each stone. Yet all were bound in one, set in pure gold, the symbol of divine faithfulness and glory. The meaning of the picture is clear. The great High Priest carries the saints of God on His heart, and He also holds them up by His power. His unchanging love is behind His undiminished and patient strength. The ephod made the breastplate and the shoulder pieces one. His is not a powerless love, or a loveless power; His power is the servant of His love, and both have no measure or end.

The chains and rings of gold speak of the Godhead glory of our Priest. The lace of blue speaks of the heavenly grace of His Manhood. The word translated "wreathen" means a strong band. The strong bands of His Godhead and Manhood show us how well and securely we are sustained according to God. However great the testing we go through, our High Priest is more than equal to every circumstance of the way. He will bring us safely through.

Strands of intertwined gold wire — "wreathen chains of gold" — kept the engraved jewels in their places. The many strands combined in one are a symbol of the many kinds of glory God shows. They unite in one chain of unbroken strength, sustaining the purpose of God.

The breastplate was never to be separate from the ephod: "so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod" (Exodus 28:28). Whenever the high priest went into the presence of God, it was in his garments. He could not go without representing the people. It is impossible for Christ to stand there in the presence of God without us.

The ephod was "the shoulder dress," the sign of the burden of the office of the wearer. Precious stones, engraved with the names of Israel's sons, were set on the shoulder pieces of the robe. Six names rested on each shoulder, and Aaron bore their names before Jehovah on his two shoulders as a memorial... The whole burden of Israel rested on the strength of the high priest. So did their prosperity and their future glory. He appeared in Jehovah's presence for them. Strands of twisted gold wire held the engraved jewels in place — "wreathed chains of gold." Many strands combined into one are a symbol of the many kinds of glory God has shown. They unite in one chain of unbroken strength that sustains the purpose of God.

The onyx stones were gems — precious stones that picture the excellencies of Christ. They were also set in gold. Put those two facts together and they give us two things. First, the names of His people appear on the shoulders of the Priest in all His beauty and excellency. Second, as the gold symbolises, they are set in divine righteousness. The shoulder is the emblem of strength... So Christ, as pictured here, upholds His people in the presence of God in all His almighty strength... What a comfort to us when we feel how utterly weak we are! ... Note also that the settings holding the onyx stones were fastened by two twisted chains of gold, binding them on His shoulders in divine righteousness.

This illustrates the close connection between the great power of the Lord Jesus and His love. For the shoulders speak of His strength or power in upholding every believer. In the same way the shepherd carried the lost sheep on his shoulders. But the breastplate shows that "Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart" (Exodus 28:29). This speaks of Christ bearing all believers on His heart of love. So power and love come together in wonderful unity in the person of the Lord Jesus.

The breastplate was never to be separate from the ephod (Exodus 28:28). "That the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod." Whenever the high priest went into the presence of God, it was in his garments. He could not go without representing the people. It is impossible for Christ to stand there in the presence of God without us.

The names of the children of Israel were engraved in the jewels of the breastplate and of the shoulder pieces of the ephod. Someone would have to break those jewels to wipe out the names... Transfer all that imagery to our blessed Lord. He is a Priest and He abides forever, and that alone ensures the eternal security of His beloved people.

Exodus 28 contains God's instructions about the High Priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how the workers carried them out. Compare the two passages and one thought strikes you. The people were careful to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As Jehovah commanded Moses" occurs seven times in connection with the robes alone... The principle of human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers.

Exodus 28 gives God's instructions about the high priest's robes. Exodus 39 shows how those instructions were carried out. Put the two chapters side by side, and one thing stands out: the care the people took to do God's will to the very letter. The words "as Jehovah commanded Moses" come seven times for the robes alone, and many more times for the tabernacle as a whole. Human choice and opinion in the things of God had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail. Let us note this fact well as an example for ourselves today.

The workers set gold rings at the two ends of the breastplate, and two gold chains joined them to the settings of the onyx stones on the shoulders of the ephod. They set two more gold rings on the lower corners of the breastplate, and two more in the matching places on the ephod, so that a blue cord could tie these together. The ephod mattered greatly when the high priest asked God for guidance for the people. It stands for the unity of all the tribes of Israel, and not one tribe was to be left out when the people sought God's will.

The breastplate was never to be separate from the ephod. "That the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod." Whenever the high priest went into the presence of God, it was in his garments. He could not go without representing the people. It is impossible for Christ to stand there in the presence of God without us.

Why did the Lord give such detailed instructions about the materials and the security of the breastplate? What a place gold has in all this! It is like the good news that God's righteousness has been revealed. What chains of gold and rings of gold! "And they shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the ephod with a lace of blue." Blessed security! Fastened on the heart of the high priest with a heavenly tie — the heavenly colour, blue.

Aaron carried the names of the children of Israel on his heart as well as on his shoulders. The breast stands for the affections. So the lesson is this: Christ holds His people up before God by everlasting strength, and He also carries them on His heart in everlasting love… He has bound us on His shoulders, bearing our weight, with His own almighty strength. And He has fastened us on His heart with His own undying love, deeper than anyone can measure.

The names of the children of Israel were engraved in the jewels of the breastplate and of the shoulder pieces of the ephod. The jewels would have to be broken before the names could be wiped out. We are plainly told that the breastplate was joined to the ephod, to the shoulder pieces and to the girdle, so that it could not be removed.

The breastplate's connection to the ephod is also an eternal one, pictured by the rings: a ring has no end, and so stands for eternity. As Priest, Christ can never fail us. If He has once taken up our cause, He will never lay it down… We may feel low, but if we look up we can rejoice that our place on the heart and shoulders of Christ can never be lost.

They put two more rings of gold on the lower edge of the breastplate, but on the inside, to match two rings of gold also attached to the ephod. A blue lace then bound these rings together, attaching the breastplate to the ephod on its lower side. The blue lace would remind us of the heavenly character of this testimony, and the account adds that the breastplate would then not come loose from the ephod.

Blue lace attachments also connected the breastplate to the ephod itself. The reason given was "so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod." There must be no chance of the breastplate slipping out of its place for a single moment. The eye of God must never rest on the priest without a reminder of all His people.

The great High Priest carries God's saints on His heart, and He also holds them up by His power. His unchanging love lies behind His patient strength, and that strength never weakens. The ephod made the breastplate and the shoulder pieces one. His love is not powerless, and His power is not loveless. His power is the servant of His love, and both are beyond measure and without end.

"Curious girdle" is an expression only used in connection with the ephod of the High Priest, and it means devised work. It stands as a symbol of service. For instance, our blessed Lord after the Passover Supper was ended "rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him" (John 13:4-5).

Exodus 28:30 tells us that the Urim and Thummim were in the priest's breastplate. Verse 28 tells us this breastplate could not be separated from the ephod: "And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod." So when Abiathar brought the ephod, he brought the breastplate too, and therefore the Urim and Thummim, the means by which the answer came.

When you compare these passages, one thing stands out — the care of the people to carry out the will of God to the very letter. "As the LORD commanded Moses" occurs seven times for the robes alone, and many more times for the tabernacle in general. The principle of human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and it was their desire to obey His word in every particular. Let us note this well as an example for ourselves today.

The breastplate was never to be separate from the ephod: "that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod." Whenever the high priest went into the presence of God, he went in his garments. He could not go without representing the people. It is impossible for Christ to stand there in the presence of God without us.

There must be no chance of the breastplate getting out of its place for a single moment. The eye of God must never rest on the priest without being reminded of all His people.

The breastplate can never be detached from the ephod. It is bound up inseparably with the priestly office of Christ... It is an eternal connection, pictured by the rings — a ring has no end. As Priest, Christ can never fail us. If He has once undertaken our cause, He will never lay it down.

How secure the fastenings: "that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod." ... Blessed security! Fastened on the heart of the high priest with a heavenly tie — the heavenly colour, blue. The ribbon of blue reminded Israel of the heavenly, holy claims of God on them — claims they never met. But the lace of blue points to those who are given by the Father, and always accepted in the Son.

Aaron bore the names of the children of Israel on his heart, as well as on his shoulders. The breast is symbolic of the affections. So it teaches this. Christ upholds His people before God by everlasting strength. He also bears them on His heart in everlasting love... He has bound us on His shoulders with His own almighty strength, carrying our weight. He has fastened us on His heart with His own undying love — a love no one can measure.

The word for girdle here is used only for this special girdle of the ephod. It means "of skilful workmanship." It points to the unique perfection of the service of Christ as our Great High Priest... The girdle is throughout Scripture the emblem of service.

What was its unique occupation? To see that the breastplate was not loosed from the ephod... Our names, beloved, are on that breastplate! Borne upon His affections, and there is a link which binds that breastplate to our heavenly priest. Nothing can come in to break that link.

All service comes down to obedience. The test of anything done is whether it matches the revealed mind of God... So they met their responsibility towards God. He approved and commended them in that repeated, weighty statement: all their work was marked by obedience. This gives us an important principle. Everything that claims to be from God must stand the test of God's word.

Human choice and opinion in divine things had no place in the minds of Israel's workers. God had spoken, and they wanted to obey His word in every detail. Let us note this fact well as an example for ourselves today.