Exodus 28:15-30

New International Reader's Version

The Chest Cloth

¹⁵ “Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use thin gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen. ¹⁶ Make it nine inches square. Fold it in half. ¹⁷ Put four rows of valuable jewels on it. Put carnelian, chrysolite and beryl in the first row. ¹⁸ Put turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald in the second row. ¹⁹ Put jacinth, agate and amethyst in the third row. ²⁰ And put topaz, onyx and jasper in the fourth row. Put them in fancy gold settings. ²¹ Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

²² “Make braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. Make them like ropes. ²³ Make two gold rings for the chest cloth. Connect them to two corners of it. ²⁴ Join the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth. ²⁵ Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron. ²⁶ Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron. ²⁷ Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron. ²⁸ The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.

²⁹ “When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving the Lord. ³⁰ Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes to serve the Lord. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving the Lord.