Where did ancient Israel get the gemstones for the breastplate in the middle of the desert? How did these jewels fulfill Bible prophecy? What, if anything, was written on each of them? How big and valuable were the stones? Do we know which particular gemstones populated the breastplate? What happened to the original one God made through Moses?
Who Was the High Priest?
It was Israel's High Priest who wore the precious gemstones discussed in this article (see Exodus 28 and 39). As the nation's highest ranking spiritual leader, his role was to serve as an intermediary between God and his people (ancient Israel). The first High Priest was Moses' brother Aaron, with all subsequent priests who held this position being one of his descendants.
What Is It?
The High Priest wore, unlike the other priests, unique vestments such as a breastplate of precious gemstones selected by God. Also called the breastplate of judgment (Exodus 28:15, 30), it was suspended from the shoulders by means of gold chains (verses 22 - 27). It is believed that its size was 9 inches (22.86 centimeters) square.
The High Priest's special garments, including the breastplate with its gemstones, were only to be worn when he served inside the wilderness tabernacle (later the temple) (Exodus 31:10, 35:19).
This special clothing had embedded into it twelve precious stones with each one engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel (verse 21). It also acted as a pouch or container for the Urim and Thummim.
What Was Its Purpose?
The primary purpose of the breastplate with its gemstones (and its Urim and Thummim) was as a way God could answer the inquires of the High Priest (Numbers 27:21, 1Samuel 28:6). It was also to be a memorial before the Lord.
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goes into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.
And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim. And they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. And Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:29 - 30, HBFV).
Where Did They Get Them?
The gemstones needed for Aaron's special clothes were collected by Moses when he and Israel were camping near Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1).
And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel saying, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded. He said, 'Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord: gold, and silver, and bronze . . .
'And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.' " (Exodus 35:4 - 5, 9, HBFV).
Where, however, did the Israelites get the precious gemstones they needed in the middle of the desert? They got them from spoiling the Egyptians just before they left bondage!
"And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And it shall be that when you go, you shall not go empty. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that stays in her house, jewels of silver and jewels of gold and clothing . . . And you shall retrieve these from the Egyptians." (Exodus 3:21 - 22, HBFV, see also 11:1).
The spoiling of the Egyptians of their gemstones and other precious items was a fulfillment of a prophecy God gave to Abraham!
And He (God) said to Abram (later Abraham), "You must surely know that your seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, (and shall serve them and they shall afflict them) four hundred years.
"And also I will judge that nation whom they shall serve. And afterward they shall come out with great substance." (Genesis 15:13 - 14, HBFV).
Were They Labeled?
Scripture does not directly state which breastplate gemstones had a particular Israelite tribal name engraved on it (Exodus 28:21). First century Jewish Historian Josephus, however, states that the names were placed according to birth order (Antiquities of the Jews, book 3, chapter 7, section 5).
Josephus' statement makes a great deal of sense. The Bible does state that the first six sons of Jacob, in birth order, were engraved on an onyx stone worn by the priest while the other six sons were listed on the other onyx stone he wore.
And you shall take two onyx stones, and you shall engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. Six of their names shall be on one stone, and six of the remaining names on the other stone, according to their birth. (Exodus 28:9 - 10, HBFV).
The birth order of Jacob's (Israel's) first six sons is Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan and Naphtali. The second six sons are Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 29 - 30).
Were They Big and Valuable?
The breastplate's precious stones were embedded in four rows of three stones. The book "Gemstones in the Breastplate," page 6, speculates that each of the gems could have been from 1 1/2 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 centimeters) wide. This is based on the belief that the breastplate was 9 inches (22.86 centimeters) square. Gemstones that were 2 inches big would be separated in each row by 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters).
Regarding their worth, Josephus states the value of the gemstones was far more than what most people could afford.
"Twelve stones also there were upon the breastplate, extraordinary in largeness and beauty; and they were an ornament not to be purchased by men, because of their immense value." (Antiquities of the Jews, book 3, chapter 7, section 5).
How Were They Placed?
Hebrew is read right to left, as opposed to left to right for English and other languages. This means that the first gemstone listed as being in the breastplate was located at the far right of the first row. The second stone was in the middle, the third was located on the far left of the first row, the fourth stone was in the far right of the second row, and so on.
Gem Names
The names of the gemstones worn by the High Priest, in the King James translation, are sardius, topaz, carbuncle, emerald, sapphire, diamond, ligure, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx and jasper (Exodus 28:17 - 20).
The exact identity of each stone, however, based on the original Hebrew, is far from certain. The New International Version, for example, lists the breastplate's gemstones as a ruby, topaz, beryl, turquoise, sapphire, emerald, jacinth, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx and jasper.
Biblestudy.org's research on the gemstones has determine that they likely were a carnelian, peridot, emerald, carbuncle (red garnet), lapis lazuli, rock crystal, jacinth, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx and jasper. Please see the links at the bottom of this page to investigate each gem!
What Happened to the Gems?
What happened to the original High Priest's breastplate and its fabulous gemstones?
The original breastplate from the time of Moses was almost certainly taken as booty by Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar. He likely took it with its gemstones, along with the Ark of the Covenant and other valuables, back to Babylon where they were likely broken up. God predicted, at the time of King Hezekiah, such an event would occur (2Kings 20:17, 24:13).
In 539 B.C. Persia's King Cyrus the Great allowed captive Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. To encourage them further He gave back many of the temple's dishes, pans and so on taken by Babylon. No mention is made, however, of the breastplate with its gemstones, the Ark of the Covenant, and other valuables being returned.
In 516 B.C. the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple, destroyed by Babylon in 586, was completed (Ezra 6:15). The new breastplate created for use by the High Priest likely had different gemstones than the original.
"Then later, a new breastplate was made in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is thought that because of the difficulty in procuring such phenomenal gem stones, others were substituted for them. This possibility may help explain differences between the lists (of gemstones) given by the Septuagint and the book of Exodus." (Gemstones in the Breastplate, page 10).