Graphic Bible · Scene 2 of 3

Exodus 28:15-30. The breastpiece. Close design study of twelve distinct gemstones in four rows of three, gold settings and woven cloth; no generated names. OBJECT ONLY: laid flat on woven fabric, no people, faces, bodies or hands. Bronze Age Exodus setting, not first-century staging. One 16:9 single scene. No text or lettering.
Artwork is an interpretation. Scripture is quoted from the People's Open Bible.

Exodus 28:15-30

The breastpiece

Garments for service · Exodus 28

Story guide: Yahweh describes the breastpiece with twelve stones bearing the names of Israel’s tribes.

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15You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful designer; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen you shall make it.

16It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its width.

17And you shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: the first row shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald.

18and the second row: turquoise, sapphire, and diamond.

19and the third row: jacinth, agate, and amethyst.

20And the fourth row: beryl, onyx, and jasper; they shall be set in gold in their settings.

21And the stones shall correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names. They shall be engraved like a signet, each with his name, for the twelve tribes.

22And you shall make on the breastpiece chains of pure gold, braided work like cords.

23You shall make two gold rings on the breastpiece, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece.

24And you shall put the two braided chains of gold on the two rings, at the ends of the breastpiece.

25And you shall put the two ends of the two cords on the two settings, and you shall place them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its front.

26You shall make two gold rings and put them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on its edge that is toward the inner side of the ephod.

27You shall make two rings of gold and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod, underneath, on its front side, opposite its seam, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.

28They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.

29Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually.

30And you shall put the Urim and the Thummim into the breastpiece of judgment, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart when he goes in before Yahweh. And Aaron shall bear the judgment of the sons of Israel on his heart before Yahweh continually.

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