The High Priest's Breastplate
The Breastplate (Hebrew: Choshen) was a small garment embellished with gemstones and one of the eight garments worn by the High Priest as he served God. Each jewel symbolizing one of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. The High Priest's breastplate symbolized the unity of the people of Israel before God as well as the importance of the position of the High Priest and the sanctity of the function, as he stood before God. The biblical description states that the breastplate was to be made up of four rows of three engraved gems, each jewel set in gold.
According to Biblical commentaries the Breastplate (or the Urim and Thummim - literally, "the Lights and the Perfections") was used to ascertain the Divine Will regarding questions of national importance. In times of doubt and national crisis, the Urim and Thummim were consulted for advice and guidance (Numbers 27, 21; 1 Samuel 28, 6).
In 2012, Israel issued a set of 12 stamps and a souvenir sheet show the twelve gemstones of the High Priest's Breastplate. Each stamp symbolizing one of the tribes of Israel:
Reuven: Odem – Carnelian (Red)
Shimon: Pitdah – Topaz (Green – Yellow)
Levi: Bareqet – Emerald (Light Green)
Yehuda: Nofekh – Turquoise (Green – blue)
Issachar: Sapir - Lazurite (Dark Blue)
Zevulun: Yahalom – Quartz (White)
Dan: Leshem – Zircon (Red – yellow)
Naftali: Ahlamah – Amethyst (Red Wine)
Gad: Shevo - Agate (Black, brown, white)
Asher: Tarshish – Aquamarine (Olive Green)
Yosef: Shoham – Onyx (Black)
Binyamin: Yashpeh – Jasper (Multicolored)
Here is the complete set. I show one stamp in high resolution:
The High Priest with the Breastplate on the background of the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem:
Posted 08/14/2022 08:41 am
