Exodus 28:15-30

THE BREASTPLATE.—Exodus 28:15

That the ephod and the breastplate were intended to form one whole, is evident by the chains and ribbon which connected them, but the breastplate has its peculiar teachings. It has a two-fold relation—to God and to Israel. Let us consider the suggestions of this prominent portion of the high priestly vestments.

I. As towards God the breastplate conveys the idea of representation.

Exodus 28:1. The righteousness of this representation. The breastplate was to be the work of the skilful weaver; and it was to be made “of gold, of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and of fine twined linen,” Exodus 28:15. Is not the idea here, that the intercession of the priest rested on purity and righteousness? The breastplate that met the eye of God, and on which the names of the children of Israel were written, was of white, and gold and beauty. The intercession of Christ is based in wisdom and righteousness. The holiness of God, the holiness of the law, the holiness of Heaven, are fully recognised and guaranteed.

2. The individuality of this representation. “And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve,” Exodus 28:21. Each tribe particularised. And must we not conclude that the individual jewels for the different tribes had a specific meaning? Our great High Priest knows our particular nature, infirmities, temptations, sins, sorrows. He brings us before God in our individual character and need.

3. The design of this representation. Did not these sparkling jewels on the priest’s breast symbolise the fact that the end of his intercession was, the restoration of Israel to purity and glory? Thus Christ recognises the intrinsic preciousness of human nature, and ever pleads and acts, so that we may be cleansed from every defilement, and shine as a bride’s jewels.

4. The sympathy of this representation. “And Aaron shall bear the names upon his heart,” Exodus 28:29. Christ bears us on His heart: His Priesthood is full of tenderness and sympathy.

II. As toward man the breastplate conveys the idea of illumination, Exodus 28:30. “The Urim and Thummim are to be regarded as a certain medium, given by the Lord to His people, through which, whenever the congregation required divine illumination to guide its actions, that illumination was guaranteed, and by means of which the rights of Israel, when called in question or endangered, were to be restored, and that this medium was bound up with the official dress of the high priest, though its precise character can no longer be determined.—Delitzsch. Kalisch considers the Urim and Thummim to be identical with the precious stones, which is very probable. This oracle represents the Divine and saving light which Christ gives to His Church. The divine doctrines of the New Testament are the oracular gems to guide us into all truth. The Jewish legend declares, that during the flood the ark was lighted by the lustre of jewels; the Ark, the Church, is lighted by the clear shining of the doctrines of Christ. In Christ we have saving light; not for curiosity or earthly interest, but for the salvation of our highest nature. Sufficient light: the twelve gems indicate a fulness of illumination. Infallible light: it never leads astray. These precious stones indicate, then, precious truths (Isaiah 54:11). Let us be like unto “the merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45).

SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES

But the children of Israel were represented in an entirely different order, and after a different manner, on the breastplate of the high priest. Each there had his own peculiar precious stone, and his own peculiar place. Judah was the head of the first row; and Dan took the lead in the last. The gorgeous colour of the ruby shone out from one; the soft refreshing green of the emerald was visible in another; the brilliant light of the diamond flashed out from a third; and the heavenly azure of the sapphire was displayed in a fourth. Thus, each had his own peculiar glory and beauty: each differed from, without rivalling the other; and each filled his appointed place in the order of God. There was unity, combined with diversity. God is able to create variety, without that variety involving inferiority. And so it is with the individuals that compose the Church of God. Each reflects Christ: and yet Christ is seen in each, with a peculiar beauty and glory, into which another does not intrude.

—Soltau.

ILLUSTRATIONS

BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON

Scripture-Secrets! Exodus 28:1. “The Bible can never be exhausted. The most learned commentators and eloquent preachers have but crossed the threshold of the magnificent temple. As in Nature, so in Revelation: the materials of every steam-engine, telegraph, microscope, and other mechanical and scientific contrivances, have been lying for countless ages under the dust of the earth undisturbed until a comparatively recent date.… And what yet may be fashioned out of the materials of nature no sagacity can prognosticate. Our present conquests form the starting-points of more dazzling victories. So, in reference to Revelation: generations yet unborn will group around its pages, and gather from them more sublime and radiant truths than those which have flashed on our intellect and cheered our heart—from the harps of the Hebrew bards they will hear a more elevating melody than ever charmed our spirits, and in the living words of the Divine Man perceive a depth, a grandeur, and a significance of which no conception can be formed. The ancient prophets have yet more to relate. Isaiah will reveal glories surpassing imagination, and Ezekiel unfold splendours which would overpower our visual organs. Intellectual perception will be quickened so as to penetrate the clouds which intercept man’s vision of the truth. No NEW Revelation, however, will be granted; but from the present Bible will stream ‘a light above the brightness of the sun.’ Never need we fear an exhaustion of the truth. It is sempiternal as God, and perennial as the springs of immortality.”

“The Book of God! a well of streams divine!
But who would wish the riches of that mine
To make his own, his thirst to satisfy
From that pure well, must ear, eye, soul apply.”

—Mant.

Stones and Symbols! Exodus 28:17. The breastplate here means literally the “ornament” Jewels formed its prominent characteristics. Students may observe:—I. SYMBOL-STONES! The ancients attached special virtues to these gems. But notice here:—

1. Their Shining, as indicating their

(1) purity, and
(2) preciousness.
2. Their Setting, as directed in the pectoral, and over the heart. 3 Their Stability, as implied in the four-square and solid forms.

4. Their Service, as bearing the names of the twelve tribes. II. STONE-SYMBOLS! A prophecy of the infinite grace of the Great Mediator, bearing on His very heart all His own. So notice here:—

1. Their Shining, as speaking of the

(1) purity, and
(2) preciousness of the saints.
2. Their Setting, as signifying that Christ lets out His precious blood to make room for them in His heart.

3. Their Stability, as suggesting the strength of His Church, and that He gathers together in one all His people far and near.

4. Their Service, as symbolising His fervent love for all who hope in Him. “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up My jewels.” And then,

“A perfect satisfaction,

A fulness of delight,

A sense of gliding onward

Through regions ever bright.”

—Adams.

Gem-Formation! Exodus 28:17.

(1.) In nature there is hardly a stone that is not capable of crystallising into something purer and brighter than its normal state. Coal, by a slightly different arrangement of its particles, is capable of becoming the radiant diamond. The slag cast out from the furnace as useless waste, forms into globular masses of radiating crystals. The very mud on the road, trampled under foot as the type of all impurity, can be changed by chemical art into metals and gems of surpassing beauty.
(2.) God can make jewels out of the most worthless moral rubbish. Let the cases of John Newton, of the woman that was a sinner, of the thief upon the cross, of Augustine, of John Bunyan, of Colonel Gardiner, and of thousands more, bear witness to the almighty power of the Alchemy of Divine Grace. It only requires a supreme surrender of ourselves into the hands of the Holy Spirit to ensure the Scripture assurance, “They shall be Mine in that day when I make up My jewels.”

“Creator! let Thy Spirit shine

The darkness of my soul within,

And lead me by Thy Grace Divine

From the forbidden paths of sin.”

—Burleigh.

Breastplate-Symbolism! Exodus 28:18.

(1.) Each jewel in the four rows of precious stones shone by its own coloured light, and yet contributed to the brilliancy of the whole. So in the Christian character all the graces should blend in such a way that the effect of the whole may be to the eye what melody is to the ear.
(2.) There is, says Macmillan, harmony in colours as well as in sounds; and when the proper hues are associated together, the complementary ones harmonising and contrasting with one another, the effect is exceedingly pleasing. Every one who has observed nature at all must have been struck by this distinguishing feature.
(3.) Such a symmetry of graces is rarely observed in the Christian character; for only too often graces that charm us by their beauty lie close by the side of defects that repel. The sapphire of love may be placed side by side with the sickly green of envy and jealousy; and the purple of humility with the red and angry glare of passion. As Jesus says, “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee.”

“My God! how fearful is the fight

Within my heart two spirits wage;

One seeks alone Thy heavenly light,

And every thought with thee t’engage;

The other scorns Thy sovereign will,
And dares revolt against it still.”

—Racine.

Precious Stones! Exodus 28:21. The New Jerusalem above will be a glorious city, because there shall be gathered together, in varied but harmonious splendour, the brightness of the diamond, the ruddy glare of the topaz, the deep green of the emerald, the shining gold of the jasper, the milk-white filmmess of the onyx, the heavenly blue of the sapphire, the lovely violet of the amethyst, the burning changes of the opal, and the soft beauty of the pearl!

“The city had no temple, for itself
From wall to wall, from base to pinnacle,
Was one harmonious veilless sanctuary,
One Holiest of all.

—Bickersleth.

Urim and Thummim! Exodus 28:30.

(1.) Gesenius and others imagine that these were small oracular images, like the teraphim, by which revelation and truth were personified, and which were placed in the inner cavity of the breastplate.
(2.) Spencer and others fancy that the ornament was derived from the Egyptians, whose chief priest, being also supreme civil judge, wore such suspended from a golden chain round his neck. But this jewel was wholly judicial.

(3.) Kitto says that the Urim and Thummim were not so much judicial as sacerdotal and oracular; and that there is really no resemblance to the Egyptian practice, except in the substance, a jewel.

(4.) In Exodus 28:29 Aaron is directed to wear, the names upon his heart before the Lord; and here he is directed to wear the Urim and Thummim upon the same place, and before the same Being. They are thus identical; at least such is a reasonable presumption.

(5.) Some think that they were the two tables of the law inscribed in some way on the breastplate, while others consider them to have been the precious stones. It is impossible to say with certainty.

“Urim and Thummim near his heart

In rich enchasings worn,

The sacred light of truth impart,

To teach and to adorn.”

Light and Perfection! Exodus 28:30.

(1.) Urim means light; Thummim means perfection. By means of these the Lord revealed His will and gave responses to His consulting people. In what way they were consulted is quite uncertain.

(2.) Josephus says that probably the stones gave out an oracular answer by preternatural illumination. But it seems to be more natural to suppose that the answer was given simply by the word of the Lord.
(3.) Law says that the gospel significance of these is clear; that they tell us Christ is our light and our perfection, and that He is made unto us the light of wisdom and the perfection of righteousness.

(4.) Dr. Smith points out the idea of justification, which is often expressed in actual Oriental life by the nature of the robe worn. He directs attention to Isaiah 61:10 as a good illustration of this.

“In Him a holiness complete,

Light and perfection shine;

And wisdom, grace, and glory meet,

A Saviour all Divine.”

Revelation! Exodus 28:30. In the fabulous records of Pagan antiquity we read of a mirror endowed with properties so rare that, by looking into it, its possessor could discover any object which he wished to see, however remote, and discover with equal ease persons and things above, below, behind, and before him. Such a mirror, but infinitely more valuable, do we possess in the breastplate of the Bible. Here, on its very forefront, are the Urim and Thummim of the Eternal Divine Mind. Yet, as Revelation is a communication from an Infinite Mind to a finite capacity, it may be expected to mingle shadow with its splendour; for what finite comprehension can grasp Infinity?

“Therefore the sacred page

With deep attention scan! If on thy soul,
As thou dost read, a ray of purer light
Break in, oh check it not, give it full scope.”

—Hayes.