The High Priest Breast Plate

Parashat Tetzaveh     Exodus 27,20-30,10
Haftarah Tezaveh         Ezekiel 43,10-27

Parashat Tetzaveh continues with the Divine specifications for the Tabernacle (Mishkan), the priestly vestments and the Priestly Breastplate – which will be the main focus of our commentary here.

What did this Breast Plate look like?  For graphics and for a detailed description of the Breast Plate (‘Choshen’ – ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach’), and the Urim and Thummim,  be sure to check here www.jerusalemonline.com/the-12-stones-in-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate/

The 12 stones shall be placed in gold settings.  The stones shall contain the names of the twelve patriarchs of Israel, one for each of the twelve stones; each one’s name shall be engraved as on a signet ring to represent the twelve tribes.

Aside from the 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel on the High Priest’s breastplate, the High Priest also possessed two sandonyx stones, Urim and Thummim, which were fixed in gold on the High Priest’s shoulders. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were engraved on these two stones. According to the Jewish Bible, these stones are called remembrance stones for the children of Israel:

“And you shall place the two stones on the two shoulder pieces of the ephod as remembrance stones for the children of Israel. And Aaron shall carry their names before G-d on his two shoulders as a remembrance.”

According to the Jewish tradition, the High Priest used to ask the breastplate questions and it would spell out the answer. Jewish religious scholars believe that it was one of the divine forms of communications alongside prophesies and dreams. However, this magical form of communicating with G-d was lost when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem.

Nachmanides (the Rambam) sheds enlightening insight. He explained that the Urim and Thumim were inserted into the pouch formed by the breastplate of jewels and a backing section behind the breastplate. This is where the Tetragrammaton, or ineffable Name of God would be placed, next to Aaron’s heart, so that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, plus the Name of G-d and the High Priest’s heart were adjacent to one another which was important when doing business with G-d. Aaron would therefore act in love when inquiring of G-d about Israel, in this process.

If our supposition concluded in recent Parashiyot commentaries that HaShem intends to use the elect who succeed in the Final Judgment and become imbued fully with His Spirit under a New Covenant, as His Tabernacle to dwell in amongst His People, rather than a Stone Building, then this metaphor can be applied also that these Elect will serve in the office of High Priest and Levites. This assumption may prove wrong in the light of this week’s Haftarah which defines a New Temple as described and foretold by Ezekiel. However, an investigation into the issue that the 2^nd Temple built after the Jews returned from Babylon did not comply at all with Ezekiel’s specifications which were obviously meant for that Temple and not a ‘Third Temple.’

You may refer to some writings on this Topic here (by Chabad):

• Did the Jews Disregard Ezekiel’s Prophecy of the Temple?
• 4 Unique characteristics of the Third Temple

The concept of a ‘Human Tabernacle’ is also confirmed by Isaiah:

Isa. 60

Chabad in their above quoted article states the following assumption about the Third Temple and the Nations drawing up to it  (Isa. 66) : “The verse at the end of Isaiah states, “‘It shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath that all flesh shall come to prostrate themselves before Me,’ says HaShem.”  The Midrash explains that although during the eras of the first two Temples the Jews made a pilgrimage to the Temple only three times a year, in the Messianic era we will do so every first of the new month. The Midrash goes on to explain that this was impossible to do during the first two Temples, but that in the era of the Third Temple we will have “clouds” that will transport us to Jerusalem and the Temple, enabling us to visit the Holy Temple on a much more frequent basis.”

Here is the Scripture in context:  Isa. 66:21

“And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says HaShem [which again confirms our supposition above]. 22  “As the New Heavens and the New Earth that I make will endure before Me,” declares HaShem, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23  From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.

NOTE – The ‘Coming to Him’ by the nations will also take place on the weekly Sabbath. Could it imply ‘on a universal basis’ perhaps?

Isa. 64:4  “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O G-d, besides Thee, what He has prepared for him that wait for Him.”

Rabbinic commentary on The Breast Plate

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Parashat Terumah   Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
Haftarah Terumah   1 Kings 5:26 – 6:13

KOL HATOR COMMENTARY –

The Rabbi observes from an authoritative source the possibility that the modern printing medium fulfills the purpose of the Breast Plate to communicate Truth and Divine advice by Torah teachers in these times to the people.  While the lighting up of the letters on the Breast Plate sounds like ‘some magic’ for those times to convey Divine leading to the Priests and Levites in the Tabernacle and Temple, it should not be crazy to surmise that the modern cell phone Internet system could (and certainly already has) surpass books as the medium to convey Breast Plate like flashing letter messages of Truth and guidance in Torah. In fact, we already have this facility right in our hands via our Cell phones. No longer is it necessary to seek and buy expensive books. It is all free and gratis via the Internet – simply pose your question in Google Search and select Jewish Sources from the masse of information it will present within seconds. Google will even present the answer to your question right from the contents of a Talmudic book by displaying the specific page! Plus instant translation facilities if needed! It simply is mind boggling.

So, it is not from G-d? Nothing has changed from Temple Times when HaShem would convey answers and leading through elect Priests and Levites. Today we have in addition the unending source of Jewish Sages writings and Rabbinic assistance and guidance. Like with all else, you have to be selective – with choosing friends, life mates, spiritual guidance and Torah instruction.  G-d is not available on the phone or mail. Hr has mandated Judah to be the teachers and interpreters of His Way, as conveyed to Moses at the start, and historically down the line of Time. We have it all in print and cyberspace today.

We are all witness to the fleshing speed of advance in telecommunications. Applying this concept of cyberspace communication … can that perhaps provide the answer to the supposition we posed in our commentary on this week’s Parashat Tetzaveh, regarding the nations “coming to bow before HaShem from new Moon to New Moon and Shabbat to Shabbat?”  When the Tabernacle of HaShem could become the ‘Temple that He dwells in” and communicates to the World thru?

Christians will no doubt respond with “Holy Spirit leading” and present that as the current medium since the coming of their Messiah. They overlook that even their NT Scriptures and the reprimand of their Messiah was to follow the appointed Scribes and Pharisees that sit in Moses’s Seat – Matt. 23:2  The one question they overlook in their self-conviction is: Why is there such consternation and division of opinion when they are all  “led by the Spirit’?

Isa. 60

Could a Cyberspace Choshen (Breast Place) be the medium of spiritual communication in the New World?