You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
The breast-plate, fastened by golden chains to the ephod, holds the names of all twelve tribes before God continually. Aaron bears them as a memorial; and so our great High Priest carries His people into the very presence of God, where by faith we sit with Him in heavenly places even now.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 28:15-30
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. The first of these stones is by both the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan rendered an "emerald", as by us; and which is described by Pliny (k) as of a green colour, exceeding delightful and pleasant, and to which he gives the third place among precious stones; though by many the stone...
Four rows of stones - With a name on each stone, making in all the twelve names of the twelve tribes. And as these were disposed according to their birth, Exo 28:10, we may suppose they stood in this order, the stones being placed also in the order in which they are produced, Exo 28:17-20 : - Four Rows of Stones First Row Sons of...