BREAST-PLATE

BREAST-PLATE, in Jewish antiquity, one part of the priestly vestments anciently worn by the high-priests. It was a folded piece of the same rich embroidered stuff of which the ephod was made; and it was set with twelve precious stones, on each of which was engraven the name of one of the tribes. They were set in four rows, three in each row; and were divided from each other by little golden squares or partitions in which they were set. The names of these stones, and that of the tribes engraven on them, as also their disposition on the breast-plate, are as follows:

This breast-plate was fastened at the four corners; those on the top to each shoulder by a golden hook or ring at the end of a wreathed chain; and those below, to the girdle of the ephod, by two strings or ribbons, which had likewise two rings and hooks.

This ornament was never to be severed from the priestly garment! and it was called the memorial, to put the high-priest in mind how dear those tribes ought

to be to him, whose names he wore on his breast. It is also called the breastplate of judgment, because it had the divine oracle of Urim and Thummim annexed to it. See URIM AND THUMMIM.