T?E?M?P?L[1] According to the Hebrew text, this refers, not to the mantle itself but to the band which was a part of it. [2] The significance of the Hebrew word used here is quite uncertain, but the context suggests a kind of pouch or wallet. ‘From which thou wilt take counsel’; it is clear from various references that in some way the burse was used for the taking of omens, by a system providentially prearranged, when difficult decisions were to be made; hence it is called ‘the burse of judgement’. Cf. note on verse 30. The precious stones named in the verses which follow cannot be identified with certainty. [3] The Latin version differs at several points from the Hebrew text, but the general picture they give is the same; the burse was secured by four rings, two of which were attached by gold chains to a couple of hooks high up on the mantle, and two by blue cords to a couple of rings let into the mantle lower down. [4] Literally, ‘the Doctrine and the Truth’. In the Hebrew text, the words used are of doubtful significance; the former probably means ‘lights’. Some think the precious stones enumerated above afforded omens, e.g., by their brightness or dullness; others, that the pouch contained sacred objects, not further specified, which were used for the same purpose. Cf. Num. 27.21; I Kg. 14.41 and note.

The High PriestPriestThis word (etymologically "elder", from presbyteros, presbyter) has taken the meaning of "sacerdos", from which no substantive has been formed in various modern languages (English, French, German). The priest is the minister of Divine worship, and especially of the highest act of worship, sacrifice. In this sense, every religion has its priests, exercising more or less exalted sacerdotal functions as intermediaries between man and the Divinity (cf. Hebrews 5:1: "for every high priest taken from amongmen, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrificesfor sins"). In various ages and countries we find numerous and important differences: the priest properly so called may be assisted by inferior ministers of many kinds; he may belong to a special class or caste, to a clergy, or else may be like other citizens except in what concerns his sacerdotal functions; he may be a member of a hierarchy, or, on the contrary, may exercise an independentpriesthood (e.g. Melchisedech, Hebrews 7:1-33); lastly, the methods of recruiting the ministers ofworship, the rites by which they receive their powers, the authority that establishes them, may all differ. But, amid all these accidental differences, one fundamental idea is common to all religions: thepriest is the person authoritatively appointed to do homage to God in the name of society, even the primitive society of the family (cf. Job 1:5), and to offer Him sacrifice (in the broad, but especially in the strict sense of the word). Omitting further discussion of the general idea of the priesthood, and neglecting all reference to pagan worship, we may call attention to the organization among the people of God of a Divine service with ministers properly so-called: the priests, the inferior clergy, the Levites, and at their head the high-priest. We know the detailed regulations contained in Leviticus as to the different sacrifices offered to God in the Temple at Jerusalem, and the character and duty of the priests and Levites. Their ranks were recruited, in virtue not of the free choice of individuals, but of descent in the tribe of Levi (especially the family of Aaron), which had been called by God to His ritual service to the exclusion of all others. The elders (presbyteroi) formed a kind of council, but had no sacerdotal power; it was they who took counsel with the chief priests to capture Jesus (Matthew 26:3). It is this name presbyter (elder) which has passed into the Christian speech to signify the minister of Divine service, the priest.

The Christian law also has necessarily its priesthood to carry out the Divine service, the principal act of which is the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the figure and renewal of that of Calvary. This priesthood has two degrees:

Pectoral("Pectoral of judgment").

The original meaning of the Hebrew term has been lost, and little light is thrown upon it by the early translations. The prevailing equivalent in the Sept. is logion; the Vulgate has rationale, whence the literal "rational" of the Douai version; the rendering in the Authorized Version is "breastplate".

In the minute directions given for the distinctive official dress of the high priest in Exodus 28, a section belonging to the priestly code (cf. also Exodus 39:8-21), special prominence is given to the breastplate or pectoral. The divergent description of the same recorded by Josephus ("Antiq.", III, vii, 5 and "Bell." http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11600b.htm

1 And thou bring thyself to THE TE Aaron your brother and his sons of the sons of Israel ieratefein me Aaron and Nadab and Abihu and Eleazar and Ithamar the son of Aaron 2 and poetry holy garments of Aaron tῷ your adelfῷ in honor and glory 3 And thou Speak Passy per sofois tῇ dianoiᾳ s eneplisa spirit and sense poiisousin his garments holy Aaron at Mount In ᾗ ieratefsei me 4 And these Al stolai Let poiisousin the bodice and epaulets and robe sleeve kosymvoton and kidarin and zone and poiisousin fleet holy Aaron and per sons in ieratefein me

1 And now, that I may have priests to serve me among the sons of Israel, summon thy brother Aaron, with his sons, Nadab, Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar, to thy presence. 2 Thou shalt have sacred vestments made for thy brother Aaron, to his honour and adornment, 3 bidding all those cunning workmen, whose art is the gift of my spirit, so clothe him as to set him apart for my service. 4 And these are the vestments they shall make; a burse, a mantle, a tunic, a pleated robe, a mitre, and a girdle. Such sacred vestments must be made for thy brother Aaron and his sons, before they can minister as my priests.

1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother with his sons, from the midst of the children of Israel, that they may exercise the priesthood for me: Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 3 And you shall speak to all the wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron 's vestments, in which he being consecrated may minister to me. 4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, a robe, and a broidered coat, a miter, and a girdle. And they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and for his sons, that they may minister unto me in the priest's.

5 And this limpsontai the gold and hyacinth and purple and scarlet and Vyssa 6 and poiisousin the epaulets EC Vyssa keklosmenis Ergon woven Vary 7two epaulets synechousai esontai aftῷ other involving hetero percent refractorymeresin exirtimenai 8 and the fabric of the epaulet Estin E {P '} aftῷ When poiisin It ESTA million gold and hyacinth and purple, and scarlet dianenismenouand Vyssa keklosmenis 9 and limpsῃ two stones emerald stones and lick in them the names of the children of Israel: 10 On behalf on the stone one and on behalf of other times the stone the second-Tash genesis 11 Ergon lithourgikis art glymes stamp diaglypseis two stones per onomasin the children of Israel 12 and THISIO two stones on the shoulder epaulets memorial stones eisin per children of Israel and analimpsetai Aaron the names of the children of Israel against major on both shoulders this memorial about them

5 The workmen must provide themselves with gold, with threads of blue and purple and scarlet twice-dyed, and with linen thread. 6 Of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet twice-dyed, and of twisted linen thread, the mantle is to be made, all embroidered work. 7 At the top, on either side, it shall have the two shoulder-pieces joined together so as to make one garment. 8 The whole of its embroidered texture shall be of gold, blue, purple, scarlet twice-dyed, and twisted linen thread.[1] 9 Then thou shalt take two onyx-stones, and inscribe them with the names of Israel’s twelve sons,10 six on one stone and six on the other, in the order of their birth; 11 and these stones, graven with all the skill of the gem-carver, and set in clasps of gold, 12 thou shalt let into the mantle, one on either side, to perpetuate the memory of Israel’s sons. Aaron shall carry those names on his two shoulders, when he goes into the Lord’s presence, and so remind him of them.

5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen. 6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, embroidered with divers colors. 7 It shall have the two edges joined in the top on both sides, in order to may be joined together. 8 The very workmanship also and all the variety shall be of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twined linen. 9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: 10 Six of their names on one stone, and the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 work of an engraver and the graving of a jeweler, thou shalt engrave them with the names of the children of Israel, set in gold and compassed about: 12 And thou shalt put in the two sides of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

13 and poetry aspidiskas EC of gold net14 and poetry two frilled EC of gold net katamemigmena in anthesin Ergon plot and epithiseis fimbrial entangled on Tash Tash paromidas aspidiskas against these ex front 15 and poetry logeion crisis Ergon Vary at the pace of epaulets ments them out of gold and hyacinth and purple, scarlet and keklosmenou Vyssa keklosmenis ments this 16 square ESTA next inch length and span the range 17and kathyfaneis in aftῷ fabric katalithon quatrain verse ESTA Carnelian stones topaz and emerald Verse C at 18 And the verse second carbon and sapphire and jasper 19 And the third verse ligyrion agate amethyst 20 And the fourth verse Chrysolite and Beryllium and onychion sheathed chrysiῳ connected in chrysiῳ Assume verse during those 21 and stones Assume Of names of the sons of Israel ten two against The names of these glyfai stamps each against the name Assume at ten o'clock sexes

13 Then make two golden hooks, 14 and two chains of pure gold, with closely fitted links, which thou wilt fasten to the hooks. 15 And make a burse,[2] from which thou wilt take counsel; it is to be of the same texture as the mantle itself, embroidered work of gold, and threads of blue and purple and scarlet twice-dyed, and twisted linen threads. 16 It is to be made double, and either part of it square, a palm’s length by a palm’s breadth. 17 And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones; in the first row will be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald;18 in the second, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper-stone; 19 in the third, a jacynth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 in the fourth, a chrysolite, an onyx-stone, and a beryl; each row is to be set in gold. 21 And they will contain the names of the sons of Israel, each stone being engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes, in their order.

13 And thou shalt make ouches of gold; 14And two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings. 15 the rational of judgment with embroidered work of divers colors, according to the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twined linen.16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof and the breadth thereof. 17 And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius stone, and a topaz, and an emerald: 18 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 19the third row , an agate, and an amethyst;20 the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper. : They shall be set in gold in their settings. 21 And they shall have the names of the children of Israel: with twelve names shall they be engraved, each stone with the name of one according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

22 and poetry on the fringes logeion interlaced chain Ergon EC of gold net 2324 25 26 27 28 29 And Aaron limpsetai the names of the children of Israel on Pulpitum the finding on chest eisionti in holy remembrance towards God and THISIO on the logeion of crisis cilia the stimulus E {P '} both aisle Pulpitum epithiseis and Tash two aspidiskas epithiseis E {P '} both shoulders epaulets against persons

22 The burse, then, must have two chains of pure gold, their links closely fitted, 23 and two rings of gold, attached to its two edges; 24 with these two rings at the edges thou wilt couple the two chains, 25 making fast the other ends of the chains to the two hooks, which will be fixed on either side of the mantle, where it faces towards the burse. 26 Then make two gold rings, which must be attached to the edges of the burse, to that part of its lining which looks towards the mantle, that is, inwards;27 and two other gold rings, which must be attached to either side of the mantle underneath, facing the lower point where burse meets mantle, so that the two can be tied together.28 Thou shalt use blue cords to make the rings of the burse fast to the rings of the mantle; thus the two will be joined in a workmanlike fashion, and will never come apart. 29 And whenever Aaron goes into the sanctuary, he will carry on his breast, on the burse that gives counsel, the names of Israel’s sons, putting the Lord in mind of them eternally.[3]

22 thou shalt make on the rational chains, linked one to another of the purest gold,23 And two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in the two ends of the breastplate: 24 And the golden chains thou shalt join to the rings, that are in the ends of it, 25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them on the two sides of the ephod, which is is towards the rational. 26 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in the top parts of the rational, in the borders that are over against the ephod, and look towards the back parts thereof.27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two sides of the ephod beneath, that looketh down upon the the nether joining, that the rational may be fitted with the ephod, 28 And may be fastened by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the ephod, and that the rational and the ephod may not be separated from each other. 29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his breast, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord for ever. ! - Latin = 02exo028029b ->

30 And epithiseis on the logeion Judgement dilosin and the truth and ESTA on the breast when Aaron eisporefitai in the Holy Lord and against Aaron oisei judgments of the sons of Israel on the breast against the owner for all

30 And within the burse that gives counsel thou wilt put the touchstones of wisdom and of truth.[4] These shall be on Aaron’s breast, when he enters the Lord’s presence; as long as he is there, he will be carrying on his breast the arbitrament of the sons of Israel.

30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

31 and poetry ypodytin robe around yakinthinon 32 and will be confirmed peristomion It means having ᾤan kyklῳ the rim Ergon woven the symvolin synyfasmenin It lest ragῇ 33 and poetry on the blur of ypodytou below impulses exanthousis roas roiskous on hyacinth and purple, and scarlet dianenismenouAnd Vyssa keklosmenis on the blur of ypodytou kyklῳ this kind not roiskous gold and bell every means these perikyklῳ 34 Despite roiskon HRIS bell and floral on the blur of ypodytou kyklῳ35 and ESTA Aaron in tῷ leitourgein voice to this eisionti in the Holy against Ladies and exionti lest apothanῃ

31 The tunic that goes with the mantle is to be made all of blue, 32 and in the middle of it there is to be an opening for the head, with a woven border round it, such as is commonly put round the edges of garments, to prevent tearing. 33 Underneath, round the skirt of this tunic, thou shalt hang ornaments of blue thread and purple, and of scarlet twice-dyed, pomegranate-shaped, with bells between them;34 a golden bell, then a pomegranate, then another golden bell, then another pomegranate.35 In this Aaron shall ever be clothed when he performs his priestly office; with the ringing of bells he must announce his comings and goings in the sanctuary, there in the Lord’s presence, on pain of death.

31 And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of violet, 32 In the midst whereof above shall be a hole for the head, and a border round about it woven, as is wont to be made ​​in the outmost parts of garments, may not easily be broken. 33And beneath at the feet of the same tunic, round about, as it were pomegranates And thou shalt make, of blue, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, with little bells set between:, 34 So that there shall be a golden bell and a pomegranate, and again another golden bell and a pomegranate. 35And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goeth in and cometh out of the sanctuary, in the sight of the Lord, and I will not let him die.

36 and poetry petal HRIS clean and printsin aftῷ printers stamp sanctify master 37and epithiseis there for hyacinth keklosmenis and ESTA on the miter upon persons of miter ESTA 38 and ESTA on the forehead of Aaron and linksAaron the sins of the saints whatever you agiasosin sons Israel everywhere allowance sanctorum them and ESTA on the forehead Aaron always granted unto them against major

36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, inscribed with all the engraver’s skill, with the words, Set apart for the Lord. 37 This is to be bound with a blue cord on to the mitre, 38 and will hang over the priest’s forehead. Whatever fault is found in offering and gift, by Israel’s sons dedicated and hallowed, Aaron must charge himself with it; and the Lord will overlook it, so long as the plate hangs ever on Aaron’s forehead.

36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and the engravings of a signet, 'Holy to the Lord. 37 And thou shalt tie it with a violet fillet, and it shall be upon the miter, 38 Hanging over the forehead of the high priest. And Aaron shall bear the iniquities of those things, which the children of Israel have offered and sanctified, in all their gifts and offerings.The plate shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

39 and kosymvoi sleeves EC Vyssa and poetry kidarin vyssinin and zone ments Project Vary 40 and per sons Aaron ments tunic and stripe and kidareis ments unto them in honor and glory 41and clothing them Aaron thy brother and his sons with {T ' } He and anoint he and filler those hands and sanctify this fiber ieratefosin me 42 and poetry unto them periskeli Lina kalypsai shame chrotos them from lumbar to thighs ESTA 43 and Habits Aaron These and sons, as though eisporefontai in the tabernacle of the congregation, or when prosporefontaileitourgein to the altar of the Saint and CDR deserved to Himself sin lest apothanosin lawful eternal aftῷ and tῷ germ he {T '} Him

39 The robe must be of pleated linen, the mitre also of linen, and the girdle of embroidered work. 40 For Aaron’s sons, too, thou shalt make linen robes and girdles and mitres; to their honour and adornment; 41 in all these vestments Aaron thy brother shall be clad, and his sons with him. And thou shalt consecrate their hands, and set them apart to serve me in the priestly office. 42 Breeches of linen, too, shall be made for them, to cover all that must not be seen naked, from loin to thigh; 43 these Aaron and his sons shall wear whenever they enter the tabernacle that bears record of me, or draw near the altar to do me service in the sanctuary, on pain of death. Such observance Aaron, and his sons after him, shall maintain perpetually.

39 You shall weave the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make a fine linen miter, and a girdle of embroidered work. 40 And to the sons of Aaron thou shalt prepare linen tunics, and girdles and mitres for glory and beauty: 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him. And shall anoint them and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's.42 And you shall make for them linen breeches to cover the flesh of nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: 43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and his sons, when they go into the tabernacle of the testimony, or when they come near unto the altar, in order to to minister in the sanctuary, lest being guilty of iniquity they die. It shall be a statute for ever to Aaron, and to his seed after him.

[1] According to the Hebrew text, this refers, not to the mantle itself but to the band which was a part of it.
[2] The significance of the Hebrew word used here is quite uncertain, but the context suggests a kind of pouch or wallet. ‘From which thou wilt take counsel’; it is clear from various references that in some way the burse was used for the taking of omens, by a system providentially prearranged, when difficult decisions were to be made; hence it is called ‘the burse of judgement’. Cf. note on verse 30. The precious stones named in the verses which follow cannot be identified with certainty.
[3] The Latin version differs at several points from the Hebrew text, but the general picture they give is the same; the burse was secured by four rings, two of which were attached by gold chains to a couple of hooks high up on the mantle, and two by blue cords to a couple of rings let into the mantle lower down.
[4] Literally, ‘the Doctrine and the Truth’. In the Hebrew text, the words used are of doubtful significance; the former probably means ‘lights’. Some think the precious stones enumerated above afforded omens, e.g., by their brightness or dullness; others, that the pouch contained sacred objects, not further specified, which were used for the same purpose. Cf. Num. 27.21; I Kg. 14.41 and note.

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd

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Copyright © 2013 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.