The High Priest's uniform, described in Exo 28, was of a very intricate design. It was simple and complex: white linen in one part, multi-colored with woven gold in others. Like Torah and Messiah, The High Priest isn't just one thing, but many simultaneously.

The 2 onyx stones on the High Priest's uniform have the names of the 12 tribes inscribed on them and are intended for a memorial, but of what and for whom? The priest can't see them easily because they are mounted on his shoulders. They're a memorial to the priest of his responsibility to Heaven for the spiritual health of the nation, but they point upward, so they're also a memorial to God of the 12 tribes and the divided nation.

The breastplate of judgment, adorned with twelve precious stones, is worn over the High Priest's heart. This is a reminder that his role as a judge of Israel must be guided by mercy and righteousness. Stones in Scripture often represent people and these represent the tribes of Israel.

#tetzaveh