BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST 'brgst-plat the hi prestl, a splendid orna ment covering the breast of the high priest. It was composed of richly embroidered cloth, in which were set, in four rows, twelve precious stones, on each of which was engraven the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exod. xxviii :15-29 ; xxxix :8-21). (See PRIEST, HEBREW PRIESTHOOD, 3).
The breastplate was kept in position by the following simple device. At the right and left top corners, respectively, of the outer jeweled square, was fixed a gold ring, through which was passed a gold chain, or, rather, cord ( for it had no links) 'of wreathen work.' These chains were then passed over, or through, or otherwise at tached to a couple of gold ornaments (A.V. 'ouches')—probably rosettes of gold filigree— which had previously been fixed to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front. Similarly, at the right and left bottom corners of the inner square were fixed two gold rings, through each of which was passed a ribbon or 'lace of blue' (R.V.). Cor responding to these two rings on the breastplate were two of the same material, attached, like the rosettes above mentioned, to the shoulder• pieces of the ephod. Their precise position, how ever, is difficult to determine, owing to the want of clearness in the existing description of the ephod (Ex. xxviii :6-12). They may perhaps be
best thought of as sewed to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod at points lower than the rosettes by the length of the chains and square, so that, in short, the rings of the ephod and those of the breastplate were in immediate contact and fastened together by the blue lace. The latter, in this way, would be entirely hidden by the breast plate, which would account for the inferior ma terial of the lower fastening compared with that of the upper. By this means the breastplate was securely held in its place, so .hat it should rest just 'above the cunningly woven band of the ephod' (verse 28). The main purpose of the breastplate, there can scarcely be any longer a doubt, was to provide a receptacle for the sacred lot, the mysterious LRCM and TIIDNIMINI See). (See PRIEST, HEBREW PRIESTHOOD.) A. R. S. Kennedy, Hastings' Bib. Diet. BREECHES (brich'ez), (Heb. mik nawce'yim, two drawers), made of linen to hide the parts of shame, worn by the priests (Ex.
xxxix:28; Lev. vi:to; xvi:4; Ez. xliv:18; comp Joseph. Ant. iii:7, sec. 1; Philo, De Mon arch. lib. ii. c:5, Opp. ii:225 ed. Mang. (See PRIEST HEBREW PRIESTHOOD, i.)