3,962. The Avnei Shoham

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 9:8

Four gold rings were made on the corners of the breastplate. The breastplate hung from the two upper rings by two golden cords, referred to as chains. Two cords of blue wool were placed in the two lower rings, opposite the Kohein Gadol’s chest.

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 9:9

The ephod was as wide as a person’s back from one shoulder to the other, and its length was from the elbows to the feet. It had straps on either side that were used to tie it; these were called the ephod’s belt. The whole thing was woven with gold, blue wool, purple wool, scarlet wool and linen with twenty-eight threads, as was the case with the breastplate. Two shoulder straps were sewn onto the ephod so that it would reach to Kohein Gadol’s shoulders. On each shoulder there was placed a square onyx in a gold setting. The names of the Tribes were engraved on these stones – six on each in the order of their births. Yosef’s name was spelled “Yehosef” so that there would be twenty-five letters on each stone. “Reuven” was written on the stone of the right shoulder and “Shimon” on the stone on the left. They made two rings on each shoulder – one on the top of the shoulder and one between the shoulder and the belt. The two gold chains we mentioned above were placed in the two higher rings.