3,963. Attaching the Ephod and the Choshen

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 9:10

Continuing how the ephod and the breastplate were assembled, the cords were passed through the rings on the ephod’s epaulets and the two strands of blue wool on the bottom of the breastplate were placed in the rings above the ephod’s belt. The chains in the rings on the ephod epaulets descended until they reached the upper rings of the breastplate so that they would connect, as per Exodus 28:28: “the breastplate shall not be removed from the ephod.” If someone separated the breastplate from the ephod, severing their connection with destructive intent (as opposed to simply adjusting them), he would be subject to the penalty of lashes.

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 9:11

Pursuant to the preceding halachos, when the Kohein Gadol wore the ephod with the breastplate, the breastplate would be directly over his heart and the ephod behind it. The belt of the ephod was tied over the heart under the breastplate. The epaulets of the ephod fell on the Kohein Gadol’s shoulders. Two gold cords descended from the shoulders on each side, extending from the epaulets of ephod to the rings on the breastplate. The two threads of blue wool were tied under the elbows, extending from the two lower rings of the breastplate to the two lower rings of the epaulets, which were above the belt.