Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Exodus 28:16
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Four square it shall be, [being] doubled, etc.] That is, when it was doubled; for the length of it, according to Maimonides f821, was a cubit, which is two spans, and so, when it was doubled, was but one, and its length and breadth being alike, as follows: a span [shall be] the length thereof, and a span [shall be] the breadth thereof; a square, which is the measure, the form of the new Jerusalem, the church of Christ, (<662116>Revelation 21:16) and may denote the perfection, firmness, and immovableness of it, (<19C501>Psalm 125:1). Some have thought that this breastplate was doubled, in order to have something enclosed in it: some imagine, that within this fold were put the Urim and Thummim, which they suppose to be two words engraved on a stone, and different from the twelve stones in it; others, that the name of Jehovah was written and put there, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi on (<022830>Exodus 28:30) and other Jewish writers, and others, fancy some little images were put within these folds, the name with the teraphim, and supposed to be the Urim and Thummim; but if these were hid in the folds, they could not be seen when consulted; it is most probable there is nothing put within the double, which was not done for any such use; but most likely that it might be strong to bear the weight of the precious stones, put in ouches of gold upon it.
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