Brown-Driver-Briggs
ח֫שֶׁן noun masculine the
breast-piece or
sacred pouch, containing the
אורים ותמים, worn on the breast of the high priest when he ministered in the Holy Place to bring the tribes for memorial. before
׳י. It was made of the same material as the ephod (see
אֵפוֺד), a span square; set in front with twelve jewels in four rows, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes. It was firmly fastened to the shoulders of the ephod by gold chains passing through gold rings, and to the lower part of the ephod just above the girdle by a blue ribbon passing through other gold rings. It was
חשֶׁן (ה)מִשְׁמָּט (
Exodus 28:15,29,30)
pouch of judgment, because of the decision given by the
אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים. The name occurs only in P,
Exodus 25:7;
Exodus 28:4,15,22,23 (twice in verse);
Exodus 28:24,26,28 (twice in verse);
Exodus 28:29,30;
Exodus 29:5;
Exodus 35:9,27;
Exodus 39:8,9,15,16,17,19,21 (twice in verse);
Leviticus 8:8 (twice in verse). — See Now
Archaeology ii. 119.