The Two Shoham Stones
Shmos 28:10-12
כְתוֹלְדֹתָָּֽם׃ הַשֵּנִִּ֖ית עַל־הָּאֶֶ֥בֶן הַנּוֹתָּרִִּ֛ים הַשִּשָָּּׁ֧ה וְאֶת־שְמ֞וֹת הָּאֶחָָּ֑ת הָּאֶֶ֣בֶן עִַ֖ל מִּשְמֹתָָּ֔ם שִּשָּה six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth.
אֹתָָּֽם׃ תַעֲשֶֶ֥ה זָּהִָּ֖ב מֻּסַבִֹ֛תמִּשְבְצֶ֥וֹת יִּשְרָּאֵָּ֑ל בְנֵֶּ֣י עַל־שְמִֹ֖ת הָּאֲבָּנִָּ֔ים אֶת־שְתֵֶּ֣י תְפַתַח חֹתָָּ֗ם פִּתוּחֵֶּ֣י אֶֶ֒בֶןֶ֒ חָּרַש מַעֲשֵֶּ֣ה With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: you shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold.
אֶת וְשַמְתָּ֞ לִּבְנֵֶּ֣י זִּכָּרִֹ֖ ן אַבְנֵֶּ֥י הָָּֽאֵּפָֹ֔ד כִּתְפֶֹ֣ת עַַ֚ל הָּאֲבָּנִָּ֗ים שְתֵֶּ֣י לְזִּכָּרָֹֽ ן׃ כְתֵּפִָּ֖יו עַל־שְתֵֶּ֥י 'ה לִּפְנֵָּּׁ֧י אַהֲרֹֹ֨ןאֶת־שְמוֹתָָּ֜ם וְנָּשָּא יִּשְרָּאֵָּ֑ל You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Hashem on his two shoulders for a memorial.
How were the letters “work of an engraver”?
Rashi states that the letters were embedded into the stone; chiseled into the stone to form embedded letters. HaKsav v’haKabbalah writes that the letters protruded from the stone; the stone was chiseled around the letters.
Where and how were these stones placed?
Rashi - make as a setting for each stone a kind of indentation in the gold, of the same size as the stone and sink it in the setting; thus, the setting surrounds the stone on all sides. That setting they attached to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod.
Sefarno - you are to place the two gemstones firmly on the two epaulettes;” this was to be done at the highest point of the High Priest’s shoulders.
Rashbam - the two major gemstones known as אבני זכרון (as well as אבני שהם ) that had the names of the tribes engraved on them and which he wore like epaulettes on his two shoulders. The breastplate was suspended from these chains, apart from being fastened additionally to the ephod.
Ramban - The two stones stuck out from the golden vestment and were attached like a fork with three prongs.
What color were the stones?
Ibn Era (Shmos 28,9) writes that the stones were white stones Rabbeinu Bachayei (Bemidbar 2,2) writes that the stones were dark grey Shiltei Giborim writes that the stone were greenish yellow
Why, at Har haAivel and Har haGrizim, were the tribes were separated into two groups?
The verse (Yehoshua 8,33) states the tribes were divided into two groups, one for each mountain, yet each were connected to the other. Maharsha explains, just as the Two Shoham stones were divided but connected, so were the tribes upon the two mountains.
On the two stones were the names of the 12 tribes (sons of Yaacov). By tradition there were 25 letters on each stone. (Sotah 36a-b) There are five major opinions on the order of the names. Problem: the usual spelling of the 12 names equals 49 letters.
- Rambam adds the letter Hai in Yosef’s name (as written in Tehillim 1:58 and per Shmos Rabbbah).
- Most other opinions spell out the name of Benyomin with two Yuds and not as usual with one Yud.
- Ramban: In order of their birth with oldest on the right top, second on the left top, etc.
- Rashi: In order of birth, with the six oldest on the right side and the other six on the left
- Tana Kamma: In order of birth, except Yehuda goes first (since the King)
- Rabbi Chanina ben Gamiel: based on order in Shmos 1:1-5
- Rav Kahana: based on order at Har Geriim/Har Eival (Devarim 27:12-13)
