In pasuk tet vav it says:
וְעָשִׂיתָ חשֶׁן מִשְׁפָּט מַעֲשֵׂה חשֵׁב כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֵפֹד תַּעֲשֶׂנּוּ זָהָב תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתוֹ:
"You shall make a choshen of judgment, the work of a master weaver. You shall make it like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen shall you make it."
Why is the Choshen called the "Choshen of Judgement"?
Rashi gives two answers:
1) It attoned for mistaken decisions made by the courts of judgement.
2) It itself provided clear rulings for the nation- different stones would light up on the choshen and if they were read in the correct way it would give the Kohen clear answers.
What are other reasons the choshen is called the Choshen of Judgement? Are there any other unique aspects of the choshen?
Rabbi Avi Geller: The Choshen was connected to the belt of the apron, and fastened with blue straps and gold chains. The inner fold contained a parchment inscribed with a kabbalistic name of God, called the "Urim V'tumim", which infused it with mystical powers. When the king had a question concerning the nation (such as: "Should we go to war?"), the High Priest would face the Holy of Holies and inquire. The letters of the breastplate would light up in a specific arrangement, and by deciphering the code , he received the answer from Heaven.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Silverberg teaches that it is called chosheen mishpat- chosheen of judgment because it shows that the function of the chosheen is to tell Hashem’s opinion and give Hashem’s guidance on an issue. The Kohen would ask a question and the chosheen would give an answer. He says the word chosheen comes from chash which translates to “haste. The choshen mishpat then means “the haste judgment”, meaning that the chosheen gives a quick immediate answer to a question.
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ReplyDeleteAre there any other unique aspects of the choshen?
Yair Rudick (Orayta student) says that the Choshen is symbolic of individuality. Each of the twelve stones on the Choshen represents one of the twelve tribes. If one of stones were missing, the Choshen would not be able to fulfill its purpose of answering questions. So too, each tribe had a specific purpose and only when they all worked and served together would the Choshen work and they be able to reach Hashem.
Dina Wagner
ReplyDeleteI'm answering this question : Why is this article called a "choshen mishpat" – a "breastplate of judgment"?
Rebeitzen Sharon Rimon comments and says, The Kohen Gadol enters the Holy of Holies as the representative of the nation of Israel, and it is necessary that he maintains this consciousness. For this reason he must wear the breastplate, which bears the names of Bnei Yisrael; he thereby represents a constant, walking memorial of Bnei Yisrael before God. In addition, the breastplate symbolizes the status of the Kohen Gadol as the representative of all of Israel when he enters the Holy of Holies. The purpose of the breastplate, then, is to serve as a constant reminder of Bnei Yisrael before God, and to "bring them into" the Holy of Holies before God when the Kohen Gadol enters to be judged for all the nation.
Rav Saadya Gaon says that when describing the choshen it is referred to as, "A breastplate that is planned out" (i.e. built "ke-mishpato," -according to its plan). Its one of the few things that was built exactly the way that god had intended it to.
ReplyDeleteRav Saadya Gaon says that when describing the choshen it is referred to as, "A breastplate that is planned out" (i.e. built "ke-mishpato," -according to its plan). Its one of the few things that was built exactly the way that god had intended it to.
ReplyDeleteThe Iban Ezra says the choshen holds the judgment of the urim, and it is placed upon the heart, and the heart is more honorable than the two shoulders.
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