וְשַׂמְתָּ֞ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י הָאֲבָנִ֗ים עַ֚ל כִּתְפֹ֣ת הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד אַבְנֵ֥י זִכָּרֹ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְנָשָׂא֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־שְׁמוֹתָ֜ם לִפְנֵ֧י יְהוָ֛ה עַל־שְׁתֵּ֥י כְתֵפָ֖יו לְזִכָּרֹֽן׃ (ס)
И положи два камня на наплечники ефода, чтобы они были камнями памяти сынов Израилевых; и Аарон будет носить их имена перед Господом на своих двух плечах для памятника.
Sha'arei Orah
Corresponding to this secret, there were twelve stones on the breastplate [of the high priest-Kohen Gadol], as a remembrance for the children of Israel.514Exodus 28:12, 17-21 Moreover, it consisted of four rows of stones, with three stones to each row. That is, just as the Name HaShem-יהו"ה has four banners, with three signets to each of the four letters of HaShem-יהו"ה, so also, the children of Israel have four banners, with three tribes to each banner. To conclude, of the four banners of the children of Israel, each banner bears one of the four letters of the Name HaShem-יהו"ה, and each letter has three signets corresponding to the three tribes of that banner. Behold and clearly see the meaning of these hidden matters, clearly and openly revealed before your eyes. As we already have explained, Yaakov is the middle line-Kav HaEmtza’ee-קו האמצעי that ascends to the Unlimited One-Ein Sof-אין סוף, and his inheritance is limitless and without constraint.