What were the precious stones in the high priest's garments and how are they related to the twelve tribes?
The ephod had two stones on its shoulder straps, both of onyx (shoham), with the names of six tribes inscribed on each stone (Ex. 29:9-12;39:6-7). As for the twelve stones in the choshen (Ex. 28:17-21;39:10-14), the Torah doesn't indicate how they correspond to the twelve tribes; but the correspondence can be found in the commentary of Rabbenu Bachya:
Reuven - odem (ruby)
Shimon - pitdah (smaragd)
Levi - barekes (carbuncle)
Yehudah - nofech (emerald)
Yissachar - sapir (sapphire)
Zevulun - yahalom (pearl)
Dan - leshem (topaz)
Naftali - shevo (turquoise)
Gad - achlamah (crystal)
Asher - tarshish (chrysolite)
Yosef - shoham (onyx)
Binyamin - yashfeh (jasper)
The above translations of the gem names are from Ginsberg, Legends of the Jews, Vol.III pp.169-172. See also the article "Avnei Choshen ve-Ephod" in the Talmudic Encyclopedia.
Ask a follow-up question
