שמות, פרק כ״ח, פסוק י״ד

The creation of the High Priest's garments required a high level of precision, focusing not only on their visual beauty but also on the mechanical engineering that held the different pieces together. Specifically, golden chains were crafted to link the Ephod and the Breastplate. This connection had to be exceptionally strong, designed to properly distribute the heavy weight from one garment to the other [רש״ר הירש].

The primary approach among commentators is that these were not ordinary chains made of hollow, interlocking rings. Instead, they were braided and woven tightly together, resembling thick ropes [רשב״ם, רש״י, בכור שור]. This specific woven structure provided the necessary strength to support the heavy burden of the Breastplate [קאסוטו]. A contrasting perspective suggests that while the chains were indeed made of rings, the rings themselves were braided from thin golden threads. This unique design granted the chains the flexibility to expand and contract naturally with the movements of the High Priest's neck [העמק דבר]. Another viewpoint proposes that several distinct chains were twisted and woven together to form a single, unified rope [רש״ר הירש].

The nature of these chains also involved exact sizing and placement. The primary approach among commentators explains that the chains were crafted to a precise, restricted length. This specific measurement limited the distance between the shoulder straps of the Ephod and the edges of the Breastplate, ensuring they remained perfectly aligned and equal in length [ספורנו, רלב״ג, אבן עזרא]. Others explain that this concept relates to their physical location, positioned right at the very border of the Breastplate and its golden settings [רש״י, שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this precision could describe the structural design of the chains themselves. For instance, the top of the chain might have featured a thick, rigid piece specifically designed to lock into the golden setting [ביאור יש״ר]. Another interpretation suggests that these were end chains that grew directly out of the garment's edges as a natural continuation. Rather than being attached by external rings, they formed a mutual, inseparable bond between the Ephod and the Breastplate [רש״ר הירש].

The instruction to place these chains on the golden settings appears somewhat premature, as the complete command to assemble the garments is detailed later. The primary approach among commentators is that this is not an immediate directive for construction, but rather a forward-looking instruction. The chains are mentioned at this stage simply to explain the purpose of the golden settings on the Ephod, letting the craftsmen know that these settings will eventually be needed to hold the chains that secure the Breastplate [רש״י, מלבי״ם, קאסוטו, חזקוני]. Furthermore, there is a discussion regarding the total number of chains used in the garments. While some maintain that there were only two chains linking the two garments [רש״י, מלבי״ם], another perspective suggests a more complex system. Based on later details in the construction, this view asserts that there were four chains in total: two extending from the Ephod and two from the Breastplate, weaving together to create a double, highly secure connection [רש״ר הירש, מלבי״ם בדעת הרמב״ם].