שמות, פרק כ״ח, פסוק כ״ג

The garments of the High Priest require precise connection mechanisms to ensure they sit securely and respectfully on his body. The focus here is on the upper anchor points designed to attach the Breastplate to the Ephod using gold rings. The instruction to craft these rings does not mean they are physically made directly on the fabric itself. Rather, they are formed independently, specifically for the sake of the Breastplate [רש״י, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר, קאסוטו]. This is clear because a subsequent step requires placing the rings into their designated spots, an action that would be unnecessary if they were created already attached to the material [רש״י, שפתי חכמים]. Because these rings are explicitly dedicated for the Breastplate from the moment of their creation, they hold a higher level of holiness than the lower rings, which are made later without such a specific dedication [העמק דבר].

Regarding their exact placement, the primary approach among commentators is that these rings are attached to the two top corners of the Breastplate [רשב״ם, חזקוני, ביאור שטיינזלץ, קאסוטו]. These right and left corners sit near the neck, positioned directly opposite the shoulder straps of the Ephod [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Practically, these upper rings serve as the hanging system for the Breastplate. Gold chains are threaded through them, and the ends of these chains are secured into settings located on the outer side of the Ephod's shoulder pieces. This connection is achieved through a careful, step-by-step process of inserting, setting, and fastening [מלבי״ם, ברכת אשר על התורה]. Once this is complete, the upper portion of the Breastplate hangs securely in place. However, at this stage, its lower half remains loose and prone to swinging back and forth until it is fully anchored to the Ephod by an additional set of rings [רשב״ם].