Exodus 28:9
“You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel:”
What does Exodus 28:9 mean?
The high priest wore a breastpiece as part of his sacred garments, and these two onyx stones were set into shoulder pieces attached to it. Each stone held engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, so that whenever the priest entered God's presence to intercede for the people, he literally carried them on his shoulders. It's a beautiful picture of being held and remembered, a reminder that God's representative didn't approach Him alone but carried the whole community with him into the holy place.