Exodus 28:9-11

This distinction here is that the shoulder stones, the onyx stones, were listed according to birth order. Now it is Jacob's order list that is in birth order. Note that all the names were on one type of stone (an onyx). The birth order combined with one type of stone indicates commonality and equality. The symbolism here is commonality and equality, and thus all the tribes are essentially equal. In this listing, no individual distinctive characteristics between the twelve are emphasized other than the birth order. Every person belonging to whatever tribe they were born into is perceived on common ground.

Exodus 28:9-12

Right there is a statement that has symbolic attributes to it. The high priest had to understand that he had to answer to God for some things regarding all twelve tribes. He had to bear them on his shoulder. Symbolically, it was only in two onyx stones with their names there, but in reality he was responsible to God for all twelve of those tribes. I do not know if there were any specific things he was ever told he was responsible for, but there was a responsibility to all twelve tribes that was borne by the high priest.