Exodus 28

Ex 28:1-43.

APPOINTMENT TO THE

PRIESTHOOD.

1. take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with

him--Moses had hitherto discharged the priestly functions

(Ps 99:6),

and he evinced the piety as well as humility of his character, in

readily complying with the command to invest his brother with the

sacred office, though it involved the perpetual exclusion of his own

family. The appointment was a special act of God's sovereignty, so

that there could be no ground for popular umbrage by the selection of

Aaron's family, with whom the office was inalienably established and

continued in unbroken succession till the introduction of the Christian

era.

2-5. holy garments--No inherent holiness belonged either to the

material or the workmanship. But they are called "holy" simply because

they were not worn on ordinary occasions, but assumed in the discharge

of the sacred functions

(Eze 44:19).

for glory and for beauty--It was a grand and sumptuous attire.

In material, elaborate embroidery, and color, it had an imposing

splendor. The tabernacle being adapted to the infantine aid of the

church, it was right and necessary that the priests' garments should be

of such superb and dazzling appearance, that the people might be

inspired with a due respect for the ministers as well as the rites of

religion. But they had also a further meaning; for being all made of

linen, they were symbolical of the truth, purity, and other qualities

in Christ that rendered Him such a high priest as became us.

6-14. ephod--It was a very gorgeous robe made of byssus,

curiously embroidered, and dyed with variegated colors, and further

enriched with golden tissue, the threads of gold being either

originally interwoven or afterwards inserted by the embroiderer. It was

short--reaching from the breast to a little below the loins--and though

destitute of sleeves, retained its position by the support of straps

thrown over each shoulder. These straps or braces, connecting the one

with the back, the other with the front piece of which the tunic was

composed, were united on the shoulder by two onyx stones, serving as

buttons, and on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved, and

set in golden encasements. The symbolical design of this was, that the

high priest, who bore the names along with him in all his ministrations

before the Lord, might be kept in remembrance of his duty to plead

their cause, and supplicate the accomplishment of the divine promises

in their favor. The ephod was fastened by a girdle of the same costly

materials, that is, dyed, embroidered, and wrought with threads of

gold. It was about a handbreadth wide and wound twice round the upper

part of the waist; it fastened in front, the ends hanging down at great

length

(Re 1:13).

15-29. thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning

work--a very splendid and richly embroidered piece of brocade, a

span square, and doubled, to enable it the better to bear the weight of

the precious stones in it. There were twelve different stones,

containing each the name of a tribe, and arranged in four rows, three

in each. The Israelites had acquired a knowledge of the lapidary's art

in Egypt, and the amount of their skill in cutting, polishing, and

setting precious stones, may be judged of by the diamond forming one of

the engraved ornaments on this breastplate. A ring was attached to each

corner, through which the golden chains were passed to fasten this

brilliant piece of jewelry at the top and bottom tightly on the breast

of the ephod.

30. thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and

Thummim--The words signify "lights" and "perfections"; and nothing

more is meant than the precious stones of the breastplate already

described (compare

Ex 39:8-21;

Le 8:8).

They received the name because the bearing of them qualified the high

priest to consult the divine oracle on all public or national

emergencies, by going into the holy place--standing close before the

veil and putting his hand upon the Urim and Thummim, he conveyed a

petition from the people and asked counsel of God, who, as the

Sovereign of Israel, gave response from the midst of His glory. Little,

however, is known about them. But it may be remarked that Egyptian

judges wore on the breast of their official robes a representation of

Justice, and the high priest in Israel long officiated also as a judge;

so that some think the Urim and Thummim had a reference to his judicial

functions.

31-33. the robe of the ephod all of blue--It was the middle

garment, under the ephod and above the coat. It had a hole through

which the head was thrust, and was formed carefully of one piece, such

as was the robe of Christ

(Joh 19:23).

The high priest's was of a sky-blue color. The binding at the neck was

strongly woven, and it terminated below in a fringe, made of blue,

purple, and scarlet tassels, in the form of a pomegranate, interspersed

with small bells of gold, which tinkled as the wearer was in

motion.

34. a golden bell and a pomegranate--The bells were hung between

the pomegranates, which were said to have amounted to seventy-two, and

the use of them seems to have been to announce to the people when the

high priest entered the most holy place, that they might accompany him

with their prayers, and also to remind himself to be attired in his

official dress, to minister without which was death.

36-38. plate--literally, a petal of a flower, which seems to

have been the figure of this golden plate, which was tied with a ribbon

of blue on the front of the mitre, so that every one facing him could

read the inscription.

37. mitre--crown-like cap for the head, not covering the entire

head, but adhering closely to it, composed of fine linen. The Scripture

has not described its form, but from JOSEPHUS we

may gather that it was conical in shape, as he distinguishes the mitres

of the common priests by saying that they were not conical--that

it was encircled with swathes of blue embroidered, and that it was

covered by one piece of fine linen to hide the seams.

39. coat of fine linen--a garment fastened at the neck, and

reaching far down the person, with the sleeves terminating at the

elbow.

girdle of needlework--a piece of fine twined linen, richly

embroidered, and variously dyed. It is said to have been very long, and

being many times wound round the body, it was fastened in front and the

ends hung down, which, being an impediment to a priest in active duty,

were usually thrown across the shoulders. This was the outer garment of

the common priests.

40. bonnets--turbans.

42. linen breeches--drawers, which encompassed the loins and

reached half way down the thighs. They are seen very frequently

represented in Egyptian figures.