12 And thou shalt put H7760 the two H8147 stones H68 upon the shoulders H3802 of the ephod H646 for stones H68 of memorial H2146 unto the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and Aaron H175 shall bear H5375 their names H8034 before H6440 the LORD H3068 upon his two H8147 shoulders H3802 for a memorial. H2146
And they wrought H6213 onyx H7718 stones H68 inclosed H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold, H2091 graven, H6605 as signets H2368 are graven, H6603 with the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And he put H7760 them on the shoulders H3802 of the ephod, H646 that they should be stones H68 for a memorial H2146 to the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
Wherefore G3606 he is able G1410 also G2532 to save them G4982 to G1519 the uttermost G3838 that come G4334 unto God G2316 by G1223 him, G846 seeing he ever G3842 liveth G2198 to G1519 make intercession G1793 for G5228 them. G846 For G1063 such G5108 an high priest G749 became G4241 us, G2254 who is holy, G3741 harmless, G172 undefiled, G283 separate G5563 from G575 sinners, G268 and G2532 made G1096 higher than G5308 the heavens; G3772 Who G3739 needeth G2192 G318 not G3756 daily, G2596 G2250 as G5618 those high priests, G749 to offer up G399 sacrifice, G2378 first G4386 for G5228 his own G2398 sins, G266 and then G1899 for the people's: G2992 for G1063 this G5124 he did G4160 once, G2178 when he offered up G399 himself. G1438 For G1063 the law G3551 maketh G2525 men G444 high priests G749 which have G2192 infirmity; G769 but G1161 the word G3056 of the oath, G3728 which G3588 was since G3326 the law, G3551 maketh the Son, G5207 who is consecrated G5048 for G1519 evermore. G165
And God H430 said, H559 This is the token H226 of the covenant H1285 which I H589 make H5414 between me and you and every living H2416 creature H5315 that is with you, for perpetual H5769 generations: H1755 I do set H5414 my bow H7198 in the cloud, H6051 and it shall be for a token H226 of a covenant H1285 between me and the earth. H776 And it shall come to pass, when I bring H6049 a cloud H6051 over the earth, H776 that the bow H7198 shall be seen H7200 in the cloud: H6051 And I will remember H2142 my covenant, H1285 which is between me and you and every living H2416 creature H5315 of all flesh; H1320 and the waters H4325 shall no more H5750 become a flood H3999 to destroy H7843 all flesh. H1320 And the bow H7198 shall be in the cloud; H6051 and I will look upon it, H7200 that I may remember H2142 the everlasting H5769 covenant H1285 between H996 God H430 and H996 every living H2416 creature H5315 of all flesh H1320 that is upon the earth. H776 And God H430 said H559 unto Noah, H5146 This is the token H226 of the covenant, H1285 which I have established H6965 between me and all flesh H1320 that is upon the earth. H776
Even he shall build H1129 the temple H1964 of the LORD; H3068 and he shall bear H5375 the glory, H1935 and shall sit H3427 and rule H4910 upon his throne; H3678 and he shall be a priest H3548 upon his throne: H3678 and the counsel H6098 of peace H7965 shall be between them both. H8147 And the crowns H5850 shall be to Helem, H2494 and to Tobijah, H2900 and to Jedaiah, H3048 and to Hen H2581 the son H1121 of Zephaniah, H6846 for a memorial H2146 in the temple H1964 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 28
Commentary on Exodus 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 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.