17 And thou shalt set H4390 in it settings H4396 of stones, H68 even four H702 rows H2905 of stones: H68 the first row H2905 shall be a sardius, H124 a topaz, H6357 and a carbuncle: H1304 this shall be the first H259 row. H2905
Thou hast been in Eden H5731 the garden H1588 of God; H430 every precious H3368 stone H68 was thy covering, H4540 the sardius, H124 topaz, H6357 and the diamond, H3095 the beryl, H8658 the onyx, H7718 and the jasper, H3471 the sapphire, H5601 the emerald, H5306 and the carbuncle, H1304 and gold: H2091 the workmanship H4399 of thy tabrets H8596 and of thy pipes H5345 was prepared H3559 in thee in the day H3117 that thou wast created. H1254
And thou shalt take H3947 two H8147 onyx H7718 stones, H68 and grave H6605 on them the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478
With the work H4639 of an engraver H2796 in stone, H68 like the engravings H6603 of a signet, H2368 shalt thou engrave H6605 the two H8147 stones H68 with the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 thou shalt make H6213 them to be set H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold. H2091
And they set H4390 in it four H702 rows H2905 of stones: H68 the first row H2905 was a sardius, H124 a topaz, H6357 and a carbuncle: H1304 this was the first H259 row. H2905 And the second H8145 row, H2905 an emerald, H5306 a sapphire, H5601 and a diamond. H3095 And the third H7992 row, H2905 a ligure, H3958 an agate, H7618 and an amethyst. H306 And the fourth H7243 row, H2905 a beryl, H8658 an onyx, H7718 and a jasper: H3471 they were inclosed H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold H2091 in their inclosings. H4396 And the stones H68 were according to the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 twelve, H8147 H6240 according to their names, H8034 like the engravings H6603 of a signet, H2368 every one H376 with his name, H8034 according to the twelve H8147 H6240 tribes. H7626 And they made H6213 upon the breastplate H2833 chains H8333 at the ends, H1383 of wreathen H5688 work H4639 of pure H2889 gold. H2091 And they made H6213 two H8147 ouches H4865 of gold, H2091 and two H8147 gold H2091 rings; H2885 and put H5414 the two H8147 rings H2885 in the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833 And they put H5414 the two H8147 wreathen chains H5688 of gold H2091 in the two H8147 rings H2885 on the ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833 And the two H8147 ends H7098 of the two H8147 wreathen H5688 chains H5688 they fastened H5414 in the two H8147 ouches, H4865 and put H5414 them on the shoulderpieces H3802 of the ephod, H646 before H6440 it. H4136 And they made H6213 two H8147 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 and put H7760 them on the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate, H2833 upon the border H8193 of it, which was on the side H5676 of the ephod H646 inward. H1004 And they made H6213 two H8147 other golden H2091 rings, H2885 and put H5414 them on the two H8147 sides H3802 of the ephod H646 underneath, H4295 toward H4136 the forepart H6440 of it, over against H5980 the other coupling H4225 thereof, above H4605 the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod. H646 And they did bind H7405 the breastplate H2833 by his rings H2885 unto the rings H2885 of the ephod H646 with a lace H6616 of blue, H8504 that it might be above the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod, H646 and that the breastplate H2833 might not be loosed H2118 from the ephod; H646 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
For wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than rubies; H6443 and all the things that may be desired H2656 are not to be compared H7737 to it.
O thou afflicted, H6041 tossed with tempest, H5590 and not comforted, H5162 behold, I will lay H7257 thy stones H68 with fair colours, H6320 and lay thy foundations H3245 with sapphires. H5601 And I will make H7760 thy windows H8121 of agates, H3539 and thy gates H8179 of carbuncles, H68 H688 and all thy borders H1366 of pleasant H2656 stones. H68
And G2532 the foundations G2310 of the wall G5038 of the city G4172 were garnished with G2885 all manner of G3956 precious G5093 stones. G3037 The first G4413 foundation G2310 was jasper; G2393 the second, G1208 sapphire; G4552 the third, G5154 a chalcedony; G5472 the fourth, G5067 an emerald; G4665 The fifth, G3991 sardonyx; G4557 the sixth, G1623 sardius; G4556 the seventh, G1442 chrysolite; G5555 the eighth, G3590 beryl; G969 the ninth, G1766 a topaz; G5116 the tenth, G1182 a chrysoprasus; G5556 the eleventh, G1734 a jacinth; G5192 the twelfth, G1428 an amethyst. G271 And G2532 the twelve G1427 gates G4440 were twelve G1427 pearls; G3135 every G1538 G303 several G1520 gate G4440 was G2258 of G1537 one G1520 pearl: G3135 and G2532 the street G4113 of the city G4172 was pure G2513 gold, G5553 as it were G5613 transparent G1307 glass. G5194
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.