4 And these are the garments H899 which they shall make; H6213 a breastplate, H2833 and an ephod, H646 and a robe, H4598 and a broidered H8665 coat, H3801 a mitre, H4701 and a girdle: H73 and they shall make H6213 holy H6944 garments H899 for Aaron H175 thy brother, H251 and his sons, H1121 that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. H3547
And thou shalt embroider H7660 the coat H3801 of fine linen, H8336 and thou shalt make H6213 the mitre H4701 of fine linen, H8336 and thou shalt make H6213 the girdle H73 of needlework. H7551 H4639 And for Aaron's H175 sons H1121 thou shalt make H6213 coats, H3801 and thou shalt make H6213 for them girdles, H73 and bonnets H4021 shalt thou make H6213 for them, for glory H3519 and for beauty. H8597
And they shall make H6213 the ephod H646 of gold, H2091 of blue, H8504 and of purple, H713 of scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 with cunning H2803 work. H4639 It shall have the two H8147 shoulderpieces H3802 thereof joined H2266 at the two H8147 edges H7098 thereof; and so it shall be joined together. H2266 And the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod, H642 which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work H4639 thereof; even of gold, H2091 of blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen. H8336 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 Six H8337 of their names H8034 on one H259 stone, H68 and the other six H8337 names H8034 of the rest H3498 on the other H8145 stone, H68 according to their birth. H8435 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 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 thou shalt make H6213 ouches H4865 of gold; H2091 And two H8147 chains H8333 of pure H2889 gold H2091 at the ends; H4020 of wreathen H5688 work H4639 shalt thou make H6213 them, and fasten H5414 the wreathen H5688 chains H8333 to the ouches. H4865 And thou shalt make H6213 the breastplate H2833 of judgment H4941 with cunning H2803 work; H4639 after the work H4639 of the ephod H646 thou shalt make H6213 it; of gold, H2091 of blue, H8504 and of purple, H713 and of scarlet, H8144 H8438 and of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 shalt thou make H6213 it. Foursquare H7251 it shall be being doubled; H3717 a span H2239 shall be the length H753 thereof, and a span H2239 shall be the breadth H7341 thereof. 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 And the second H8145 row H2905 shall be 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 and an onyx, H7718 and a jasper: H3471 they shall be set H7660 in gold H2091 in their inclosings. H4396 And the stones H68 shall be with 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 shall they be according to the twelve H8147 H6240 tribes. H7626 And thou shalt make H6213 upon the breastplate H2833 chains H8331 at the ends H1383 of wreathen H5688 work H4639 of pure H2889 gold. H2091 And thou shalt make H6213 upon the breastplate H2833 two H8147 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 and shalt put H5414 the two H8147 rings H2885 on the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833 And thou shalt put H5414 the two H8147 wreathen H5688 chains of gold H2091 in the two H8147 rings H2885 which are on the ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833 And the other two H8147 ends H7098 of the two H8147 wreathen H5688 chains thou shalt fasten H5414 in the two H8147 ouches, H4865 and put H5414 them on the shoulderpieces H3802 of the ephod H646 before H6440 it. H4136 And thou shalt make H6213 two H8147 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 and thou shalt put H7760 them upon the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate H2833 in the border H8193 thereof, which is in the side H5676 of the ephod H646 inward. H1004 And two H8147 other rings H2885 of gold H2091 thou shalt make, H6213 and shalt put H5414 them on the two H8147 sides H3802 of the ephod H646 underneath, H4295 toward H4136 the forepart H6440 thereof, over against H5980 the other coupling H4225 thereof, above H4605 the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod. H646 And they shall bind H7405 the breastplate H2833 by the rings H2885 thereof unto the rings H2885 of the ephod H646 with a lace H6616 of blue, H8504 that it may be above the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod, H646 and that the breastplate H2833 be not loosed H2118 from the ephod. H646 And Aaron H175 shall bear H5375 the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in the breastplate H2833 of judgment H4941 upon his heart, H3820 when he goeth H935 in unto the holy H6944 place, for a memorial H2146 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually. H8548 And thou shalt put H5414 in the breastplate H2833 of judgment H4941 the Urim H224 and the Thummim; H8550 and they shall be upon Aaron's H175 heart, H3820 when he goeth H935 in before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and Aaron H175 shall bear H5375 the judgment H4941 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 upon his heart H3820 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually. H8548 And thou shalt make H6213 the robe H4598 of the ephod H646 all H3632 of blue. H8504 And there shall be an hole H6310 in the top H7218 of it, in the midst H8432 thereof: it shall have a binding H8193 of woven H707 work H4639 round about H5439 the hole H6310 of it, as it were the hole H6310 of an habergeon, H8473 that it be not rent. H7167 And beneath upon the hem H7757 of it thou shalt make H6213 pomegranates H7416 of blue, H8504 and of purple, H713 and of scarlet, H8144 H8438 round about H5439 the hem H7757 thereof; and bells H6472 of gold H2091 between H8432 them round about: H5439 A golden H2091 bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 a golden H2091 bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 upon the hem H7757 of the robe H4598 round about. H5439 And it shall be upon Aaron H175 to minister: H8334 and his sound H6963 shall be heard H8085 when he goeth H935 in unto the holy H6944 place before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and when he cometh H3318 out, that he die H4191 not.
And he put H5414 upon him the coat, H3801 and girded H2296 him with the girdle, H73 and clothed H3847 him with the robe, H4598 and put H5414 the ephod H646 upon him, and he girded H2296 him with the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod, H646 and bound H640 it unto him therewith. And he put H7760 the breastplate H2833 upon him: also he put H5414 in the breastplate H2833 the Urim H224 and the Thummim. H8550 And he put H7760 the mitre H4701 upon his head; H7218 also upon the mitre, H4701 even upon his forefront, H6440 H4136 did he put H7760 the golden H2091 plate, H6731 the holy H6944 crown; H5145 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
And they made H6213 bells H6472 of pure H2889 gold, H2091 and put H5414 the bells H6472 between H8432 the pomegranates H7416 upon the hem H7757 of the robe, H4598 round about H5439 between H8432 the pomegranates; H7416 A bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 a bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 round about H5439 the hem H7757 of the robe H4598 to minister H8334 in; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
And he made H6213 the breastplate H2833 of cunning H2803 work, H4639 like the work H4639 of the ephod; H646 of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen. H8336 It was foursquare; H7251 they made H6213 the breastplate H2833 double: H3717 a span H2239 was the length H753 thereof, and a span H2239 the breadth H7341 thereof, being doubled. H3717 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 And he made H6213 the robe H4598 of the ephod H646 of woven H707 work, H4639 all H3632 of blue. H8504
And he made H6213 the ephod H646 of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8438 H8144 and fine twined H7806 linen. H8336 And they did beat H7554 the gold H2091 into H854 thin plates, H6341 and cut H7112 it into wires, H6616 to work H6213 H8432 it in the blue, H8504 and in the purple, H713 and in the scarlet, H8144 H8438 and in the fine linen, H8336 with cunning H2803 work. H4639 They made H6213 shoulderpieces H3802 for it, to couple it together: H2266 by the two H8147 edges H7098 H7099 was it coupled together. H2266 And the curious girdle H2805 of his ephod, H642 that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work H4639 thereof; of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen; H8336 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
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.