Exodus 28:39

The high priest's tunic, turban, and sash. With vv.39 42 compare (condensed) Exodus 39:27-29.

the coat the tunic. This was made of fine linen, the -work of the weaver" (Exodus 39:27), woven in one piece. Josephus says (Ant.iii. 7. 2) that it reached down to the feet, fitted close to the body, and had tight sleeves: it had a narrow aperture about the neck, and was girt about the breast by a sash (see below). It would thus resemble a cassock or dressing-gown (see ill. of an ordinary tunic in DB.i. 624 b). Linen, as a clean and cool material, was much prized in antiquity (cf. on Exodus 25:4); and was worn in particular by priests both in Egypt Hdt. ii. 37; Wilk.-B. ii. 159), and also often elsewhere (see Di.).

chequer work what exactly is denoted by shibbçẓis uncertain; but not improbably something of the nature of a -check," obtained by the weaver alternating threads of different colours in warp and woof; or, if the threads were all of the same colour, quiltedor honey-combed work(cf. Ges. Thes.1356; Kennedy, EB.iv. 5288). The tunic was only the -work of the (ordinary) weaver" (Exodus 39:27), which was not as elaborate as the two other kinds described on Exodus 26:1; but it was something more than perfectly plain weaving. Work of the same kind is mentioned also in v.4, Psalms 45:13 (-chequer-work of gold (-thread)," but the text is doubtful); and, of plaited settings of gems (-rosettes"), vv.11, 13, 14, 20, Exodus 39:6; Exodus 39:13; Exodus 39:16; Exodus 39:18 †.

a turban] Heb. miẓnépheth, something wound round(the cogn. verb occurs in Isaiah 22:5; see RVm.), i.e. what we call not a -mitre," but a turban. It was of fine white linen (v.39); and probably was folded many times round the head: the Talm. says that it contained 16 cubits (24 ft.) length of material. Except in Ezekiel 21:26 [Heb. 31], where it denotes the royal turban of the Jewish king (Zedekiah), the word occurs only here and elsewhere in P of the high priest's turban. See further (esp. with reference to Jos."s statements) the very full art. Mitre in EB.RVm. silkfor shçsh, as in AV. of Proverbs 31:22. The rend. is not probable: though -white silk" was used for shçshby Luther.

a girdle a sash; Heb. "abnçṭ, only of the sash worn by the priests, and (Isaiah 22:21) by a high officer of state. It was made (see the next note) of richly coloured material: Jos. (Ant.iii. 7. 2) adds that it was four fingers broad, wound twice round the body, beginning at the breast, and tied in front in a bow: the ends reached the ankles, but while the priest was officiating, they were thrown over the left shoulder so as not to be in his way (EB.ii. 1735; see ill. in Braun, de vest. sacerdd. opp. to p. 404). According to the Talmud, it was 32 cubits (48 ft.) long. It is thus very inadequately described as a -girdle."

the work of the embroiderer or variegator(see on Exodus 26:1): the ", Exodus 39:29, prefixes -fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet." The materials and work were thus the same as those of the screens at the entrances to the Tent and the court (Exodus 26:36; Exodus 27:16).