1._And take thou unto thee Aaron. _The calling of God is here alleged to prove the importance and dignity of the priesthood, and this too the Apostle has well weighed in the words: "And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” (Hebrews 5:4.) Among heathen n... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And thou shalt make holy garments. _These external ornaments denoted the want of those which are true and spiritual; for if the priest had been absolutely and entirely perfect, these typical accessories would have been superfluous. But God would shew by this symbol the more than angelical brightn... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And these are the garments. _Here again I must remind my readers, that they should abandon all subtle speculations, and be contented with simplicity. I might repeat many plausible allegories, which perhaps would find more favor with some than a sound knowledge of facts. If any should delight in t... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And thou shalt take two onyx-stones. _That the connection between the priest and the people might be made more plain, God not only placed on his breast the memorials of the twelve tribes, but also engraved their names on his shoulders. Thus all occasion of envy was removed, since the people would... [ Continue Reading ]
30._And thou shalt put in the breastplate. _From these words some infer that the _Urim _and _Thummim _were distinct from the whole work, which is before described; others think that they were the twelve stones, because no mention will be made of them when Moses relates that the whole was completed.... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And thou shalt make the robe. _This robe was above the oblong coat between that and the ephod; and from its lower edge hung the bells and pomegranates alternately. Although there was no smell in the pomegranates, (164) yet the type suggested this to the eyes; as if God required in that garment a... [ Continue Reading ]
36._And thou shalt make a plate. _It is not without reason that this inscription is placed upon the priest’s forehead, that it may be conspicuous; for not only did God thus testify that the legal priesthood was approved of, and acceptable to Him, since He had consecrated it by His word, but also tha... [ Continue Reading ]
40._And for Aaron’s sons. _The sons of Aaron also are separated not only from the body of the people, but likewise from the Levites; for a peculiar dignity was attached to that family, from whom his successor was afterwards to be taken. (170) And since no single individual was able to perform all th... [ Continue Reading ]
42._And thou shalt make them linen breeches. _Since men, in their natural levity and frowardness, lay hold of the very slightest causes of offense to the disparagement of holy things, and so religion easily sinks into contempt, God here, as a precaution against such a danger, delivers a precept resp... [ Continue Reading ]