XXVIII. THE DESIGNATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS FOR THE PRIESTLY OFFICE, WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THEIR MINISTERIAL APPAREL. (1) TAKE THOU UNTO THEE AARON THY BROTHER. — Heb., _make to draw near to thee Aaron thy brother._ Hitherto the position of Moses had been absolutely unique. He had been, from the tim... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLY GARMENTS. — Though holiness is, strictly speaking, a personal quality, yet all nations have felt it right to regard as “holy,” in a certain modified sense, all those material objects which are connected with religion and employed in the worship of God. Hence we hear, both in Scripture and elsew... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT SPEAK UNTO ALL THAT ARE WISE HEARTED. — By “all that are wise hearted” we must understand all that had the special knowledge which would enable them to give effectual aid in the production of such garments as were about to be commanded. The Hebrews regarded the heart as the seat of knowle... [ Continue Reading ]
(4). THESE ARE THE GARMENTS. — The garments peculiar to the high priest are taken first, and described with great elaboration in thirty-six verses (4-39). The most conspicuous was the breastplate, described in Exodus 28:13, and here mentioned first of all. Next to this came the peculiar vestment cal... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL TAKE GOLD, AND BLUE. — Heb., _the gold and the blue,_ &c. — i.e., they (the wise-hearted men of Exodus 28:3) shall receive (from Moses) the (necessary) gold, blue, &c., for the construction of the vestments. It is to be noted that the materials are the same as those employed for the vail... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH CUNNING WORK. — On this phrase, see Note on Exodus 26:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
1. THE EPHOD. (6-12) The ephod was, as already observed (Note on Exodus 28:4), a sort of jerkin or waistcoat. It was made in two pieces, a front piece and a back piece, which were joined together at the shoulders, apparently by a seam (Exodus 28:7). The pieces descended to the waist; and there one... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TWO SHOULDER PIECES THEREOF. — Rather, _two shoulder pieces. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CURIOUS GIRDLE. — The word k_hésheb,_ which is thus translated, means properly “device,” “ornamental work,” and has not in itself the sense of “belt” or _“_girdle.” Still, there is no reason to doubt that the k_hêsheb_ of the ephod was in fact a girdle, as Josephus calls it (_Ant. Jud.,_ iii. 7,... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO ONYX STONES. — The _shôham_ of the Hebrews has been regarded by some as the emerald, by others as the beryl; but it is probably either the stone usually called the onyx, or that variety which is known as the sardonyx — a stone of three layers — black, white, and red. (See Joseph., _Ant. Jud.,_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OTHER SIX NAMES OF THE REST. — Heb., _the remaining six names._ Either Levi was omitted, or Joseph’s name took the place of Ephraim’s and Manasseh’s. ACCORDING TO THEIR BIRTH — i.e., in the order of their seniority.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENGRAVINGS OF A SIGNET. — Compare Note 2 on Exodus 28:9. Signets had been already mentioned in Genesis 38:18; Genesis 38:25; Genesis 41:42. Those of Egypt were for the most part rings, with cylindrical bezels turning upon an axis. Those of Babylonia were cylinders, which were commonly worn by a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR STONES OF MEMORIAL UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — Rather, _for the children of Israel._ The intention was that the stones should be “stones of memorial” _to_ God, on behalf of Israel; should remind God that the high priest represented all the tribes, and pleaded before Him on their behalf, and i... [ Continue Reading ]
OUCHES OF GOLD. — “Buttons” or “rosettes” of similar open-work to that which formed the setting of the onyx stones upon the shoulders of the ephod (Exodus 28:11). These “buttons” must have been sewn on to the ephod.... [ Continue Reading ]
2. THE BREASTPLATE. (13-30) The space devoted to the “breastplate” is indicative of its high importance. It was the most costly, most magnificent, and most conspicuous of the high priest’s garments, while at the same time it was the most mysterious. Externally it was a blaze of gold AND jewels; inte... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAINS... AT THE ENDS. — Rather, _chains of equal length,_ or, perhaps, _of wreathen work._ OF WREATHEN WORK. — Heb., _after the manner of a rope._ Such chains are often seen round the necks of Persian officials in the Persepolitan sculptures, and appear also to have been used by the grandees of Eg... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT. — The word _khoshen_ does not really signify “breastplate,” but “ornament.” It was the main ornament of the priestly attire. It was called “the ornament _of judgment_” on account of its containing the Urim and Thummim, whereby God’s “judgments” were made known to His peo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOURSQUARE IT SHALL BE. — On the idea of perfection connected with the square, see Note on Exodus 27:1. But for this, twelve gems would probably have been arranged in the shape of an oblong. DOUBLED. — Symmachus translates _khoshen_ by _δόχιον_, “a receptacle” or “bag;” and if the Urim and the Thum... [ Continue Reading ]
(17-19) SET IN IT SETTINGS OF STONES... There is always considerable difficulty in identifying ancient with modern gems, the etymologies of the words being frequently uncertain, the names (where they have survived) having sometimes changed their meaning, and the opinions of early commentators, who m... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL BE SET IN GOLD IN THEIR INCLOSINGS. — Or, _in their settings._ Every gem was to be enclosed in its own setting of gold.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STONES SHALL BE WITH THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — Rather, _the stones shall be according to the names,_ &c. — twelve, neither more nor fewer. EVERY ONE WITH HIS NAME... — Rather, _each stone, according to its name_ (_i.e.,_ the name engraved upon it), _shall be_ (or, _stand_)_ for one... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAINS AT THE ENDS. — Rather, _chains of equal length;_ or, _chains of wreathen work._ (See Note on Exodus 28:14.) OF WREATHEN WORK. — Heb., _after the manner of ropes. _... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO RINGS ON THE TWO ENDS — i.e., on the two upper corners of the breastplate. The chains were to be passed through the two rings, which they were then to unite with the “ouches_”_ of the ephod. (See Exodus 28:13.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE TWO RINGS — _i.e.,_ “two other rings.” These were to be put on the two lower corners of the breastplate, “in the border thereof,” or at its extreme edge.... [ Continue Reading ]
Two gold rings were also to be sewn on to the ephod, low down and in front, so as just to appear above the “curious girdle of the ephod,” and the lower rings of the breastplate were to be laced to these rings by a “lace of blue.” The breastplate was thus securely attached to the ephod, and showed ab... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SHALL BEAR THE NAMES... UPON HIS HEART. — Comp. Exodus 28:12. The high priest was to be wholly identified with the people; to be one with them in affection no less than in action; to bear their names on his shoulders, as supporting them and wrestling for them, while he also bore their names on... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT PUT IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM. — Comp. Leviticus 8:8. The expression used is identical with that employed in Exodus 25:15; Exodus 25:21 with respect to putting the Two Tables into the Ark of the Covenant, and can scarcely have any other meaning than the liter... [ Continue Reading ]
3. THE ROBE OF THE EPHOD. (31-35) The “robe of the ephod” was a frock or tunic, reaching from the neck to below the knees. It was put on over the head, for which a hole was left (Exodus 28:32). Josephus says that it had no sleeves; and it would seem that the upper portion, above the waist, was whol... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT WERE THE HOLE OF A HABERGEON. — Linen corselets, or “habergeons,” were common in Egypt, and were shaped as is here indicated. The word used for “habergeon,” _taklărah,_ is thought to be Egyptian.... [ Continue Reading ]
POMEGRANATES. — The pomegranate was a favourite ornament in Assyria, but not in Egypt. It appears from Joshua 7:21 that the fabrics of Babylon were carried by the merchants into Syria at a date not much later than this, whence we may conclude that they circulated also in Arabia and Egypt. BELLS OF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SOUND SHALL BE HEARD. — Rather, _that its sound may he heard._ The great object of the bells was to make known to the people, by a sensible manifestation, every movement of their representative, every act that he performed on their behalf. The bells enabled them to follow in their thoughts t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE A PLATE. — The plate is so much of the essence of the mitre that it is put forward first, as that whereto all the rest is subordinate. It was to be “of pure gold,” and “fastened on high upon the mitre” (Exodus 39:31); so catching the eye even more than the breastplate, and drawing me... [ Continue Reading ]
4. THE MITRE. (36-39) The head-dress of the high priest was to be of fine white linen (_shêsh_) and appears by the description of Josephus (_Ant. Jud._ iii. 7, § 3) to have been a turban, made of several thick swathes or folds in the usual way. It was to be adorned in front with a plate of pure gol... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT PUT IT ON A BLUE LACE. — Compare Exodus 39:31, where we read “they tied unto it a lace of blue.” Probably the two ends of the plate were perforated, and a blue lace or cord passed through the holes and tied to the plate, which was then put in front of the turban and kept in place by the t... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT AARON MAY BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE HOLY THINGS. — The “holy things” are the offerings brought by the people. These would always have some “iniquity” attaching to them, some imperfection, owing to the imperfection of human nature and the mixed character of human motives. The high priest’s offici... [ Continue Reading ]
5. THE INNER TUNIC OR “COAT.” (39) The garments hitherto described have been the outer garments. To these are now added the inner ones, of which there was but little to be said. They consisted of linen drawers (Exodus 28:42), a linen tunic or shirt, woven in a peculiar way, and, to confine the tuni... [ Continue Reading ]
7. THE MINISTERIAL ATTIRE OF THE PRIESTS. (40) FOR AARON’S SONS THOU SHALT MAKE COATS — _i.e.,_ linen tunics like that of the high priest already described (see the last Note on Exodus 28:39), but not woven in any peculiar fashion. GIRDLES. — Perhaps similar to the inner girdle of the high priest,... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT PUT THEM UPON AARON... AND HIS SONS. — Moses was by these words commanded to take the part in the consecration of Aaron and his sons which he is related to have taken in Leviticus 8:6. AND SHALT ANOINT THEM. — See the comment on Exodus 29:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE THEM LINEN BREECHES. — Rather, _linen drawers._ Drawers reaching from the waist to a little above the knee were the sole garment of many in Egypt, a necessary garment of all. Their object was as here stated.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. — Heb., _the tent of meeting._ THE HOLY PLACE seems to be here the court of the tabernacle, within which the altar was to be set up (Exodus 40:6; Exodus 40:29). THAT THEY BEAR NOT INIQUITY, AND DIE. — The death penalty is threatened against the sin of ministerin... [ Continue Reading ]