The Torah Network

2 yrs

SERIES D --- YHVH’S TABERNACLE --- LESSON 04

YHVH’S DESIGN

AARON’S GARMENTS

From Exodus 28

Adonai continued His instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai. This is what Adonai told him: [Set apart your brother Aaron and his sons Nadah, Ahihu, Eleazer and Ithamar to serve Me as priests. To show the people that Aaron has been set apart, make for him Holy Garments that show both glory and beauty. Instruct those to whom I have given special skills to make these garments, so that Aaron may serve Me in the priestly office. These are the garments I want them to make: a breastpiece to wear over the chest, an ephod, a robe, a woven undergarment, a turban and a sash. In addition to these garments for Aaron, I want the skilled tailors to make special garments for Aaron’s sons, so that they also may serve Me as priests. For all these special garments, the tailors must use blue, purple and scarlet fine-twined linen. Tell them to make the ephod of the blue, purple and scarlet fine-twined linen, using their best skills. It will have a front and a back, joined by two shoulder straps. The sash will also be made of blue, purple, and scarlet fine-twined linen. Fasten two stones on these shoulder straps, one on each shoulder. On each stone engrave the names of six of the tribes of Israel in the order of the birth of Jacob’s sons. The stones shall he mounted in gold settings and the engravings shall be the finest work of a skilled jeweller. When they are mounted on the shoulder straps, Aaron will carry the names of the twelve tribes as a memorial for the people of Israel, bearing their names before Adonai. Make two twisted chains of pure gold and fasten them with two golden clasps to the shoulder straps of the ephod. With the same craftsmanship, make a breastpiece {a garment to wear over the chest} sewn from the same kind of gold, blue, purple and scarlet linen which was used for the ephod. It will be something like an apron, with folded cloth to make a pouch and will be nine inches square. Set four rows of jewels can it. The first row will have a sardius {ruby}, a topaz and an emerald. The second row will have a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond. The third row will have a jacinth {ligure}, an agate and an amethyst. The fourth row will have an onyx, a beryl and a jasper stone. All of these stones shall be set in gold settings. Engrave the name of a tribe of Israel on each stone, for these stones will represent the twelve tribes. Weave cords of pure gold to fasten the breastpiece to the ephod, fastening one end of each cord to the golden rings at the edge of the breastpiece and the other end of each cord to the shoulder straps of the ephod, to the front of the onyx stones. Make two more golden rings to fasten to the lower part of the breastpiece and two more golden rings for the bottom of the shoulder straps of the ephod, just above the sash. Fasten the ephod and the breastpiece together with blue ribbons to hold the two together. Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, wearing the breastpiece, he will carry the names of the Israelite tribes over his heart as a continuous reminder to Adonai. Place Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece so they will be over Aaron’s heart when he goes before Adonai. Aaron shall also bring before Adonai continually Israel’s appeal for YHVH’s wisdom and justice. Make the robe of the ephod of blue linen, open at the top for Aaron’s head to pass through, with weaving around the edges to keep it from fraying. Embroider blue, purple and scarlet pomegranates, with golden bells between them, along the bottom edge of the robe. There will be a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate and so on around the ephod. Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place to minister to Adonai, the golden bells will tinkle and he will not die. Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, as you would engrave on a seal, ‘Holy to Adonai.’ Tie it with a blue ribbon to the front of Aaron’s turban, placing on Aaron the guilt connected with the offerings of the people of Israel. He must wear this whenever he goes before Adonai, so that they may be accepted in Adonai’s presence. Weave the tunic which Aaron will wear from fine-twined linen, the turban of fine linen, and the sash of embroidered cloth, all the work of a skilled weaver. Make tunics, sashes and turbans for Aaron’s sons, to bring honour and beauty to them. Dress Aaron and his sons in these beautiful garments, anoint their heads with olive oil and set them apart to serve Me as priests. Make linen underclothes for them, to cover their skin from waist to thigh. Aaron and his sons will wear these whenever they enter the tabernacle or approach the altar in the Holy Place, for if they do not, they will be guilty and will die. This will be a permanent Law for them and their descendants.]

COMMENTARY

A WAY TO SEEK YHVH’S WILL

The Israelites of the time of Moses and through the time of Israel’s greatest kings, used three unique items to seek the will of YHVH for certain matters. The names of these three items may sound strange to people today; the {ephod,} and {Urim} and {Thummim.} The use of these three items probably was tied into the Law which YHVH gave to Moses in the wilderness. It certainly was related to the garments worn by the high priest. The appearance of these garments is described in detail in the Bible. The main garment, worn by the high priest; which was sometimes worn by other priests as well; was the {ephod.} It was magnificently woven of fine gold thread and linen in scarlet, purple and blue. Two stones, mounted in gold, each bearing the names of six of the twelve tribes of Israel, were placed on the shoulder straps. The straps themselves were wrapped in gold. On top of the ephod, attached by gold rings and cords, was worn a linen apron-like breastpiece woven in the same colours. It was as magnificently made as the ephod. The bottom was folded to make a kind of pouch. Called the {breast-piece of decision,} it was studded with twelve gemstones to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The pouch probably held two sticks or pebble-like objects. One was called {Urim,} which meant {Light.} The other was named {Thummim,} which meant {Perfection.} Urim and Thummim could answer questions only with {yes} or {no} and possibly {no answer}. The high priest, wearing the clothes went before the altar. The question would be asked, {Should we battle the Philistines tomorrow?} The pouch was shaken, and opened to see what came out first. Depending on which one emerged, the answer was {yes} or {no}. If both Urim and Thummim came out at the same time, it may have meant that YHVH chose not to answer. It may be assumed that godly men who used Urim and Thummim prayed earnestly for YHVH to guide these items so that the answer would he His, and not merely the answer of chance.

Comment

Discover Posts

Jahze

Jahze