SERIES D --- YHVH’S TABERNACLE --- LESSON 15

REMINDERS OF YHVH

LINEN GARMENTS FOR THE PRIESTS

From Exodus 39

As Adonai Elohiym had instructed Moses, the craftsmen made beautiful garments for Aaron and the priests, using blue, purple and scarlet fine-twined linen. These garments were to be worn when the priests ministered in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The same material was used to make the ephod. Bezalel hammered gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads then wove the golden threads into the linen with beautiful designs. The top of the ephod was fastened by two shoulder straps. A beautiful sash, made of the same blue, purple, gold and scarlet fine-twined linen, secured the ephod at the bottom. This was done exactly as Adonai had told Moses. Adonai Elohiym had also instructed Moses concerning the shoulder straps of the ephod and the onyx stones on the straps. These stones were set in gold, with the names of the tribes of Israel engraved upon them, as one would engrave a signet ring. The purpose of the stones was to remind the people of Israel that they belonged to Adonai. The breastpiece, like the ephod, was a work of art, made from beautiful fine-twined linen of blue, purple, gold and scarlet. It was a double piece of cloth, nine inches square, which formed a pouch or pocket. Four rows of stones were set on the breastpiece. The first row had a ruby, a topaz and an emerald. The second row had an emerald, a sapphire and a diamond. The third row had a piece of amber, an agate and an amethyst. The fourth row had stones of onyx, beryl and jasper. All of these stones were set in gold filigree mountings. They were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, as the engraving on a signet ring. The ephod and breastpiece were fastened by two strands of golden cord, made of pure gold. At the top, the cord was fastened to the ephod by two golden rings and to the breastpiece by two golden clasps. At the bottom it was fastened to the ephod by two golden rings on the shoulder straps, near where the ephod and sash joined. The bottom rings of the ephod and breastpiece were joined with a blue ribbon at a point just above the woven sash of the ephod. All of these instructions were given to Moses by Adonai. The robe for the ephod was blue, skilfully woven, with an opening for the neck like the opening of a garment, reinforced around the opening so that it would not fray. On the hems of the robe were pomegranates and bells of blue, purple and scarlet fine-twined linen. All around the robe the pomegranates and bells alternated, first a pomegranate, then a bell and so on. As Adonai instructed Moses, this robe was to be worn by the High Priest while serving Him in the tabernacle. Tunics or robes of fine-twined linen were made for Aaron and his sons. The same linen was used to make the turbans, caps and underclothes. The sash also was made of the same linen, with blue, purple and scarlet embroidery, as Adonai had told Moses. A plate of pure gold was fastened by a blue ribbon to the front of the turban, as Adonai had instructed. It was engraved like a signet ring with the words, {Holy to Adonai.} The work of the tabernacle was finally completed. The people of Israel did exactly what Adonai had commanded Moses. They brought the tabernacle to Moses, with all of these pieces and furnishings: the tent, with its clasps, boards, bars, pillars and sockets; the covering made of rams’ skins dyed red; the covering made of tanned goats’ skins; the entrance curtains; the Ark with the tablets of stone in it and its carrying poles; the mercy seat; the table with its utensils and the Bread of the Presence; the golden lamp stand with its lamps and utensils and oil for the lamps; the golden altar; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the veil for the tabernacle; the bronze altar and its bronze grating as well as its poles and utensils; the laver and its base; the curtains for the courtyard with their pillars and sockets; the curtain to cover the opening of the courtyard with its cords and pegs; and all of the utensils used in the tabernacle services. They brought to Moses also the beautiful garments which Aaron and his sons would wear when serving Adonai in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The people of Israel made the tabernacle exactly as Adonai had told Moses. When Moses saw their work and realized that it was exactly as Adonai had Commanded, he blessed them.

COMMENTARY

THE HIGH PRIEST’S CLOTHES

Israelite priests wore clothes that were distinctly different from those of the people around them. All priests wore some of the same things, but the clothing of the high priest was more elaborate. The basic garment was a long-sleeved robe that fell to the ankles. Made of silk-like fine linen, it was bleached a dazzling white. A sash or girdle fastened this robe at the waist. Underneath, the priests wore a loincloth made of the same white linen as the robe. It was their one article of underwear, like present-day shorts. The colour white meant cleanliness and purity to the Israelites, just as it does today. The high priest’s robe was embroidered. He wore a dark blue sleeveless tunic over it that reached to his knees. The tunic was held together by straps at the shoulders. Onyx, a beautiful milky stone with stripes running through it, was fastened to the straps at the top. They were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Tiny gold bells hung from the hem of the tunic. People believed that bells warded off disaster and the jingling was thought to preserve the high priest’s life when he stood before the presence of YHVH. Pomegranates made of blue, purple and scarlet linen dangled on the fringes between the bells. The fruit may have stood for fertility and growth. Another piece of clothing special to the high priest was the breastpiece or ephod. Twelve precious jewels, each set, in gold, were attached to the front. Every jewel was engraved with a name of one of the tribes of Israel. The breastpiece was attached to the blue tunic with blue ribbons strung through gold rings. All priests wore a cone-shaped hat, but only the high priest wore a tall headdress made of linen. Strapped across the front of the high priest’s forehead was a gold band two fingers wide. Called a {ziz,} it was fastened to the headdress with blue ribbons. Gold was used because the metal was a symbol of splendour and light. The ziz was engraved with the words {holiness to Adonai} or {the sacred Name of Adonai.} Because the Name of YHVH was so Holy, the Israelites were forbidden to say it aloud or to write it. It was engraved on the ziz as YHVH. Those letters have come down to the modern world pronounced as {YAH-VEH}. When the high priest wore the ziz, he was said to bear the sins of all to Adonai. He was instructed always to wear it when he went before the altar. No one knows the meaning of all the articles of clothing worn by the priests and the high priest. Whatever they meant, they were considered so special that absolutely nothing else was to be worn; not even a bandage. They seemed almost to have a power of their own. Unless he wore all his special garments and nothing else, the sacrifices and prayers performed by the priest were not considered valid. When the clothing wore out or became too dirty to wear, it was never thrown away. The regular priest’s garments were cut up and made into wicks for the holy lamps. Those of the high priest were considered too sacred to damage in any way and they were carefully kept in permanent storage.