Priest Vestments
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TALMUD - ZEBAHIM
III.5 A. And said R. Inyani bar Sasson, “Why are the passages that concern the sacrificial offerings [Lev. 7] and concerning the priestly vestments [Lev. 8] set side by side? It is to tell you: just as the sacrifices effect atonement, so do the priestly vestments effect atonement.
B. “The coat effects atonement for the shedding of blood: ‘And they killed a he goat and dipped the coat in the blood’ (Gen. 37:31).
C. “The underpants atoned for lewdness: ‘And you shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness’ (Ex. 28:42).
D. “The miter effected atonement for arrogance.”
E. (How do we know that?
F. Said R. Hanina, “Let an article of clothing that is worn high up come and effect offence for holding one’s nose in the air.”)
G. “The girdle effected atonement for impure meditations of the heart, corresponding to the place at which it was located.
H. “The breastplate effected atonement for neglecting the civil laws: ‘And you shall make a breastplate of judgment’ (Ex. 28:15).
I. “The ephod effected atonement for idolatry: ‘without ephod there are teraphim’ (Hos. 3:4).
J. “The robe effected atonement for slander.”
K. (How do we know that?
L. Said R. Hanina, “Let an article that carries sound [being fringed with bells] come and effect atonement for a sin that is committed through making sound [gossip].”)
M. “The headplate effected atonement for brazenness: ‘And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead’ (Ex. 28:38), and of brazenness it is written, ‘Yet you had a harlot’s forehead’ (Jer. 3:3).”
N. Is that so? But has not R. Joshua b. Levi said, “For two matters we do not find a means of effecting atonement through sacrifices, but we find a means of effecting atonement in another way altogether, and these are they: bloodshed and gossip. Bloodshed is atoned through the heifer the neck of which is broken [Dt. 21:1–9], and gossip through incense”?
O. For R. Hananiah repeated as a Tannaite formulation, “How on the basis of Scripture do we know that the burning of incense effects atonement? As it is said, ‘And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people’ (Num. 17:12).”
P. And so too did the household of R. Ishmael teach as a Tannaite formulation, “For what does incense atone? It is for gossip. Let what is offered away from public view come and effect atonement for a sin that is committed out of public view.”
Q. The proposal for atonement for slander contradicts the statement on that same matter, and the proposal for atonement for bloodshed likewise contradicts the statement on that same matter!
R. There is no contradiction. The statement on bloodshed does not contradict the other, for in the one case, the murderer is known, while in the other [the heifer] the murderer is not known.
S. But if the murderer is known, he is subject to the death penalty!
T. The sense is, where the act of murder was deliberate, but correct admonition was not delivered [there would be no execution, and that is where this mode of atonement in behalf of the community was carried out].
U. The statement on gossip does not contradict the other, for in the one case, it was done away from public view, in the other, it was done in public view [and that is the gossip for which the robe effects atonement].
ARAKHIN 3.5D
L. But is that so? Lo, R. Anani bar Sasson said, “Why is the passage on the vestments of the priests joined together with the passage on the offerings? It is to tell you that, just as the offerings effect atonement [for sin], so the vestments of the priesthood achieve atonement for sin.” [How this statement relates to the foregoing is unclear to me. No. 13 now elaborates.]
II.13 A. The tunicof the priesthood achieves atonement for the sin of bloodshed, for it is written [in Scripture], “And they dipped the tunic in the blood” (Gen. 37:31).
B. The pants achieve atonement for fornication, as it is written in Scripture, “And he made linen trousers to cover the flesh of their nakedness” (Ex. 28:42).
C. The miter achieves atonement for arrogance, and that view is in accord with that which R. Hanina said.
D. For R. Hanina said, “Let that which is set high up come and achieve atonement for a deed that was haughty.”
E. The girdle achieves atonement for the sin of sinful thoughts of the heart [Jung], that is, where [the garment itself] is located [that is, broad enough to cover the heart].
F. The breastplate achieves atonement for [error] in legal decisions, as it is written, “And you shall make a breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:15).
G. The ephod achieves atonement for idolatry, as it is written [in Scripture], “And without ephod or teraphim” (Hos. 3:4) [Jung, p. 92, n. 5: “Because there was no ephod, there were teraphim (idols)”].
H. The robe achieves atonement for slaughter.
I. Said the Holy One, blessed be he, “Let something that has a sound come and achieve atonement for a deed that is accomplished through sound.” [The robe carries bells.]
J. The plate achieves atonement for impudent deeds. Here it is written, “And it shall be upon the forehead of Aaron” (Ex. 28:38). Elsewhere it is written, “You, however, had a harlot’s forehead” (Jer. 3:3).
K. There is no conflict between the two verses. In the one case, the verse speaks of a case in which his deeds prove effective [touching third parties], in the other, one in which they did not prove effective.
L. If his deeds were effective, plagues will come upon him, and if they were not effective, the robe achieves atonement for what he has done.
M. Is that [= A, H] truly so? But has not R. Simon said that R. Joshua b. Levi said, “There are two things for which we do not find atonement in bringing sacrifices, but we do find atonement for them in some other means entirely. These are bloodshed and slander.
N. “Bloodshed [is atoned through] the calf whose neck is broken, and slander is atoned for through the incense offering.”
O. For R. Hanina has taught on Tannaite authority, “We have learned in regard to the incense offering that it achieves atonement, for it is written, ‘And he put on the incense and it achieves atonement for the people’ (Num. 17:12).”
P. And a Tanna of the house of R. Ishmael [stated], “For what sin does the incense offering achieve atonement? It is for the sin of slander.
Q. “Said the Holy One, blessed be he, ‘Let something that is offered in a private place [namely, the Holy of Holies] come and achieve atonement for a deed that is done in private.”
R. There is a contradiction between one teaching on bloodshed and another teaching on bloodshed [A, N], a contradiction between one teaching on slander and another teaching on slander [H, O].
S. Indeed, there is no conflict between one teaching on bloodshed and another teaching on bloodshed [in respect to the mode of atonement]. One teaching concerns a case in which who committed the murder is known [A], the other in which who committed the murder is not known [N].
T. [If so], in a case in which it is known who has committed murder, such a one should be put to death [so there is no issue of achievement of atonement].
U. It speaks of a case in which the person did so deliberately, but without prior warning [as to the penalty he would suffer, in which case we do not inflict the death penalty].
V. As to the matter of an alleged contradiction between two teachings concerning slander, there also is no contradiction.
W. The one speaks of an act of slander in private [O] [16B], the other of one committed in public [H].[1]
[1]Jacob Neusner, The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary, vol. 21b (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2011), 97–98.
THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS
"And draw near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest's office; Aaron, Nadav, and Avihu, Elazar, and Itamar, the sons of Aaron. And you shall make sacred garments for Aaron your brother, for honor and for beauty. And you shall speak to all who are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a quilted undercoat, a mitre, and a girdle; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest's office ... "
(Exodus 28:1-4)
Moses was instructed by G-d that the garments of the priests were to be both dignified and beautiful; as precious as the garments of royalty. Indeed, the Talmud informs us that when the wicked Persian king Ahasuerus made a feast for his advisors and officers and sought to impress them with his greatness (as recorded in the scroll of Esther, which tells the story of Purim) he put off his own royal vestments and donned the uniform of the High Priest... which was more precious than his own. These priestly garments were in his possession since the First Temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians.
Understanding Life in the Holy Temple
It is noteworthy and revealing that one of the finest ways to gain insight into both the details of life in the Holy Temple, and to its inner spirit, is by a study of the priestly garments.
We shall see that these garments are essential in order for the priests to function in their sacred capacity; so much so that in their absence, the offerings made by the priests in the Temple have no validity! Without his uniform, the priest who serves in the Holy Temple is considered like a "stranger" serving before the L-rd - like an ordinary non-priest. What, then, is the basis for the garments' powerful significance?
The Garments Possess An Intrinsic Holiness
No priest, neither lay nor the High Priest himself, is fit to serve in the Temple unless he is wearing the sacred garments. As the Talmud states, "While they are clothed in the priestly garments, they are clothed in the priesthood; but when they are not wearing the garments, the priesthood is not upon them" (BT Zevachim 17:B). Conducting the service without these garments would render the priests the same as those who are not descendants of Aaron - all of whom are unfit for service in the Temple.
Why does the Bible attach so much significance to the garments? Because their quality is such that they elevate the wearers - Aaron and all his descendants - to the high levels of sanctity required from those who come to serve before G-d in the holy place. These garments themselves possess a certain holiness; powerful enough to sanctify all those who merely come in contact with them, as we read in the prophets: "... so as not to hallow the people with their garments" (Ezekiel 44:19).
Actually, the Hebrew expression which we are translating as "sacred" or "holy" garments also means "garments of the Temple;" that is, the garments themselves show that their wearers are standing in the Divine service.
The Garments Atone for Sins
Another important quality of the priestly garments is that their very presence, worn by the priests during the Temple service, serves to atone for the sins of Israel. It is taught that just as the sacrifices facilitate an atonement for sin, so do the priestly garments (BT Zevachim 88:B).
This is one of the deeper aims of wearing these garments, and something for the priest to ponder while they are upon him. For his everyday actions in the Temple transcend his own personal idiom and take on a more universal theme... he makes atonement and spiritual rectification for all humanity.
Thus we are taught (ibid.):
The tunic, which covers most of the priest's body, atones for killing.
The pants atone for sexual transgressions.
The turban, worn on the head, atone for haughtiness.
The belt, wound about the body and worn over the heart, atones for "sins of the heart" - improper thoughts.
The breastplate atones for errors in judgment.
The ephod atones for idolatry.
The robe atones for evil speech.
The High Priest's crown atones for arrogance.
"For honor and for beauty"
The rabbis established that G-d's command for the priestly garments to be "for honor and for beauty" teach us that they must be new and dignified. If the garments were soiled, stained, or ripped, the priests may not conduct the service while wearing them - and if they did, the service would be invalid.
Another aspect of "honor and beauty" means that the uniform must fit each fit perfectly. It was forbidden for the pants, for example, to be too long or too short. The garments were made to order for each priest, tailored to fit his measurements exactly.
This tells us something of the tremendous work force needed to turn out these garments in such quantities that every priest in Israel could be supplied with his own garments. As we shall learn with regard to the incense offering, there were so many priests available for duty in the Holy Temple that no priest ever offered the daily incense service more than once in his lifetime, and it was offered twice daily for many hundreds of years! Yet each had his own garments.
The Garments Were Not Washed
Furthermore, although the priests were extremely neat, just as they were diligent and careful - still, they were working with the sacrifices. Any garment which became soiled to the extent that its stains could not be removed, those garments were not washed. When they became disqualified from use in this manner, they were shredded and used to fulfill another of the Creator's commandments! The tunics were used to make wicks for the menorah, and the belts and pants, wicks for the oil lamps of the Festival of the Water Libation which took place in the Women's Court during the Festival of Sukkot. This applies only to the garments of the ordinary priests, of which there were a great many. When the High Priest's uniform became unusable through wear and tear, it was not destroyed, but hidden away so that no other man could ever wear it.
The Production of the Garments
"And you shall speak to all who are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office." (Ex 28:3)
Aside from the fact that the priestly garments must be made "for honor and for beauty," the above verse also instructs us that they must be made with wisdom and understanding... for they must be produced in exact accordance with all the nuances of the Biblical requirements.
Furthermore, they must be made with a special intention in mind - namely, that they are being created for the sake of fulfilling G-d's commandment.
The priestly garments are not sewn, like other clothes. Each item is woven, seamless, of one piece. The only exception to this is the sleeves of the robe, which are woven separately and sewn onto the robe afterwards.
The Three Categories of Priestly Garments
There are three separate categories of priestly garments:
The High Priest's uniform, which he wears all year round. These consist of eight garments, called the "golden garments."
The clothing worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. These are four garments called the "white garments."
The uniform of the ordinary priests, consisting of four garments.
The Golden Garments
The eight garments worn by the High Priest all year round are as follows:
The ephod, breastplate, robe, tunic, turban, belt, crown, and pants.
These are the garments described in these verses: "And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe and a tunic of checkered pattern, a turban and a belt. And they shall make the sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, to serve me." (Ex. 28:4).
"And you shall make a crown of pure gold" (ibid. 36). "And make for them linen pants." (ibid. 42).
The White Garments
With regard to the High Priest's service on the Day of Atonement the Bible states: "He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen pants upon his flesh, and he shall be girded with a linen belt, and with the linen turban he shall be attired." (Lev. 16:4).
The four garments worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement are the tunic, pants, the turban and the belt. These garments are made from white flax; hence their designation "the white garments." They must be woven, as mentioned above, and each thread used must be six-ply - woven from six individual strands of fabric.
The High Priest had two tunics which he wore on the Day of Atonement. One-he wore in the morning, and the other at the evening.
After the conclusion of the Day of Atonement, he will never again wear the white garments in which he officiated on this day. They are hidden in the place where he removes them, as the verse indicates "And Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and he shall take off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and he shall leave them there." (ibid. v. 23)
The Uniform of the Ordinary Priests
The ordinary priests wear four garments all year round-these are the same as the "white garments" worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement: tunic, pants, hat, and belt. Referring to these priests, the verse states "And for Aaron's sons you shall make for them tunics, and you shall make for them belts, and you shall make for them hats... and make for them linen pants... " (Ex. 28:40-42). These garment are to be made from flax, and they too must be created from threads consisting of six individual strands.
The Materials
Five Components in the Garments
Five different materials were used to create the priestly garments:
gold
techelet, sky-blue wool
dark-red wool
crimson wool
twisted linen
The gold was beaten into thin sheets, and then cut into fine threads. The techelet sky-blue color (said by the Talmud to resemble indigo - BT Menachot 42:B) was a dye obtained from an aquatic invertebrate known as chilazon. The exact identification of this animal, and the method used to produce the dye, is the subject of extensive research. While various attempts have been made to conclusively identify the chilazon, most recently it has been classified to the Mediterranean snail known as murex trunculus.
The dark-red color (said by some to more closely resemble purple), argaman in Hebrew, is also derived from a snail; possibly the murex trunculus as well. According to this theory, the difference in color is a product of the amount of time the substance is initially exposed to sunlight.
The crimson color is produced from a worm called by the Bible the "crimson worm," tola'at shani in Hebrew, a mountain worm which has been identified as kermes biblicus, the cochineal insect.
The Hebrew word which appears here for "linen" is shesh, which literally means "six." This indicates that each thread used in these garments is required to be a six-ply linen thread.
Some of the garments were composed of all five ingredients; some contained three or four; some contained only one.
The Ephod and Breastplate
The ephod and breastplate were made of all five materials. Thus the Bible states regarding each, "And they shall make the ephod of gold, sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wool, and twisted linen" and "And you shall make the breastplate of judgment, the work of an artist; after the manner of the ephod shall you make it: of gold, sky-blue, dark-red, and crimson dyed wool, and of twisted linen shall you make it." (Ex. 28:6,15)
The belt: Three Different Types
Three different belts were worn by the priests in the Holy Temple:
The High Priest's year-round belt, part of the "golden garments." This was embroidered of sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wools, and twisted linen: "And a belt of fine twisted linen, and sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wools, the work of an embroiderer." (Ex. 39:29)
The belt worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement; one of the "white garments." This was made only of six-ply linen, as the verse states "and he shall be girded with a linen belt." (Lev. 16:4)
The belt of the Ordinary Priests: Regarding this item, there are two opinions among the scholars. Some maintain that it was the same as the belt belonging to the set of "golden garments," and thus consisting of four materials; others opine that it belongs to the "white garments" category and was made of linen alone.
The Pomegranates
The robe was decorated with pomegranates that were made from three materials: sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wools. "On the bottom of the robe, you shall make pomegranates of sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wool."(Ex. 28:33)
The Bells and The Crown
The bottom of the robe was also decorated with bells. These bells, and the High Priest's crown, were both made of pure gold exclusively: "A golden bell and (alternatively) a pomegranate... on the bottom of his robe, all around" and "and you shall make a crown of pure gold." (Ex. 28:34,36)
The Robe
The robe was made exclusively of sky-blue dyed wool: "And you shall make the robe of the ephod completely of sky-blue wool" (ibid., 31) Its threads were 12 ply.
A Closer Look at the Sacred Garment
The "Golden Garments"
I. The Ephod
The most important garment worn by the High Priest is the ephod. Its appearance can be likened to an apron; it was worn in back, on top of his other garments, and was fastened by a long belt in the front, opposite his heart. This belt was woven into the entire length of the ephod's upper hem. There were also had two shoulder-straps that were sewn onto the belt. These straps went behind, up and slightly over the upper corners of the garment, over the priest's shoulders. The settings for the two sardonyx stones were attached at the ends of these straps, on the shoulders.
The ephod covered the back of his body. Some opinions describe it as a sort of half-cape; others, more like a skirt. It was long - it extended from just below his elbows, all the way to his heels. It was slightly wider than a man's back, since it was to cover his back and extend a little towards the front on both sides as well, covering a portion of his belly from either side.
The Two Sardonyx Stones
Two sardonyx stones were fixed in settings of gold on the High Priest's shoulders; one on the right, and one on the left. The names of the tribes of Israel were engraved upon these two stones, according to the instructions of the verse: "And you shall take two sardonyx stones, and engrave upon them the names of the children of Israel; there shall be six names on one stone, and six names on the second stone in the order of their birth." (Ex. 28:9-10)
"Remembrance Stones"
The Bible calls these two stones "remembrance stones," as it is written, "And you shall place the two stones on the two shoulder pieces of the ephod as remembrance stones for the children of Israel. And Aaron shall carry their names before G-d on his two shoulders as a remembrance."(Ibid. v. 12)
The sages explain the meaning of this expression: when the High Priest entered into the holy place dressed in the ephod, the Holy One saw all the tribes of Israel inscribed before Him and He was moved to have mercy on His people.
Another two square gold settings were fixed on the High Priest's shoulders, directly under the sardonyx stones. Golden chains extended from these settings to the golden hooks in the rings of the breastplate, in order to fix the breastplate to the ephod.
II. The High Priest's Breastplate
"And you shall make the breastplate of judgment, the work of an artist; after the manner of the ephod shall you make it: of gold, sky-blue, dark-red, and crimson dyed wool, and of twisted linen shall you make it." (Ex. 28:6,15)
This garment is called choshen mishpat in Hebrew, which means the "breastplate of judgment" or "decision." Square-shaped and worn over the heart, it was called so because of the unique role which it played in helping to render fateful decisions.
According to the Biblical instructions and rabbinical traditions, the breastplate is a patterned brocade like the ephod. The threads of its fabric are gold, sky-blue, dark red and crimson wool, and twisted linen. The garment itself is set with four rows of small square stones, in settings of knitted or braided gold. Each row contained three stones-totaling twelve stones, one stone representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name of the corresponding tribe was engraved on each stone.
The Stones
"And you shall set it with four rows of mounted stones; the first row: a ruby, an emerald, and a topaz. The second row: a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a quartz crystal. The third row: a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. The fourth row: a chrysolite, an onyx, and an opal. These stones shall be placed in gold settings. The stones shall contain the names of the twelve children of Israel, one for each of the twelve stones; each one's name shall be engraved as on a signet ring, to represent the twelve tribes." (Ex. 28: 17-21)
Names that Defy Translation
Although we have provided a translation for these twelve stones as listed above, it is by no means definitive. We simply prefer to use these names, when faced with the alternative... that is, to present the original Hebrew names transliterated but untranslated. Our listing is rather more like a synopsis, or a sampling, representing different schools of thought. The exact, conclusive identification of these stones is actually one of the most difficult and elusive of all Temple-related studies. This is because the original Hebrew names of these stones as they appear here in the Bible are extremely obscure. They are not commonly used, and no description of the stones appears anywhere in the verses themselves. In the course of many years, as nations flourished and fell, and civilizations migrated to new lands, languages evolved and the meanings of words changed. Thus in one location, a word may have one meaning and connote a particular concept, while in another land, the same word may carry the exact opposite meaning.
Over 30 Different Opinions
Faced with this sort of situation, it becomes necessary to engage in what can be called "linguistic sleuthing" in an effort to arrive at a working conclusion. The names of these stones is particularly enigmatic: there are over 30 varying opinions as to the final identification of the 12 stones. These opinions include scholars and commentators from the entire historical spectrum of rabbinical literature and tradition, beginning with the most ancient-and therefore, in this case the most reliable opinions-those of the Aramaic translations of the Bible. And as is usual when it comes to eye-witness testimony, the information provided by Flavius Josephus is of interest and importance, since he himself was a priest who served in the Holy Temple.
In addition to the translational difficulties in this study, there are also other factors which should be taken into consideration in order to arrive at a realistic decision as to the true nature of these gems. These factors include various geological and gemological conditions and criteria, such as the respective degree of hardness and brightness of any candidate stone (since the stones are described by the sages as being both exceedingly bright, and strong as well - in order to withstand the engraving), and the regions on the earth where they can be found.
The Colors Correspond to the Tribes' Banners
In reality, the only fact which is known with absolute certainty is the color of each stone. Although absent from the Biblical passages, this is recorded by the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:7) where it is stated that each tribe's stone on the breastplate matched the background color of its flag (the tribes of Israel camped and journeyed according to their ensigns during the years of their desert travels).
Thus even if some doubt exists with regard to the scientific classification of the gems themselves, we can still be certain as to their appearance based on the Midrashic description of their colors (again, arbitrarily using the 12 "most representative" names we have chosen for the purpose of listing them):
Ruby - Reuben - Red
Jade - Shimon - Green
Agate - Levi - Red, White, and Black Striped
Carbuncle - Judah - Bluish-Green
Lapis-Lazuli - Issachar - Blue
Quartz Crystal - Zebulun - Clear
Turquoise - Dan - Blue
Amethyst - Naftali - Purple
Agate - Gad - Grey
Aquamarine - Asher - Blue-Green
Onyx - Joseph - Black
Opal - Benjamin - A Stone Possessing All the Colors
Exhaustive Research Concluded by the Temple Institute
It will be of great interest to the reader to learn that over the course of nearly a decade, scholars at the Temple Institute of Jerusalem have conducted intensive research into the identity of the breastplate's stones, in an effort to reach a working conclusion that will allow the Institute's artisans and craftsmen to actually construct a kosher breastplate, which will fulfill the Biblical requirements for the stones-and thus be able to be worn by the next High Priest.
"The Engraving of a Signet Ring"
"The stones shall contain the names of the twelve children of Israel, one for each of the twelve stones; each one's name shall be engraved as on a signet ring, to represent the twelve tribes." (Ex. 28: 21)
What process is this engraving, similar to that which appears on a signet ring?
In a Talmudic analysis (BT Sotah 48:B), the sages taught that because of these instructions, the words were not written with any sort of ink. Nor were they carved out or chiseled with any metal tool - for the verse (ibid. v. 20)specifically indicates that the stones must be set into their golden settings while yet "in their fullness;" in order to carve or to scratch out from the surface, some of the stone itself would inevitably be missing.
Rather, a most unique method was utilized to carve the names into the stones of the breastplate. It was accomplished naturally, by one of G-d's creations. A worm called the shamir existed that could cut stones merely with its glance. According to the rabbis, this creature was brought into existence during the original six days of creation, but ceased to exist following the destruction of the First Temple.
It is taught that Moses himself used the shamir for the stones of the original ephod and breastplate while yet in the desert, for the Tabernacle.
"Initially, the words are written on the stones in ink. Then the stones are simply exposed to the shamir, and the letters are cut into the stones automatically, of their own accord... like a fig which ripens and splits open in summer; it splits open but yet no part of it is missing. And a valley splits open during the rainy season, but it too lacks nothing." (BT Sotah 48:B) - thus the stones remained "in their fullness."
How Were the Tribes Arranged on the Breastplate?
Above, regarding the two sardonyx stones that were placed on the High Priest's shoulders, we have quoted the verse "And you shall take two sardonyx stones, and engrave upon them the names of the children of Israel; there shall be six names on one stone, and six names on the second stone in the order of their birth." (Ex. 28:9-10)
When it came to those two stones, this verse clearly indicated that the names of the tribes should be engraved upon them in the order of their birth.
But in the context of the stones of the breastplate, scripture gives no such indication. Therefore, there is some controversy as to the order in which these names appeared.
In the opinion of Yonatan ben Uziel, author of an Aramaic translation/commentary on the Bible, the children of Israel's names were inscribed on the breastplate's stones in the order of their birth, and were therefore arranged in the following manner:
Reuben Simeon Levi
Judah Dan Naftali
Gad Asher Issachar
Zebulun Joseph Benjamin
Another Aramaic translation, the "Targum Yerushalmi," places the order of the tribes according to the Matriarchs; the six sons of Leah, two sons of Bilhah, two sons of Zilpah and two sons of Rachel. Thusly:
Reuben Simeon Levi
Judah Issachar Zebulun
Dan Naftali Gad
Asher Joseph Benjamin
When the reader tries to visualize the breastplate based on this information, he should bear in mind that in both cases, the order which meets the eye is actually reversed-since Hebrew reads from right to left.
It should be noted that both of these commentaries (which date back to the time of the Temple) are held in the highest regard as sources of both wisdom and authoritative knowledge. For the sake of brevity we have only presented these two opinions, but there are more schools of thought among the great sages: some hold that the names appeared in downward columns, rather than in rows across; some hold that the names of the tribes appeared on the breastplate in the same order in which they camped in the desert.
There is also a tradition which Moses received at the Sinai revelation, that all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet should be present on the stones. Since all of these letters are not found in the names of Jacob's progeny, several other words were also engraved upon the stones: the names of the patriarchs, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and the words "the tribes of Jeshurun." One opinion is that the words Abraham, Isaac and Jacob appeared at the top of the first stone, over the name Reuben, and the other words on the last stone. Others maintain that all these extra letters were divided among the stones.
"A Remembrance"
Like the two sardonyx shoulder stones, the Bible states that the purpose of the twelve stones is "to be a perpetual remembrance before the L-rd"(Ex. 28:29). When the High Priest bore the breastplate into the holy place, Israel was remembered for peace. The sages taught that the ephod served to invoke the cause of Israel's sustenance and material welfare, and the breastplate - her salvation, and deliverance from her enemies.
The "Urim V'Tummim"
"And you shall place the Urim V'tummim in the breastplate of judgment, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he comes before G-d." (ibid. v. 30)
The "Urim V'Tummim" is the Name of G-d
The Urim V'Tummim was the famed, oracle-like aspect of the breastplate by which a Heavenly answer was received for important questions. According to most authoritative opinions, the expression urim v'tummim actually refers not to the breastplate itself, but to the mystical Divine name of G-d which was written on a piece of parchment and inserted into a flap of the garment. The presence of the name facilitated the reception of Divine guidance through the shining of specific letters on the stones.
The Identity of G-d is the Source of Creation
What does this mean? What are the implications of this fact, the knowledge that it is the name of G-d itself which brought about the illumination of the urim v'tummim? This is indeed a lofty concept, but one whose lesson can be readily appreciated, at least on a simple level of understanding.
G-d is the Creator of all existence; His power is unlimited. He has no form whatsoever, neither has He beginning or end... He is the Supreme Being. He is perfect and absolute unity. And He is also totally unknowable.
Yet in numerous passages throughout the Bible, we are commanded to "know"G-d. "In all of your ways, know Him"(Proverbs 3:6); "And I shall betroth you in faith, and you shall know the L-rd" (Hosea 2:22) are but two examples of many such instances.
Truly, how can we come to know G-d, who is omnipotent and infinite? Yet we are commanded - and therefore expected-to do just that. And there is a general rule with regard to the Torah's commandments: the Holy One never makes unfair demands on a person (BT Avodah Zara 3:A).
Knowledge of G-d Through His Names
The sages of Israel teach that one way to know G-d is through awareness of His relationship to the universe which He created. Although it is taught that "no thought can grasp Him at all" (Tikkunei Zohar 17:A), and ultimately G-d's essence is not only unknowable, but unnamable as well-still, G-d's names describe His relationship with creation (Shemot Rabbah 3:6). Through these attributes of Divine interaction, we can at least attempt some glimpse of His greatness, according to our limited intellect. There are a number of names used throughout the Bible; one denotes the attribute of Divine mercy; another the aspect of strict judgment, and so on.
These Divine names of G-d are merely appellations which He has entitled us to use; they are not His true identity, which is beyond the reach of human knowledge. But it was through these names that G-d created heaven and earth, and it is by way of His names that He continues to direct every minute aspect of existence. Thus it is obvious that G-d's names, through which He summoned forth all creation from nothing at all, have great power. This power is the secret behind the prophetic revelation of the urim v'tummim.
From the Time of Moses
The urim v'tummim is unlike any other aspect of the priestly garments, for it was not created by those skilled artisans who fashioned the other items, aided by their understanding and inspiration; and it was not created from the donations or contributions of Israel, as were all the other appointments of the Temple. The entire matter is one of those mysteries which was handed down to Moses at Mount Sinai by G-d Himself, and its secret was transmitted orally down through the generations.
At the time of the original Tabernacle erected in the desert, Moses took the original urim v'tummim, written in sublime holiness, and placed it inside the breastplate of judgment, after Aaron donned the ephod. This is reflected by the verse (Lev. 8:7), "... and he put the ephod upon him, and he fastened him with the belt of the ephod... and he put the breastplate upon him, and into the breastplate he put the urim v'tummim."
Only Questions of Congregational Importance
The process of questioning for Divine aid with the ÔUrim V'Tummim' was done in the following manner: When a question arose whose implications were so consequential that the entire congregation of Israel would be effected-such as, for example, the question of whether or not to go out to war - then, the King of Israel (or the commanding officer of the army) would ask his question before the High Priest. An ordinary person, or someone not representing the entire community would not ask of the urim v'tummim.
The High Priest stands facing the Ark of the Testimony, and the questioner stands behind him, facing the priest's back. The questioner does not speak out loud, neither does he merely think the question in his heart; he poses his query quietly, to himself - like someone who prayers quietly before his Creator. For example, he will ask "Shall I go out to battle, or shall I not go out?"
A Meditative Experience and a Prophetic Revelation
The High Priest is immediately enveloped by the spirit of Divine inspiration. He gazes at the breastplate, and by meditating upon the holy names of G-d, the priest was able to receive the answer through a prophetic vision-the letters on the stones of the breastplate, which would shine forth in his eyes in a special manner, spelling out the answer to the question. The priest then informs the questioner of the answer.
Flavius Josephus writes (Antiquities 3:8:9) that the stones also shone brilliantly when Israel went forth into battle. This was considered as an auspicious sign for their victory.
Another midrashic passage indicates that when the tribes of Israel found favor in G-d's eyes, each respective stone shone brilliantly. But when particular members of any one tribe were involved in a transgression, that tribe's stone would appear tarnished and dimmed. The High Priest would see this phenomena and understand its cause. He would then cast lots within the rank of this tribe, until the guilty person was revealed and judged (Midrash HaGadol).
What is the meaning of the words "urim v'tummim?"
According to the commentary of the famed Rashi, these words are derived from their Hebrew roots for "lights" and "perfections," since through the urim v'tummim, the question is illuminated through the letters and its subject matter is then perfected by the High Priest. The Talmud (BT Yoma 73:B)also indicates that the message which was received was called tummim, "perfect," because it was immutable.
III. The Robe
According to the opinion of most scholars, the robe was a closed garment, seamlessly woven from one piece of fabric, and slipped on over the head. It was worn over the tunic; the tunic was longer than the robe by one handbreadth, so it was visible underneath the robe at the bottom. The opening at the neck was round, with a hem that was doubled over and closed by weaving-not by a needle. The garment hung down in front and in back, and its length extended all the way down to the priest's feet. There is a difference of opinion as to whether there were sleeves.
As mentioned above, the robe was fashioned exclusively from techelet, the sky-blue dyed wool, with no other material. The Talmud (BT Yoma 71) records that its threads were 12-ply.
Pomegranates and Bells
Decorative pomegranates made of sky-blue, dark-red and crimson dyed wool were attached to the lower hem of the robe (each thread of each of these materials being woven from 8 individual strands). The verse tells us that these pomegranates appeared together with golden bells: "A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all around" (Ex. 28:34). Some opinions interpret this to mean that the bells and pomegranates were interspersed alternatively, in between each other; another holds that the bells were placed inside the pomegranates.
The hem of the robe was woven over doubly in order to prevent it from ripping due to the weight of the pomegranates and bells. Again, no sewing was used for this: "And there shall be a hole for the head, in the midst of it; it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole, like the opening of a suit of armor, that it not be torn." (ibid. v. 32)
These pomegranates were actually hollow spheres of fabric in the shape of pomegranates. We find a debate in the Talmud and other holy books as to whether there were 36, 70, or 72 pomegranates in all.
"And it shall be on Aaron when he comes to serve, and its sound shall be heard when he comes to the holy place before the L-rd, and when he goes out, so that he does not die." (ibid. v. 35)
IV. The Crown
"And you shall make a crown of pure gold, and engrave on it in the manner of a signet ring: 'Holy to the L-rd.'" (Ex. 28: 36)
The crown was a thin plate constructed of one piece of pure, solid gold. Unlike the crown worn by royalty on top of the head, this is worn across the forehead and extends from ear to ear. It was thin enough to arch across the forehead like a bow. Its width is described by Maimonides as 2 fingerbreadths, or app. 11/2 inches.
"Holy to the L-rd"
This crown was engraved with the words "Holy to the L-rd." At times, these words were written across two lines, and at times they were fit into one line. The Talmud (BT Sukkah 5) provides the eye-witness testimony of Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yose who saw the crown in Rome (both the Talmud and Josephus inform us that after the destruction of the Second Temple, many of the sacred vessels were plundered and taken to Rome, where they were publicly displayed for many years): "Rabbi Eliezer said: I saw the crown in Rome, and the words "Holy to the L-rd" were written in one line."
It was worn at all times while the High Priest was within the Temple, as the Bible states: "And it shall be worn on Aaron's forehead, that he shall carry the iniquity of the holy things (specifically, this is a reference to ritual impurity), which the children of Israel shall sanctify in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the L-rd."
How Were the Letters Engraved?
The Talmud (BT Gittin 20) describes the process by which the letters were fashioned on the crown. They were raised, not sunken - "like a golden dinar." This was accomplished by digging out the letters from the opposite side until they were raised up. Maimonides (Laws of Temple Vessels, Ch. 9) writes that "they would pound out the letters in a form until their shapes were formed on the other side."
How Was the Crown Fastened?
The crown had three small holes: two on each end, and one in the center, along the upper edge. Through these holes, threads dyed with sky-blue color were run, and the ends of these threads were connected in the back of the priest's head. In this manner the crown, itself a thin plate, was kept tied and in place on the High Priest's forehead.
The Turban and the Crown
The turban was placed on the priest's head in such a way that a space was left between it and crown upon his forehead. This space enabled the High Priest to wear the tefillin, the phylacteries of the head (see Deut. 6:8)< In the words of the Talmud (BT Zevachim 19) "The High Priest's hair was visible between the crown and the turban, and there he placed his tefillin."
The middle sky-blue thread was extended over the turban, where it was tied to the other strands at the back of his head. So it is written, " ... and the string shall be upon the turban." (Ex. 28:36)
VII. The Belt
The belt of white linen was only "3 fingerbreadths" (2 1/4 inches) wide, records both the Talmud and Maimonides. But it was made from an exceedingly long piece of fabric-its Biblical measurement, writes Maimonides, is 32 cubits... app. 48 feet!
The "Measurement" of the Heart
Earlier we learned that the belt "atoned for sins of the heart" and was worn over the heart. This is seen even in the detail of its measurement, 32 cubits: For 32 is the gammatria (the numerical equivalent; from the Greek gamma, the third letter of the Greek alphabet, equals tria, number 3) of the Hebrew word lev, meaning heart. The length of the belt itself serves as a reminder to the priest, as he officiates in the hallowed courts of the L-rd, of the purity which his office requires, and of the unsullied intentions he must have as he goes about his duties.
A "Double" Embroidered Design
Josephus describes the belt as being hollow like the skin shed by a snake (Antiquities 3:7:2). It was a work of "embroidery;" when used in this context of Temple furnishings, the Bible uses this term to indicate that the same design was featured on both sides of the material. Although the belt itself was made of linen, the embroidery-a floral design-was done of colored wool threads (the three colors which we have mentioned), and attached to the white linen background. This combination of wool and linen together in garments is normally forbidden (see Lev. 19:19), but it was permitted for the priestly garments.
The High Priest and the Ordinary Priests: Was the Belt the Same?
The above certainly applies to the belt of the High Priest. But there is a controversy between the scholars as to the appearance of the ordinary priests' belts. Some authorities, such as Josephus (ibid.) hold that were the same as the High Priest's; other opinions (such as the Talmud - BT Yoma 12:B) maintain that the ordinary priests' belts were plain white linen.
One reason for this variance of opinions: The Talmud points out that since other items (e.g., the ephod and the breastplate) of the High Priest's outfit also contained this mixture of wool and linen, then it follows that the belt may also contain it. But since the ordinary priest's garments are all made of plain linen, his belt was also of unembroidered linen. This controversy has an immediate and important consequence: it teaches us that on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest wore only the "white garments"of plain linen, so too his belt was of plain linen. In any event, there are also other opinions which hold that the ordinary priests' belts were also embroidered with the colored woolen threads.
The belt was wrapped many times around the body at the hips, but close to the heart. Its purpose was to separate between the upper and lower portions of the body; Jewish religious law obligates this separation during prayer or the mentioning of anything holy. Josephus states (Antiquities 3:7:2) that when worn, the two ends of the belt hung in front, down to the priest's ankles. However during the actual service the priest would cast these two ends over his left shoulder, to prevent them from interfering with his work
VIII. The Pants
"And make for them linen pants to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the loins to the thighs." (Ex. 28:42)
The Pants Are Required For Modesty Alone
This verse indicates that the priest's pants do not serve the same purpose as the other sacred garments. For all the other items which make up their uniform are "for honor and for beauty"... they glorify the sacred office and bespeak dignity, not to mention their deeper significance, such as the power to atone, etc. But this does not apply to the pants; we are specifically informed here that their function was one of modesty alone, to cover his nakedness.
Made Without Openings
"We were taught: To what can the priests' pants be likened? To the knee breeches (riding pants) worn by horsemen; wide from the hips to the thighs, tied with a lace, and without an opening-neither in back nor in front" (BT Niddah 13:b).
These pants were closed; they did not have the usual openings which we are accustomed to. They extended from the waist until the knees, and were worn directly over the body. The tunic was placed over them. According to most authorities, the upper hem was hollow and had a lace running through it, which was tied at the waist. Josephus, however, maintains that these laces were around the knees, and the pants were fastened there (Antiquities, 3:7:1).
Donning the Priestly Garments
A Special Chamber of Wardrobes
"There were seven gates in the courtyard: three in the north, three in the south, and one in the east... the one in the east is the Nikanor Gate, and within it were two chambers, one on the right side and one on the left. One was the chamber of Phineas the Wardrober, and the other was chamber where the High Priest's meal offering was prepared." (Midot 1,4).
During the time of the Second Temple, Phineas the Wardrober was the official who supervised the uniforms and the dressing of the priests.
Background: The Nikanor Gates
Location of The Nikanor Gates
Ascending from the Women's Court by way of fifteen steps (which correspond to the "fifteen songs of ascent" in the book of Psalms - Psalms 120-134), we reach the great brass gates known as the "Nikanor Gates." These gates, constituting the main entrance to the Holy Temple, are named after the individual who imported the Corinthian bronze doors within them from Egypt, and donated them to the Holy Temple.
The Story of Nikanor
The Mishna (Yoma 3,10) relates that Nikanor brought the gates by ship from Alexandria, and when a storm came up and threatened to destroy the ship, the sailors were forced to throw one of the heavy brass doors overboard in an effort to try and save the vessel from capsizing. When this did not help matters and the storm's ferocity had not abated, they attempted to throw the second door into the maelstrom as well. But Nikanor stood up and grabbed the door, hugging it and crying "if you do this, throw me in as well!"His heart was broken within him because his contribution to the House of G-d had been diminished. The storm then immediately subsided, but Nikanor continued to be crestfallen over the lost door.
When the ship safely reached the Holy Land, however, a miracle occurred: The second gate, which had been thrown into the sea, came up alongside the boat!
To commemorate this miracle, these original bronze doors were kept in place even when later, all the other Temple gates were refurbished with gold.
The Materials Used in Weaving the Garments
"And you shall make the breastplate of judgment, the work of an artist; after the manner of the ephod shall you make it: of gold, sky-blue, dark-red, and crimson dyed wool, and of twisted linen shall you make it." (Ex. 28:6,15)
The Bible instructs that each thread used in the High Priest's breastplate and ephod must be 28 ply: each thread is made from 6 threads each of TECHELET (sky-blue), of ARGAMAN (purple), of TOLA'AT SHANI (crimson) and of white twisted linen, and 4 threads of PURE GOLD.
Wool dyed with the authentic, ancient Biblical dyes, "TECHELET" (sky-blue) and "ARGAMAN" (purple), in preparation for the weaving of the breastplate garment. In addition to these colors, the breastplate is also made with wool dyed with "TOLA'AT SHANI" (crimson) and white twisted linen, as well as threads of pure gold. (see Ex. 28:15)
Wool dyed with the "argaman" purple dye is spun into thread for use in the Ephod.
Crimson colored wool, spun and ready to be includedin the threads of the ephod, which has been dye with color obtained from the tola'at shani,the "crimson worm" (Armenian Conchial Insect)
Over 600 meters of thread made of pure gold has been prepared for the weaving of the
High Priest's breastplate. Each string in the garment is composed of 28 threads:
6 of TECHELET, 6 of ARGAMAN, 6 of TOLA'AT SHANI,
6 of white twisted linen, and 4 of PURE GOLD. (see Ex. 28)
Inside the Priestly Wardrobe
"Windows" Were Assigned for Each Shift's Uniforms
We have already seen that a great number of priests served in the Holy Temple, and that those officiating were divided into shifts, which consisted of family groupings. Maimonides records (Laws of Temple Vessels, 8:6-10) that each one of these shifts had its own "window" in which the clothes for all the members of that respective shift were kept. Thus, he writes, there were 96 such cubbyhole-lockers; 4 windows for each of the 24 shifts. Within these windows, the clothing was kept in the same order in which it was put on.
The Ordinary Priests
The name of each shift was inscribed upon its windows; when the shift was not on duty, its windows were kept closed. Each shift which arrived to begin its tour of duty opened its windows on that first Sabbath and took its garments, and the windows were kept open during the entire week. At the close of their week, they returned their garments to the windows.
4 Windows for the 4 Garments
The items of clothing were kept separate in 4 individual windows; this way, the priest who arrives to take up his position will not be confronted by a confused jumble of clothes. All of the pants for his shift were in one window, above which the word "pants" was inscribed; so it was with the belts, the turbans, and the tunics.
The High Priest
The High Priest had no window to store his "golden garments" which he wore every day. Instead, he placed these items within his own chamber at night, or whenever he left the Holy Temple (Maimonides ibid.). This chamber was located in the south side of the Temple court.
The Order of Dressing in the Priestly Garments
The Ordinary Priests
When it came time to enrobe themselves in the vestments of their office, the ordinary priests put on the sacred pants without removing their own civilian personal clothes. That is, the priestly linen pants were placed on over his own clothes, and only afterwards the civilian clothes were removed from underneath. Afterwards, the tunic was put on, and then the belt was tied. The hat was put on last.
The High Priest
The pants are worn in the same manner described above. After the belt is tied, the High Priest puts on the blue robe. The ephod is placed on over the robe, and the breastplate is fastened to the ephod.
With these garments in place, the High Priest's head is wrapped with the turban, and then the crown is tied on his forehead.
The Priests Must be Barefoot When Conducting the Temple Service
The priests wore no shoes or sandals; they would walk barefoot on the marble floors of the Temple courts. This is because the floor of the Temple complex was itself sanctified, just as the Temple proper. Therefore there must be nothing interrupting between the priests and the floor (BT Zevachim 2, 1), to the extent that if something comes in the way of contact between the priest's feet and the floor, his service is invalid (Maimonides).
"He shall wear the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen pants upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen belt, and he shall be attired with the linen turban; these are the holy garments; therefore he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on" (Lev. 16:4)
Maimonides states that it is these words which indicate that the garments must next to the skin, with nothing else interfering.
THE PRIEST: Clothed for Service
Exodus 28:2-43
The high priest, arrayed in the stately garments of his office, methodically entered into the tabernacle to begin his day of ministry. Did it really make any difference how he dressed when representing the nation of Israel before God? Couldn’t he come in garments of his own choosing, style, or design? [The answers to these questions are “yes” and “no”! Yes, it did make a difference how he dressed! No, he could not come in garments of his own choosing!] God had explicitly revealed to Moses in vivid description each article of clothing to be worn by the priest. He said unto Moses, “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron, thy brother, for glory and for beauty (v. 2). Holy, for they were set apart only to be worn during service in the tabernacle. Glorious, because they exalted the priestly office in the eyes of the people. Beautiful, for their colors harmonized with the tabernacle furnishings. The look of the priest was to match the function of his ministry as he worshiped God in the beauty of holiness.
The dress of the priesthood was so important that the ones chosen to make these garments were “wisehearted” (v. 3)/ meaning God had filled them with special knowledge and skill through the Holy Spirit on how to make the priestly clothes. God used forty-three verses to describe in minute detail how each item of clothing was to be made. Each piece of clothing is full of divine truth and spiritual teaching which is typical of our Lord and His ministry.
The Ephod (vv. 6-14)
The term ephod, although a general word for garment, is used here in a higher sense denoting a special garment of religious significance. It consisted of two pieces of material in which a thin thread of gold wire was skillfully embroidered together with blue, purple, scarlet and fine-twined linen threads. One piece covered the chest and the other covered the back of the high priest. The two pieces of the ephod were held together by gold braided straps which were clasped together on the shoulders of the priest (vv.. 13-14). Later in Israel’s history the ephod became the symbol of the priest’s office (1 Sam. 2:28).
The gold thread running through the ephod is emblematic of our Lord’s deity. The Bible explicitly states that Jesus is divine (Jn. 1:1; 20:28; Rom. 9:5), ascribing divine attributes to Him such as His eternal existence (Rev. 1:8), omnipresence (Mt. 28:20), omniscience (Jn. 2:24-25) and omnipotence (Phil. 3:21).
The colorful materials used to make the ephod are typical of Christ’s ministry. The fine-twined linen was an Egyptian white byssus yarn woven tightly together. The white speaks of purity and righteousness. Fine, denotes the “faultlessness” of the material. What a picture of Christ, who in His flesh was without blemish and spot (1 Pet. 1:19). The fine white linen is also a type of the saints of God who will be arrayed in fine white linen garments at the marriage of the Lamb, symbolizing their righteousness before Him (Rev. 19:7-8).
The three colors woven into the ephod are symbolic of Christ’s incarnation, ministry and second advent. The blue color, probably that of indigo, was produced from a species of shellfish. The blue speaks of Christ who came down from Heaven as the Son of God to do the Father’s will (Jn. 3:13, 31). The color of scarlet is a bright red dye and was produced from worms or grubs, providing a very vivid picture of Christs ministry in shedding His blood to purchase our salvation (Rom. 3:25; 5:9). The purple color was produced from a secretion of the purple snail (murex).
The color of royalty, purple speaks of Christ’s kingship. Jesus was from the kingly line of David (Lk. 1:32), born a king (Mt. 2:2), mocked as a king (Mt. 27:29), declared to be king at His crucifixion (Mt. 27:37) and is coming back as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) to rule as King forever (Lk. 1:33).
The ephod was held close to the body by a girdle (lit. belt) made of the same materials (v. 8). It was wrapped around the body of the priest and hung down to his ankles. The girdle was always used to strengthen those who wore it, whether by the priest when he served in the tabernacle or by soldiers going off to war.
The girdle is a type of Christ who came to minister as a servant (Mk. 10:45). At the end of His last Passover, He girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples” feet leaving them a pointed lesson on what it meant to be a servant (Jn. 13:4-17),
The Christian as a believer-priest is to be girded with the truth of God’s Word (Eph. 6:14). When the Word controls his life, he will be able to meet the onslaughts of Satanic opposition and live a victorious life in Christ. The girdle also speaks of the Christian having his “loins girded” and “lamps burning” (Lk. 12:35-36) in service for his Lord, but eagerly expecting His return at any moment for the Church.
Two onyx stones had the names of the twelve tribes (six names on each stone) engraved upon them in order of their birth. Each stone was placed upon the shoulder of the high priest and attached to the gold straps of the ephod (vv. 9-12). We do not know what the onyx stones were made of, but they could have been one of “two types. The Septuagint translation of the
Bible states that the stones are “emeralds”. Yet Josephus, the Jewish historian, believes the onyx stones were the “sardonyx” which is a three layered stone, black, white and red in color. The onyx stones were placed on the shoulders of the high priest to remind him that he was representing the twelve tribes before God during his ministry (v. 1 2). This is a beautiful type of Christ who bears the believers’ needs before the throne of God where He intercedes for them (1 Jn. 2:1; Heb. 7:25;9:24).
The Breastplate (vv. 15-29)
Made of the same materials as -the ephod, the breastplate was square in shape and doubled over to form a pouch in the center (v. 16). Upon the breastplate, twelve precious stones were set in gold and placed in rows representing the twelve tribes of Israel (vv. 17-21):
Reuben-sardius
Dan-sapphire
Issachar-amethyst
Simeon-topaz
Naphtati-diamond
Zebulun-beryl
Levi-carbuncle
Gad-jacinth
Joseph-onyx
Judah-emerald
Asher-agate
Benjamin-jasper
The breastplate was held in place by four rings, two on the corners of the plate and two on the ephod (vv. 23, 26). A twisted gold cord passed through the upper rings and was attached to the settings on the shoulder stones (v. 25). A ribbon.of blue lace was passed through the lower rings which were sewn on the front of the ephod a little above the girdie (vv. 26-28).
The breastplate is called the “breastplate of judgment (lit. decision) [vv. 15, 29-30], because it contained the Urim and Thummim (v. 30) by which God was consulted to discern His will for the people. Today, we must go through Jesus our High Priest to discern God’s will in areas of uncertainty (1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Jn. 2:1); all final judgment has been left to Him (Jn. 5:22, 27).
The high priest bore the children of Israel upon his heart, each tribe represented by a precious stone, as he ministered before the Lord (v. 29). Our Lord bears us close to His heart as He represents us before God (Rom. 8:33-34). Each Christian is a precious stone before the Lord which forms His Church (Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Pet. 2:5). Each stone in the breastplate had its individual character, color, beauty and glory. So it is with the Christian. Although fitly framed together in one body, he still reflects Christ’s glory in his own unique way.
As priests of God, we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14). The breastplate covered the vital organs of the soldier, especially the heart. We have the imputed righteousness of Christ which guards us against the fiery darts of Satan who tries to strike us at the heart of our faith.
The Urim and Thummim (v. 30)
In the pocket of the breastplate were the Urim and Thummim resting over the heart of the high priest when he went before the Lord. The term “Urim” is mentioned seven times, and Thummim” five times in the Old Testament (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Dt. 33:8; 1 Sam. 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65). Urim means “lights” and Thummim means “perfections” ; both were used in seeking divine counsel and guidance from the Lord (Num. 27:21).
Many scholars have been puzzled over how the Urim and Thummim actually functioned in decision making. They have tried to come up with the answer, but their interpretations have varied greatly. Even though we do not know exactly how the Urim and Thummim functioned, we do know that they were used in finding the will of God for the Israelites, and this is what is important.
The Urim is a beautiful picture of Christ who is the believer’s light. He said, ‘. . .I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). The “light of life” which Jesus is speaking of can only be obtained by putting faith in His atoning work on the cross. But Jesus made it very clear that the world in general will not come to Him as the light of life; “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19). The true believer finds that he can have the perfect fight of God’s will through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14-16). The Thummim speaks of the perfection we find in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21 ;1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Jn. 3:5). He is our perfect counselor (Col. 2:3) who lights up the path we are to tread as He guides us along the way (Ps. 119:105).
The Robe of the Ephod (vv. 31-35)
The robe was a blue seamless garment with slits in the side for arms, and a hole at the top for the head, which was reinforced so it would not fray or tear. The robe reached just below the knees of the high priest and was trimmed with pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet to harmonize with the other pieces of the priestly garment. Each pomegranate was alternated with a pure gold bell.
As we have already seen, the colors in the pomegranates are very symbolic of Christ’s Heavenly origin, incarnation, ministry and second advent. The pomegranates speak of fruitfulness which was produced through Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross (1 Cor. 15:23). The belts speak of testimony. The sounding of the bells united the people and the priest as he ministered. The people were able to follow his movements and be in prayer with him.
The Miter (vv. 36-38)
The headdress worn by the high priest is called a “miter” (v. 37). Miter means “to wrap” or “to roll around”. Josephus tells us that the headdress was like a crown made of thick linen swathes wrapped around the head of the high priest, similar to a turban (Ant. Jud. 111;7:3). A plate of pure gold engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord” (v. 36) was placed on a blue lace and tied to the front of the miter (v. 37). It served a twofold purpose. First/ it indicated that the high priest was to bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts …” (v. 38). The word “bear” means to “carry away . The high priest was to carry away the iniquity of the people by the atonement made through the blood of the sacrifice (Lev. 10:17).
Second, the gold plate was to “be always upon his forehead” (v. 38) that the Israelites would be accepted before the Lord. Here is a beautiful picture of our Lord’s ministry. He did not wear “Holiness to the Lord , but is the “Holy Lord”. As our High Priest, He who is holy offered Himself as a sacrifice not just to bear our iniquity, but to once and for all take it away “by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26). In Christ we are made righteous and holy (2 Cor. 5:21).
As believer-priests, we offer “spiritual sacrifices” unto God through Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5). The gold plate on the miter reminds us that as believer-priests, our lives and service are to be holy. Peter writes, “But, as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life. Because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
The Breeches and Under Garments (vv. 39, 42)
The breeches (drawers) made from linen were to cover the nakedness of the priest from the loins unto the thighs (v. 42). Many nations surrounding Israel would not be covered like their priest, in fact, much of heathenistic worship in the ancient world was sensual and obscene, with services performed in nakedness by the people. But God demanded that worship be carried out in modesty and decency. The priest was to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2; 96:9).
This should convict us as believer-priests to make sure that our dress is glorifying to God when we come before Him in worship. The Scriptures give explicit instructions to women on how they should dress (1 Tim. 2:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:3), and the same would hold true for men.
A coat (lit. tunic) was worn under the outer clothing of the high priest. Josephus tells us that it had tight fitting sleeves and reached down to the feet (Ant. Jud, 3:7:2). The tunic was held in place by a girdle of needlework (Lev. 8:7).
The Garments of the Priest (vv. 40-43)
The garments described thus far were those of the high priest. In the verses that follow we have a description of the ministerial garments worn by other priests who served in the tabernacle. They wore a coat, miter, girdle and breeches made of fine linen “for glory and for beauty” (v. 40- 42), yet the style and pattern differed from that of the high priest, being much more simple.
Garments have always been a symbol of righteousness in the Scriptures. As believer-priests we have been clothed with the white garment of salvation and robed in righteousness as a bride adorneth herself for her marriage (Isa. 61:10). Since we are clothed with Christ’s righteousness, Paul instructs us to put off the old life of sin as one strips away an old wornout suit of clothes (Col. 3:8-9).
The believer-priest is not to allow his garments (under tunic) to be spotted by the flesh (Jude 23). As a garment can be spotted by the flesh it touches, so can the Christian be defiled by the things in this present world system which touch him. Thus, we are to keep ourselves from the corruption of this world by setting our affections on things above (Col 3:1-2). By being clothed in the righteous knowledge of Christ, we are empowered through the Holy Spirit to live a victoriously fruitful life in our Lord (Col, 3:10).
We await that great day when the old sin nature will be stripped away, and we’ll stand before our Lord clothed in white raiment. John tells us that at the marriage supper of the Lamb we shall “be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white” (Rev. 19:8). The white linen represents the righteous deeds which were manifested by the believer during his earthly ministry.
We who have been clothed in His righteousness are fit for worship and service. We are to go forth from worship to serve in this dark world manifesting the “glory and beauty” of Christ through our lives.
Do others see the glory and beauty of Christ shining through your life?
