Exodus-Chapter-28
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
In Exodus Chapter 28, the narrative
transitions from the architecture of the Tabernacle to the vestments of those who
officiate within it. The priesthood is established as a formal institution, centred
on Aaron and his descendants. The “holy garments” described are designed for “splendour
and for beauty”, mirroring the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet of the sanctuary
itself. These garments serve a dual purpose: they sanctify the priest for his
service and act as a constant visual reminder that he carries the identity and
the spiritual burden of the entire nation of
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Let us read Exodus
Chapter 28, verses 1-43: Below the verses are the Explanation’s. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the
Torah).
Verses 1-5: “And
bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among
the children of Israel, that they may minister unto Me in the priest’s office,
even ‘Aaron’, ‘Nadab’ and ‘Abihu’,
‘Eleazar’ and ‘Ithamar’, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for
splendour and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that
are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make
Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto 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 tunic of
chequer work, a mitre, and a girdle; and they shall make holy garments for
Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto Me
in the priest’s office. And they shall take the ‘gold’, and
the ‘blue’, and the ‘purple’, and the ‘scarlet’, and the fine ‘linen’.
Explanation Verses 1-5, These opening verses mark the formal designation
of Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu,
Eleazar, and Ithamar as priests. Moses is instructed
to bring them near from among the children of
Verses 6-14: And
they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine
twined linen, the work of the skilful workman. It shall have
two shoulder-pieces joined to the two ends thereof, that it may be joined
together. And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and
of the same piece: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined
linen. And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on
them the names of the children of
Explanation Verses
6-14, the Ephod is described as the primary
outer garment, made of gold and fine twined linen. Of particular importance are
the two onyx stones set upon the shoulder-pieces. These stones were engraved
with the names of the twelve tribes of
Verses 15-30: And
thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skilful workman;
like the work of the ephod thou shalt make it: of gold, of blue, and purple,
and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. Four-square
it shall be and double: a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the
breadth thereof. And thou shalt set in it settings of
stones, four rows of stones: a row of ‘carnelian’, ‘topaz’, and ‘smaragd’ shall be the first row; and
the second row a ‘carbuncle’, a ‘sapphire’, and an ‘emerald’; and
the third row a ‘jacinth’, an ‘agate’, and an ‘amethys’t; and the fourth row a ‘beryl’, and an ‘onyx’, and a ‘jasper’; they
shall be inclosed in gold in their settings. And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of
Explanation Verses 15-30, the Breastplate of Judgment was a square, doubled pouch set with
four rows of precious stones, totalling twelve distinct gems. Each stone was
engraved with the name of one of the tribes. This was fastened to the Ephod so
it would rest directly over Aaron’s heart. Inside this pouch were placed the “Urim and the Thummim”. This
arrangement ensured that Aaron bore the “judgment” of the children of
Verses 31-35: And
thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. And it
shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof; it shall have a binding of
woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail
that it be not rent. And upon the skirts of it thou shalt
make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the
skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: a
golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts
of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to
minister; and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy
place before יְהוָה - the LORD, and
when he cometh out, that he die not.
Explanation Verses 31-35, the Robe of the Ephod was woven entirely of blue wool, with a
reinforced opening at the top to prevent tearing. The hem was adorned with
pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, alternating with bells of pure gold.
The sound of these bells was a functional requirement; it allowed the priest’s
movements to be heard as he entered and departed the
Verses 36-39: And
thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings
of a signet: קֹדֶשׁ
לַיהוָה
- “HOLY TO יְהוָה - THE LORD”. And thou shalt put it on a thread of blue, and it shall be upon the
mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall
be upon Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the
holy things, which the children of
Explanation Verses 36-39, a plate of pure gold, referred to as the “holy crown’, was to be
engraved with the words “Holy TO יְהוָה - THE LORD” and fastened
to the forefront of Aaron’s mitre with a thread of blue. This plate rested upon
his forehead, signifying that the High Priest bore any “iniquity of the holy
things” offered by the people. This ensured that the gifts and sacrifices of
Verses 40-43: And for
Aaron’s sons thou shalt make tunics, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for
splendour and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon
Aaron thy brother, and upon his sons with him; and
shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may
minister unto Me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt
make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins
even unto the thighs they shall reach. And they shall be upon
Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when
they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not
iniquity, and die; it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed
after him.
Explanation Verses 40-43, the final instructions cover the garments for Aaron’s sons, which
included ‘tunics’, ‘girdle’s, and ‘head-tires’, also intended for splendour and
beauty. Additionally, linen breeches were required for all priests to ensure
modesty during their service. These instructions conclude with the requirement
to ‘anoint’, ‘consecrate’, and ‘sanctify the priests’, establishing a “statute
for ever” for Aaron and his seed. This ensures that the service of the
Tabernacle is always conducted with ‘physical’ and ‘spiritual dignity’.
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My Closing Message:
The garments of Exodus Chapter 28 remind us
that the service of the community is a heavy but
beautiful responsibility. By bearing the names of the tribes on both his
shoulders and his heart, the High Priest demonstrated that true leadership
requires both the strength to carry the people’s burdens and the empathy to
hold them close to one’s heart. These laws of vestment ensure that the bridge
between the people and the Divine is maintained with the highest degree of
reverence and intentionality!
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