DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2013 December 28
Image 1: The Great High Priest
Image Credit: Messianic Torah Truth Seeker
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Image 2: Clothing of a Priest and the High Priest
Image Credit: Torah Talk
Explanation: In Exodus 28 the LORD appoints Aaron and his sons to be priests for the Tabernacle and describes the garments which were to be made for them. The LORD appoints Aaron and his sons to be priests for the Tabernacle and describes the garments which were to be made for them. Their garments would be glorious and beautiful and would be made by artisans whom God had specially gifted for the task. The garments for Aaron were to consist of a breastplate, an ephod (perhaps a shoulder to thigh-length or ankle-length 'apron'), a robe, a checkered coat, a turban, and a sash -- all made with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen (1-5).
The first item was the ephod. The ephod is described in detail as to its yarns and its engraved stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (6 on each stone) in their birth order (6-14).
The second description is of the breastplate which was to have twelve stones divided into four rows of three stones apiece -- one for each of the tribes. It was to be attached to the ephod. In addition to the stones, the breastplate was also to have gemstones called the Urim and the Thummim ('lights' and 'perfections,' or 'perfect light'), perhaps symbolizing the presence of God, and associated in various contexts (Exodus 28:29-30; Leviticus 8:8; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8-11; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65) with judgment, discernment, revelation, and intercession (15-30).
The third description is of the blue robe which was to have alternating pomegranates and bells circling the hem. The bells served the practical purpose of allowing the priests hear the high priest moving behind the veil in the Holy of Holies, thereby letting them know that he had not died while he was in that spot where only the High Priest could enter. According to Jewish tradition, the High Priest had a cord tied around his ankle so that the could be dragged from beneath the veil if he happened to die while serving (31-35).
The fourth article of clothing mentioned was the turban. On it the designers were to attach a plate made of gold having the words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" engraved upon it, as a means of giving an extra measure of consecration to the gifts which Aaron brought from the people to the LORD (36-38).
The fifth article of Aaron's clothing was the checkered coat which was to be made of fine linen like his turban and to have an embroidered sash (39).
The garments for Aaron's sons were to be coats, sashes, and caps, which, like Aaron's garments were to be glorious and beautiful (40). When Aaron and his sons were consecrated to their offices, their garments were to be put upon them, and they were to be anointed and ordained. They were also to be given linen undergarments which would reach from the hips to the thighs. These were to be worn while they were ministering in the Tabernacle, especially near the altar in the Holy Place (41-43).
Exodus 28
1 "Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests-Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.
4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
5 They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
6 "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.
7 It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together.
8 And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
9 You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth.
11 As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree.
12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance.
13 You shall make settings of gold filigree,
14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings.
15 "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it-of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.
16 It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth.
17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.
21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.
22 You shall make for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold.
23 And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece.
24 And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece.
25 The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.
26 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.
27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.
29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD.
30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly.
31 "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear.
33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them,
34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
35 And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.
36 "You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, 'Holy to the LORD.'
37 And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban.
38 It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
39 "You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework.
40 "For Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty.
41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.
42 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs;
43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.
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