Exodus 28

Selection of the Levites as priests (vs. 1-5)--The tribe of Levi became the priestly tribe of Israel. In this section the Lord established the lineage of Aaron as High Priest, but all of Levi’s sons (he had three) played a role in the religious ceremonies. Those will be spelled out in detail later in the Law. The priests--High Priest and regular--were to wear elaborate garments, and those of the High Priest are detailed in this chapter. The clothing is listed in verse 4: “a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle.” These garments are “holy” (v. 4), and made of “fine linen” (v. 5).

The ephod (vs. 6-14)--This was a sacred vestment originally worn only by the High Priest, but eventually by ordinary priests as well (I Sam. 22:18). Apparently, any such garment worn over the human trunk was called an “ephod,” because at least once David wore one (II Sam. 6:14). The garment consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, thus covering both back and front. It had two onyx stones on it, each engraved with six of the names of the sons of Israel (vs. 9-10). “You shall set them in settings of gold” (vs. 11-13). Two chains of pure gold were also on the ephod (v. 14).

The breastplate (vs. 15-30)—It’s called the “breastplate of judgment” (v. 15). It was also to be made of “fine woven linen” (v. 16). The most outstanding feature of the breastplate was it four rows of precious stones, three in a row, each stone being engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes (vs. 17-21). It was about 10 inches square (a “span,” v. 16). There were two chains of gold on the breastplate, which fit through two golden rings and attached to the ephod (v. 22-25). Also attached to the breastplate was something called the “Urim and Thummin,” literally, “the lights and the perfections.” We do not know exactly what they were, except that, at times, God imparted to Israel through the High Priest some direction and counsel. Numbers 27:21 reads, in part, “He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim.” I Samuel 28:6 says, “And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.” So God communicated at times through the means of the Urim and Thummin. They were apparently material objects, but of what composition is subject to speculation.

The robe (vs. 31-35)—The robe of the ephod was to be “all of blue” (v. 31). On the hem of the robe, “you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around” (vs. 33-34). This was very important. Its sound was to be heard when the High Priest went into the “holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die” (v. 35). The significance of this is not explained, other than that’s what Jehovah wanted.

On the High Priest’s head (vs. 36-39)—A plate of pure gold was to be placed on the High Priest’s forehead, engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord.” It was attached to the turban (vs. 37, 39) by a blue cord. The importance of this is described in verse 38: “So it shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.” The relation to something on the High Priest’s head to the iniquity of the people is not immediately evident, but then, the commands of God don’t always make sense to us, and they don’t need to. If He says it, that’s all we need.

The tunic and trousers (vs. 40-43)—The priests were also to wear a tunic with a sash around it (v. 40), and “linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs” (v. 42), “that they do no incur iniquity and die” (v. 43). This entire outfit was to be perpetual for the priests of the old law (v. 43).