1.
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
take thou , Hebrew = bring thou near.
Aaron . Five named (Aaron and his four sons). App-10 .
from among = from the midst of. Compare Deuteronomy 18:15 , Deuteronomy 18:18 (Prophet).
children = sons.
minister unto Me . This was the one object here; and the same when Christ was transfigured, and so consecrated for His office of Priest. See notes on Exodus 28:2 below.
2.
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
holy garments . Hebrew garments of holiness. See App-17 : emphasis on "holy". See note on Exodus 3:5 .
for glory and for beauty . Septuagint (time kai doxa), same as Hebrews 2:9 and 2 Peter 1:17 . With which Christ was clothed and crowned for the same purpose when He was consecrated priest (Matthew 17:1-10 . Mark 9:1-10 . Luke 9:28-36 ) "to minister unto Me in the priest's office. "
3.
And thou shalt speak unto all that 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 unto me in the priest's office.
whom I have filled . This agrees with the Severus Codex ( App-34 ), "I have filled them". See Exodus 35:30 - Exodus 36:7 .
spirit . Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
4.
And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, 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.
garments . In this verse and Exodus 28:39 general. See Structure above.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton, App-6 .
Aaron's garments described first. There were in all eight: (1) the mitre (with its plate); (2) the breast- plate; (3) the ephod; (4) the robe of the ephod; (5) the tut ban; (6) the girdle; (7) the drawers; (8) the coat. Eight is the Dominical number, or number of the Lord See App-10 .
5.
And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
6.
And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
ephod . From Hebrew aphad, to bind on, because it held the breastplate in its place. See Exodus 28:28 . Worn by Aaron the priest, Samuel the prophet (1 Samuel 2:18 ), and David the king (2 Samuel 6:14 ), Christ combining all three offices.
cunning work = work of a skilful weaver.
7.
It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.
8.
And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
curious = embroidered.
gold. Note the number five in these items. App-10 .
9.
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
two . . . stones , with six names on each: the names collectively, on the shoulders, the place of strength. The names on the breastplate, one on each stone (individually) on the heart, the place of love, verses: Exodus 28:15 .
grave . Note the three gravings connected with the heart (Exodus 28:9 ), the shoulder (Exodus 28:21 ), and the head (Exodus 28:36 ).
10.
Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
according to their birth . Here, on the shoulders (the place of strength), all were borne up alike; but over the heart (the place of love) the order was "according to the tribes" as God chose them, Exodus 28:2 .
11.
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
ouches = sockets for precious stones.
12.
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
13.
And thou shalt make ouches of gold;
14.
And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.
15.
And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
breastplate of judgment. Genitive of relation, or Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , by which judgment is put for "giving judicial decision". See note on Exodus 28:30 .
cunning = skilful. See note on Exodus 26:1 .
16.
Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
span . See App-51 .
17.
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
four rows . Three in each row, 3 x 4 = 12, as 3 + 4 = 7. See App-10 .
18.
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19.
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20.
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21.
And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
the names . Order according to the "twelve tribes "as God chose them. They were individual here, because over the heart, the place of love: one name on each stone.
the twelve tribes.Order not given here. In Exodus 28:10 according to the order of birth. Here, perhaps, according to Numbers 2 . See App-45 .
22.
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.
23.
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24.
And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25.
And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.
26.
And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.
side = opposite side. Hebrew ` ever.
27.
And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
sides = shoulders. Hebrew. katheph.
28.
And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
29.
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
upon his heart . The place of love. See notes on verses: Exodus 28:9 , Exodus 28:10 , Exodus 28:21 , and note the repetition of the word heart for emphasis.
30.
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
Urim and Thummim . No command of God to make these. Only told to put (nathan, to give) them in the breastplate, i.e. into the bag of the breastplate (Compare Exodus 28:26 and Exodus 28:16 , also Ch. Exodus 39:9 and Exodus 39:19 ). This bag was a doubled part, and the Urim and Thummim were probably two precious stones which were drawn out as a lot to give Jehovah's judgment. "The lot is cast into the lap (Hebrew bosom); but the whole judgment thereof is of the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33 ), Bosom here is put for the clothing or covering over it (compare Exodus 4:6 , Exodus 4:7 . Ruth 4:16 . Chek (bosom) = any hollow thing, as of a chariot, 1 Kings 22:35 ). The Hebrew Minx and Thummim mean "lights" and "per fections". Probably these are the plurals of majesty, the singular "light" (being put by Metonymy for what is brought to light, i.e. guilt), and "perfection" (put by Metonymy for moral perfection, i.e. innocence). Thus, these two placed in the "bag", and one drawn out, would give the judicial decision (the name connected with the breastplate, Compare Exodus 28:15 , above), which would be "of the LORD". Hence, the breastplate itself was known as "the breastplate of judgment" (Exodus 28:15 ), because, by that, Jehovah's judgment was obtained whenever it was needed. Hence, when the land was divided "by lot" (Numbers 26:55 , &c.), Eleazar, the high priest, must be present (Numbers 34:17 (p. Exodus 27:21 ). Joshua 17:4 ). When he would decide it the lot "came up" (Joshua 18:11 ); "came forth" (Joshua 19:1 ); "came out" (Joshua 19:17 ): i.e. "out", or "forth" from the bag of the ephod. In Ezra 2:61-63 & Nehemiah 7:63-65 , no judgment could be given unless the high priest was present with the breastplate, with its bag, with the lots of Urim and Thummim, which gave Jehovah's decision, "guilty" or "innocent", "yes" or "no". The Hebrew for lot is always goral = a stone, except in Deuteronomy 32:9 , 1 Chronicles 16:18 and Psalms 105:11 , where it is = hebel -a measuring line, put by Metonymy for the inheritance so measured. In Joshua 13:6 ; Joshua 23:4 .Ezekiel 45:1 ; Exo 47:22 ; Exo 48:29 , it is naphal, to fall, put by Metonymy for the inheritance which falls to one from any cause. See all the passages where the Urim and Thummim are mentioned: Exodus 28:30 . Leviticus 8:8 . Deuteronomy 33:8 . Numbers 27:2 . 1 Samuel 28:6 . Ezra 2:63 .Nehemiah 7:65 , and compare especially the notes on Numbers 26:55 , and 1 Samuel 14:4 .
31.
And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32.
And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
hole in the top of it , in the midst. To enable the hand of the High Priest to be put into the bag to draw out the Urim or Thummim. Compare Exodus 28:16 and Exodus 28:26 , also Exodus 39:8 , Exodus 39:19 . See also the note on Exodus 28:30 .
habergron = coat of mail.
33.
And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
hem = skirts.
pomegranates . See note on Numbers 13:23 .
34.
A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), "a golden bell and a pomegranate", instead of saying "alternately".
35.
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
36.
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD . This is one of' the few places where the Authorized Version uses large capital letters (see App-48 ). Here it was worn only on the forehead of the high priest; but in Millennial days it will be worn even on the bells of the horses, Zechariah 14:20-21 . Compare Revelation 19:11-14 ; Revelation 14:20 .
37.
And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
the mitre = tiara, or turban. Hebrew miznepheth, from zanaph, to wind round.
38.
And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
bear = bear away, carry off. Leviticus 10:17 . Psalms 32:1 .Isaiah 33:24 .
iniquity . Hebrew ` avon. App-44 .
holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 .
his . . . they . Note these words. Christ is our Representative, we are holy in Him, and this "always".
39.
And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
make . The making deferred to Exodus 39:3 .
40.
And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
bonnets = caps.
41.
And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and 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.
consecrate them = instal them. Hebrew fill their hand, "hand" being put by Melonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the authority and official power given to them. Compare Latin. mandate.
42.
And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
linen . Priests were effendi (Leviticus 6:10 . 1 Samuel 2:18 ; 1 Samuel 22:18 ). Prophets were fellahin, and wore coarse clothing (2 Kings 1:8 . Zechariah 13:4 .Matthew 3:4; Matthew 3:4 ).
43.
And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, 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 his seed after him.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 .