Exodus 28

This chapter outlines the instructions given to Moses for the making of holy garments for Aaron and his sons, who are to serve as priests. These garments are intended to give them dignity and honor, reflecting their special role in the service of God. Each piece of clothing has symbolic meaning, emphasizing the importance of priesthood in Israel’s relationship with God.

Exodus 28:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, 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 as priest."

God calls Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, setting them apart for this sacred role. The garments they are to wear are described as being made for "glory and beauty," signifying the honor and responsibility of their priestly office. God instructs Moses to involve skilled artisans, filled with divine wisdom, to craft these garments. This process of making holy garments highlights both the importance of physical preparation for priesthood and the spiritual wisdom required to fulfill this role.

Exodus 28:4-5 (NKJV)
4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.
5 They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen.

The list of garments for the priests includes the breastplate, ephod, robe, tunic, turban, and sash. These items are not just functional; they carry deep symbolic significance. The use of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads, along with fine linen, points to the royal and sacred nature of the priesthood. These colors and materials were commonly associated with wealth, royalty, and divine presence in ancient times, reinforcing the idea that the priestly garments are to reflect God's holiness and majesty.

Exodus 28:6-8 (NKJV)
6 “And they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked.
7 It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together.
8 And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

The ephod, a key piece of the priestly attire, is made of rich materials and carefully designed. Its shoulder straps connect the garment, while the band is intricately woven from the same threads, signifying unity in design and purpose. The elaborate detail of the ephod emphasizes its importance in the priest’s role and his representation of the people before God. The combination of colors and gold further stresses the dignity and divine nature of the priesthood.

Exodus 28:9-12 (NKJV)
9 “Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
10 six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.
11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold.
12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.

Two onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are placed on the shoulders of the ephod. These stones symbolize the priest bearing the weight of the people of Israel on his shoulders as he stands before the Lord. The engraving of the names in the order of birth further connects the priest’s role to the covenant between God and Israel. Aaron, as the high priest, represents the entire nation before God, emphasizing his responsibility and intercessory role.

Exodus 28:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “You shall also make settings of gold,
14 and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.

The use of gold settings and chains adds to the richness of the priestly garments, reflecting the sacredness of the ephod. The braided gold cords serve to attach and secure the garments, symbolizing the strength and permanence of the priestly office. The intricate design also suggests the unity and bond between the priest and his sacred duties in the presence of God.

Exodus 28:15-21 (NKJV)
15 “You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod, you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it.
16 It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width.
17 And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row;
18 the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19 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 settings.
21 And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes."

The breastplate, known as the "breastplate of judgment," is a critical part of the priest’s attire, symbolizing his role in rendering judgment on behalf of the people. It is made with the same materials as the ephod and adorned with twelve precious stones, each representing a tribe of Israel. The diversity of stones reflects the uniqueness of each tribe, but they are all set in gold, symbolizing their equal value before God. The breastplate emphasizes the priest's role in bearing the concerns and identities of the entire nation as he seeks God’s guidance.

Exodus 28:22-28 (NKJV)
22 “You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold.
23 And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24 Then you shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate;
25 and the other two ends of the two braided chains you shall fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.
26 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the ephod.
27 And two other rings of gold you shall make, and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod.
28 They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod.

These verses describe how the breastplate is to be fastened securely to the ephod using golden chains and rings. The detailed instructions emphasize the precision and care with which the priestly garments must be made, reflecting the importance of the priest’s role in Israel’s relationship with God. The connection between the breastplate and ephod also highlights the unity between the priest's judgment role (breastplate) and his representation of the people before God (ephod), ensuring that the priest carries out both duties together.

Exodus 28:29-30 (NKJV)
29 “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.
30 And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually."

Aaron, as the high priest, carries the names of the tribes of Israel over his heart, symbolizing his deep connection to the people and his responsibility to intercede for them before God. The Urim and Thummim, used for divine decision-making, are placed in the breastplate, signifying the priest's role in seeking God's guidance and delivering His judgments for the people. These stones emphasize the priest’s reliance on God’s wisdom in matters of justice and discernment, reflecting the weighty spiritual and judicial responsibilities Aaron carries.

Exodus 28:31-35 (NKJV)
31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32 There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it; it shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it does not tear.
33 And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around.
35 And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out, that he may not die."

The robe of the ephod is made entirely of blue, a color symbolizing the heavenly and spiritual nature of the priest’s office. The hem of the robe is adorned with alternating golden bells and pomegranates, each of which has symbolic meaning. The bells, with their ringing sound, signify the priest’s presence and activity in the holy place, ensuring that his movements before God are heard. The pomegranates represent fruitfulness and life. The sound of the bells was a reminder that the priest, when performing his sacred duties, was entering the presence of the holy God, where reverence and caution were essential for survival.

Exodus 28:36-38 (NKJV)
36 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37 And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.
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."

A gold plate engraved with the words "Holiness to the Lord" is placed on Aaron’s forehead, symbolizing his dedication to God’s service. The inscription serves as a reminder that the priest’s role is one of complete sanctification. By wearing this sign, Aaron bears the responsibility of ensuring the holiness of the offerings brought by the Israelites, even carrying the iniquity associated with the holy things. The placement of this plate on Aaron’s forehead, always visible, emphasizes the need for constant holiness in the priest’s life and service, ensuring that the people’s gifts are acceptable before God.

Exodus 28:39-40 (NKJV)
39 “You shall skillfully weave the tunic of fine linen thread, you shall make the turban of fine linen, and you shall make the sash of woven work.
40 For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make sashes for them. And you shall make hats for them, for glory and beauty."

The fine linen tunic, turban, and sash for Aaron and his sons symbolize purity and dignity. The careful craftsmanship reflects the significance of the priestly role. The use of linen, a material often associated with righteousness, purity, and holiness, highlights the priest’s responsibility to live and serve in holiness. The garments are not just functional but serve to convey the "glory and beauty" of the priestly office, making it clear that the priesthood is both an honor and a sacred duty.

Exodus 28:41-43 (NKJV)
41 “So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
42 And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.
43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.”

These final instructions focus on the consecration and sanctification of Aaron and his sons for priestly service. The garments, including the linen trousers, ensure that the priests are appropriately covered, both physically and symbolically, as they approach the holy place. Their consecration involves anointing and sanctification, setting them apart for their role as priests. The seriousness of their role is highlighted by the warning that improper preparation or failure to follow these instructions could result in death, emphasizing the holiness required in serving before the Lord. This is a perpetual statute for Aaron's descendants, establishing the lasting nature of the priesthood.