Ex. 28: Priestly Garments - All the Info

Well, chapter 28 is more description of stuff. Not a lot going on. But evidently, what is written here is important enough for me to know. Or read.

Along with the tabernacle, there had to be a certain group of people in charge of it, called priests. Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar were these people. In order to give them dignity and honor, they needed to have sacred garments. I wonder why. Priests, servants of God required to wear something of honor. Was this to set them apart? Was this to signify something special?

The articles of clothing included a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash, and they were to be made of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen.

The Ephod
I don't really know what an ephod is, from the description in the Bible, it probably looks like some sort of apron? It has two shoulder "pieces" attached.

What is special here is that there is to be two onyx stones, each engraved with six of the 12 tribes, in order of their birth, as a memorial. These onyx stones will be mounted to gold filigree settings and fastened to the shoulder pieces. There were to be two braided chains of pure gold attached to the settings. Pretty slick.

The Breastpiece
The breastpiece was for "making decisions," as verse 15 says. The significance of this was so that Aaron could bear the names of the sons of Israel as he entered the Holy Place. They would essentially be written across his heart, as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Something called Urim and Thummim were to be put in the breastpiece as well, so they may be over Aaron's heart, so that he will be able to make the proper decisions for the Israelites before the LORD. Without lots of external research, I gather from this that Urim and Thummim were some sort of divinely ordered chance pieces, like dice, but used for good.

• Made of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of twisted linen
• A 9" x 9" square folded in half
• Four rows of precious stones, mounted in gold filigree settings. Each was to be engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes it represents:
  
• First Row: ruby, topaz and beryl
• Second Row: turquoise, sapphire and emerald
• Third row: jacinth, agate and amethyst
• Fourth row: chrysolite, onyx and jasper
• Attached via gold chains to the ephod, at the shoulders and waistband.

Other Priestly Garments

The Robe

• Entirely out of blue cloth
• Opening for a head...duh. With a woven edge to prevent tearing.
• Pomegranates and gold bells alternating around the hem of the robe. So Aaron won't die when he enters the Holy Place

The Plate

• Pure Gold
• Engraved: "Holy To The Lord"
• Attached to the front of the turban, on the forehead. Signifies the guilt involved in the gifts consecrated to God by the Israelites. Their sacrifices and offerings, I'm guessing.
  

The Tunic and the turban are to be made from fine linen, the sash embroidered. Tunics, sashes, and headbands were to be made for the sons of Aaron, so they will have dignity, and not die. After these garments are put on them, they are to be anointed and ordained. So, just being in Aaron's lineage doesn't make someone a priest automatically. There is a process and rules to follow. This, like oil for the lampstand, is another lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.