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Texts -- Exodus 28:1-34 (NET)

Context
The Clothing of the Priests
28:1 “And you , bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him from among the Israelites , so that they may minister as my priests– Aaron , Nadab and Abihu , Eleazar and Ithamar , Aaron’s sons . 28:2 You must make holy garments for your brother Aaron , for glory and for beauty . 28:3 You are to speak to all who are specially skilled , whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom , so that they may make Aaron’s garments to set him apart to minister as my priest . 28:4 Now these are the garments that they are to make : a breastpiece , an ephod , a robe , a fitted tunic , a turban , and a sash . They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons , that they may minister as my priests. 28:5 The artisans are to use the gold , blue , purple , scarlet , and fine linen . 28:6 “They are to make the ephod of gold , blue , purple , scarlet , and fine twisted linen , the work of an artistic designer . 28:7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners , so it can be joined together. 28:8 The artistically woven waistband of the ephod that is on it is to be like it, of one piece with the ephod, of gold , blue , purple , scarlet , and fine twisted linen . 28:9 “You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel , 28:10 six of their names on one stone , and the six remaining names on the second stone , according to the order of their birth . 28:11 You are to engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel with the work of an engraver in stone , like the engravings of a seal ; you are to have them set in gold filigree settings . 28:12 You are to put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod , stones of memorial for the sons of Israel , and Aaron will bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial . 28:13 You are to make filigree settings of gold 28:14 and two braided chains of pure gold , like a cord , and attach the chains to the settings . 28:15 “You are to make a breastpiece for use in making decisions , the work of an artistic designer; you are to make it in the same fashion as the ephod ; you are to make it of gold , blue , purple , scarlet , and fine twisted linen . 28:16 It is to be square when doubled , nine inches long and nine inches wide . 28:17 You are to set in it a setting for stones , four rows of stones , a row with a ruby , a topaz , and a beryl – the first row ; 28:18 and the second row , a turquoise , a sapphire , and an emerald ; 28:19 and the third row , a jacinth , an agate , and an amethyst ; 28:20 and the fourth row , a chrysolite , an onyx , and a jasper . They are to be enclosed in gold in their filigree settings . 28:21 The stones are to be for the names of the sons of Israel , twelve , according to the number of their names . Each name according to the twelve tribes is to be like the engravings of a seal . 28:22 “You are to make for the breastpiece braided chains like cords of pure gold , 28:23 and you are to make for the breastpiece two gold rings and attach the two rings to the upper two ends of the breastpiece . 28:24 You are to attach the two gold chains to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece ; 28:25 the other two ends of the two chains you will attach to the two settings and then attach them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it. 28:26 You are to make two rings of gold and put them on the other two ends of the breastpiece , on its edge that is on the inner side of the ephod . 28:27 You are to make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod , close to the juncture above the waistband of the ephod . 28:28 They are to tie the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod by blue cord , so that it may be above the waistband of the ephod , and so that the breastpiece will not be loose from the ephod . 28:29 Aaron will bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of decision over his heart when he goes into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually . 28:30 “You are to put the Urim and the Thummim into the breastpiece of decision ; and they are to be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord . Aaron is to bear the decisions of the Israelites over his heart before the Lord continually . 28:31 “You are to make the robe of the ephod completely blue . 28:32 There is to be an opening in its top in the center of it, with an edge all around the opening , the work of a weaver , like the opening of a collar , so that it cannot be torn . 28:33 You are to make pomegranates of blue , purple , and scarlet all around its hem and bells of gold between them all around . 28:34 The pattern is to be a gold bell and a pomegranate , a gold bell and a pomegranate , all around the hem of the robe .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Aaron

    [isbe] AARON - ar'-un, sometimes pronounced ar'on ('aharon--Septuagint Aaron, meaning uncertain: Gesenius suggests "mountaineer"; Furst, "enlightened"; others give "rich," "fluent." Cheyne mentions Redslob's "ingenious conjecture" ...
    [nave] AARON Lineage of, Ex. 6:16-20; Josh. 21:4, 10; 1 Chr. 6:2, 3; 23:13. Marriage of, Ex. 6:23. Children of, Ex. 6:23, 25; 1 Chr. 6:3; 24:1, 2. Descendants of, Ex. 6:23, 25; 1 Chr. 6:3-15, 50-53; 24. Meets Moses in the wilde...

  • Linen

    [isbe] LINEN - lin'-en (badh, "white linen," used chiefly for priestly robes, buts, "byssus," a fine white Egyptian linen, called in the earlier writings shesh; pesheth, "flax," cadhin; bussos, othonion, linon, sindon): Thread or c...
    [nave] LINEN Exported from Egypt, 1 Kin. 10:28; Ezek. 27:7; from Syria, Ezek. 27:16. Curtains of the tabernacle made of, Ex. 25:4; 26:1; 27:9. Vestments of priests made of, Ex. 28:5-8, 15, 39-42. Robes of royal households made o...

  • Priest

    [isbe] PRIEST - prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus: I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE 1. Implies Divine Choice 2. Implies R...
    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • MITRE

    [ebd] (Heb. mitsnepheth), something rolled round the head; the turban or head-dress of the high priest (Ex. 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6, etc.). In the Authorized Version of Ezek. 21:26, this Hebrew word is rendered "diadem," but in the Rev...
    [isbe] MITRE - mi'-ter In the King James Version this word renders two Hebrew words, both of which, however, come from the same stem, namely, tsanaph, "to coil" or "to wrap round." In Ex 28, a mitre (the Revised Version margin "tur...
    [smith] (something rolled around the head), the turban or headdress of the high priest, made of fine linen cloth, eight yards long, folded around the head. On the front was a gold plate on which was inscribed Holiness to the Lord . (...

  • Revelation

    [nave] REVELATION God reveals himself to Moses, Ex. 3:1-6, 14; 6:1-3. The law is revealed, Ex. 20-35; Lev. 1-7; the pattern of the temple, 1 Chr. 28:11-19. The sonship of Jesus, Matt. 3:17; 16:17; 17:5. See: Inspiration; Prophec...

  • High priest

    [ebd] Aaron was the first who was solemnly set apart to this office (Ex. 29:7; 30:23; Lev. 8:12). He wore a peculiar dress, which on his death passed to his successor in office (Ex. 29:29, 30). Besides those garments which he wore...

  • Embroider

    [ebd] The art of embroidery was known to the Jews (Ex. 26:36; 35:35; 38:23; Judg. 5:30; Ps. 45:14). The skill of the women in this art was seen in the preparation of the sacerdotal robes of the high priest (Ex. 28). It seems that ...

  • PRIESTS AND LEVITES

    [isbe] PRIESTS AND LEVITES - (kohen, "priest"; nothing is definitely known as to the origin of the word; Lewi, "Levite," on which see LEVI): I. DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE HISTORY 1. The Old View 2. The Graf-Wellhausen View 3. Mediating...

  • Tabernacle

    [ebd] (1.) A house or dwelling-place (Job 5:24; 18:6, etc.). (2.) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24) containing the image of Moloch (Amos 5:26; marg. and R.V., "Siccuth"). (3.) The human body (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); a tent, as opposed ...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Ephod

    [ebd] something girt, a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest (Ex. 28:4), afterwards by the ordinary priest (1 Sam. 22:18), and characteristic of his office (1 Sam. 2:18, 28; 14:3). It was worn by Samuel, and also by ...
    [smith] (a sacred vestment originally appropriate to the high priest. (Exodus 28:4)
    [nave] EPHOD 1. A sacred vestment worn by the high priest. Described, Ex. 28:6-14, 31-35; 25:7. Making of, Ex. 39:2-26. Breastplate attached to, Ex. 28:22-29. Worn by Aaron, Ex. 39:5. Used as an oracle, 1 Sam. 23:9, 12; 30:7, 8...

  • Breastplate

    [ebd] (1.) That piece of ancient armour that protected the breast. This word is used figuratively in Eph. 6:14 and Isa. 59:17. (See ARMOUR.) (2.) An ornament covering the breast of the high priest, first mentioned in Ex. 25:7. It ...
    [nave] BREASTPLATE 1. For high priest, Ex. 25:7. Directions for the making of, Ex. 28:15-30. Made by Bezaleel, Ex. 39:8, 21. Freewill offering of materials for, Ex. 35:9, 27. Worn by Aaron, Ex. 29:5; Lev. 8:8. 2. Armor for sol...

  • PRIEST, HIGH

    [isbe] PRIEST, HIGH - (ha-kohen, ho hiereus; ha-kohen ha-mashiach, ho hiereus ho christos; ha-kohen ha-gadhol, ho hiereus ho megas; kohen ha-ro'sh, ho hiereus hegoumenos; New Testament archiereus): I. INSTITUTION OF THE HIGH-PRIEST...

  • CARVING

    [isbe] CARVING - karv'-ing: Carving, or engraving, was extensively used among the peoples of Bible lands. There were no materials used in the arts which were not subjected to the graver's skill. Carved objects of wood, stone, ivory...
    [smith] The arts of carving and engraving were much in request in the construction of both the tabernacle and the temple. (Exodus 31:5; 35:33; 1 Kings 6:18,35; Psalms 74:6) as well as in the ornamentation of the priestly dresses. ...

  • Carve

    [ebd] The arts of engraving and carving were much practised among the Jews. They were practised in connection with the construction of the tabernacle and the temple (Ex. 31:2, 5; 35:33; 1 Kings 6:18, 35; Ps. 74:6), as well as in t...

  • Urim and Thummim

    [isbe] URIM AND THUMMIM - u'-rim and thum'-im (ha-'urim weha-tummim (article omitted in Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65); perhaps "light and perfection," as intensive plurals): 1. Definition: Articles not specifically described, placed in (next...
    [smith] (light and perfection). When the Jewish exiles were met on their return from Babylon by a question which they had no data for answering, they agreed to postpone the settlement of the difficulty till there should rise up "a pr...
    [nave] URIM AND THUMMIM, signifying light and perfection. In the breastplate, Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8. Eleazar to ask counsel for Joshua, after the judgment of, Num. 27:21. Priests only might interpret, Deut. 33:8; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:6...

  • Stones

    [nave] STONES Commandments engraved upon, Ex. 24:12; 31:18; 34:1-4; Deut. 4:13; 5:22; 9:9-11; 10:1-3. The law of Moses written upon, Josh. 8:32. Houses built of, Isa. 9:10; Amos 5:11. Temple built of, 1 Kin. 5:17, 18; 7:9-12; Ma...

  • STONES, PRECIOUS

    [isbe] STONES, PRECIOUS - || 1. Ancient and Modern Names 2. Change of Signification of Names 3. Three Important Lists of Stones 4. Interpretation of Greek Names Used by John 5. Interpretation of Hebrew Names 6. Greek and Latin Equi...
    [smith] Precious stones are frequently alluded to in Scriptures; they were known and very highly valued in the earliest times. The Tyrians traded in precious stones supplied by Syria. (Ezekiel 27:16) The merchants of Sheba and Raamah...

  • Onyx

    [ebd] a hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod (Ex. 28:9-12, 20; 35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12...
    [nave] ONYX Precious stone, Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13. Used in erecting the temple, 1 Chr. 29:2. Seen in the foundations of the city of the New Jerusalem in John's apocalyptic vision, Rev. 21:20. Exported from Havilah, Gen. 2:12. ...

  • Teraphim

    [ebd] givers of prosperity, idols in human shape, large or small, analogous to the images of ancestors which were revered by the Romans. In order to deceive the guards sent by Saul to seize David, Michal his wife prepared one of t...
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  • [Exo 28:29] Now Let Our Cheerful Eyes Survey

Questions

  • Here's probably the best word on the Urim and Thummim. It's a couple of paragraphs from Dr. Bruce Waltke's excellent book (which I highly recommend), entitled, "Finding the Will of God" (pp. 62-64): "The priest could use t...

Sermon Illustrations

The Covenants of Scripture:; Urim and Thummim; Bezalel, Tabernacle Artist; Tabernacle Artist

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • One of the significant changes in the emphasis that occurs at this point in Genesis is from cursing in the primeval record to blessing in the patriarchal narratives. The Abrahamic Covenant is most important in this respect. H...
  • Exodus embraces about 431 years of history, from the arrival of Jacob and his family in Egypt (ca. 1876 B.C.) to the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai (ca. 1445 B.C.). However 1:1-7 is a review of Jacob's ...
  • I. The liberation of Israel 1:1-15:21A. God's preparation of Israel and Moses chs. 1-41. The growth of Jacob's family 1:1-72. The Israelites' bondage in Egypt 1:8-223. Moses' birth and education 2:1-104. Moses' flight from Eg...
  • The Lord had liberated Israel from bondage in Egypt, but now He adopted the nation into a special relationship with Himself."Now begins the most sublime section in the whole Book. The theme of this section is supremely signif...
  • The rest of this section contains the record of the Israelites' reaction to the giving of the Law and God's reason for giving it as He did. He wanted the people to reverence Him and therefore not to sin (v. 20).343"It can be ...
  • Here begins the revelation of those things that related to the Israelites' relationship with God (27:20-30:38). The preceding section (25:10-27:19) emphasized the revelation of the things that revealed God's character. The pr...
  • Aaron had been functioning as a priest (Heb. cohen; 4:16). Now Moses officially appointed him and his sons to this office. God apparently specified Aaron because he was the brother of Moses whom God had already designated as ...
  • The ephod was the most important and outermost garment of the high priest. It was an apron-like piece of clothing that fit over his robe (vv. 31-35)."The duty of the high priest was to enter into the presence of God and make ...
  • The breastplate was a pocket of material of the same fabric as the ephod. Twelve precious stones fastened to the front of it, and two objects, the Urim and Thummim that were probably stones also, lay within it.The 12 jewels r...
  • The high priest also wore this garment. It was his basic garment over which he put the ephod. It covered him completely so his natural nakedness did not appear (cf. Gen. 3:21).God may have intended the pomegranates and bells ...
  • "As a sign of the Noahic covenant is the rainbow (Gen. 9:13), and as the sign of the Abrahamic covenant is circumcision (Gen. 17:11), the sign of the Mosaic covenant is the observance and celebration of the Sabbath day (Exod....
  • Breaking God's covenant resulted in the Israelites' separation from fellowship with Him. It did not terminate their relationship with Him, but it did hinder their fellowship with Him. Similarly when Christians sin we do not c...
  • The renewal of the covenant made the erection of the tabernacle possible. Here begins what scholars refer to as the Code of the Priests (Exod. 35--Lev. 16). Having broken the covenant once, God proceeded to give His people mo...
  • Moses described the directions for constructing the tabernacle and its furnishings earlier (chs. 25-31). I will simply give a breakdown of the individual items here with references and parallel references (cf. also 35:11-19)....
  • The hangings and coverings 36:8-19 (cf. 26:1-14)The boards and bars 36:20-34 (cf. 26:15-30)The veil and screen 36:35-38 (cf. 26:31-37)"The order of recounting the construction of the parts of the tabernacle is not the same as...
  • Moses described the preparation of the priests' clothes at length as is appropriate in view of their importance.The ephod 39:2-7 (cf. 28:6-12)The breastplate 39:8-21 (cf. 28:15-29)The robe 39:22-26 (cf. 28:31-34)The other acc...
  • The Israelites erected the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, almost exactly one year after the Israelites left Egypt (vv. 2, 17). This was about nine months after Israel had arrived at Mt. Sinai (cf. 19:1).First...
  • The account of the consecration of the priests and the priesthood (chs. 8-10) follows the regulations concerning offerings. We have a change in literary genre here from legal to narrative material. The legal material in chapt...
  • This chapter contains one of the great failures of Israel that followed one of its great blessings.238As God was preparing to bless His people they were preparing to disobey Him."So now we come to the ultimate rebellion of Is...
  • Moses turned in his address from contemplating the past to an exhortation for the future. This section is the climax of his first speech."The parallel between the literary structure of this chapter and that of the Near Easter...
  • The supernatural victory God had given His people elevated Gideon into national recognition. Some of the men of Israel invited Gideon to be their king and to begin a dynasty of rulers (v. 22). Perhaps they were from the north...
  • In the previous paragraphs two statements about the main characters described them and framed the paragraph: they did not regard the Lord, and they despised the Lord's offerings (vv. 12, 17). Likewise in this one the writer d...
  • Keilah was about three miles southeast of Adullam in the Shephelah, the foothills between the coastal plain on the west and the hill country of Judah on the east. The Philistines were plundering the threshing floors there. Th...
  • The lesson the writer intended this incident to teach the readers is that Yahweh is holy and His people should not take His presence among them lightly (cf. Lev. 10:1-11; Num. 16). God's presence is real, and His people must ...
  • God had revealed detailed plans for the temple to David (v. 19). Evidently God had instructed David as He had Moses (Exod. 25-31). The writer did not include all the details of the plan David received from the Lord any more t...
  • These men returned but could not serve as priests until the high priest could determine that they were indeed descendants of Aaron (cf. Num. 16:40; 18:9-10). Perhaps the high priest did this using the Urim and Thummim if thes...
  • This is the sixth and last message that Ezekiel received from the Lord the night before the refugees reached the exiles with the message that Jerusalem had fallen (cf. 33:21-22). It too deals with God's plans for Israel in th...
  • The Book of Ezekiel begins with a vision of God's glory (ch. 1), records the departure of God's glory (chs. 8-11), and ends with another vision of God's glory (chs. 40-48). This is the longest vision outside the Book of Revel...
  • 3:1 Zechariah's guiding angel next showed the prophet, in his vision, Joshua (lit. Yahweh saves), Israel's current high priest (6:11; Ezra 5:2; Neh. 7:7; Hag. 1:1), standing before the angel of the Lord (1:11-12). "The accuse...
  • 4:6 The angel announced a word of explanation from Yahweh that Zechariah was to pass on to Zerubbabel, the descendant of David who was the leader of the first group of returnees from exile.88He was to tell him, "not by might ...
  • 2:26 The "these things"in view probably refer to what John had just written (vv. 18-25)."The author concludes his attack on the false teachers with a warning and a word of encouragement for his followers."992:27 The "anointin...
  • 21:11 This city obviously appeared extremely impressive to John. The first and most important characteristic that John noted was its radiant glow. It shone with the splendor of God Himself because He was in it (cf. Exod. 40:3...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Exodus 28:12-29Every part of the elaborately prescribed dress of the high priest was significant. But the significance of the whole was concentrated in the inscription upon his mitre, Holiness to the Lord,' and in those other...
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