The shoulders are a place of work therefore, in the priest’s ministry unto the LORD, he also worked for and with the people. While the first ministry of a priest is always unto God Himself, a priest also is constantly connected to the people, bearing them on his shoulders. “Aaron bears Israel’s names before God whenever he enters the Tent, identifying himself with them.” (Cole) Therefore, the High Priest would bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial. Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: On the shoulder straps were polished gemstones on each strap, with the inscription of six of the tribes on each stone. “Linen was the dress of the noble and the priest in Egypt, chosen both for coolness and cleanliness.” (Cole)ī. Make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked: The ephod was essentially an ornate apron-like garment, made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet thread. You shall also make settings of gold, and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.”Ī. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial. And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. 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. Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. 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. It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together. “They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked. Each item on this list will be described in the section following. And these are the garments which they shall make: Here are listed the various garments for the clothing of the priests and the High Priest. Priests – under the old or new covenants – have their first ministry to God Himself.Ĭ. That he may minister to Me: Three times in these first four verses, this command is repeated. “The Hebrew slaves must have learned man Egyptian arts and crafts, such as metalwork, spinning, weaving and embroidery during their stay in Egypt.” (Cole)ī.
If it is really done to the glory of God, practical, manual service requires the leading of the Holy Spirit just as much as what we normally consider to be spiritual service. Speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments: God promised a special gifting from the Holy Spirit given to the craftsmen of these garments. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.”Ī. 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 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. “Is then the dismal black, now worn by almost all kinds of priests and ministers, for glory and for beauty? Is it emblematic of any thing that is good, glorious, or excellent? How unbecoming the glad tidings announced by Christian ministers is a colour emblematical of nothing but mourning and woe, sin, desolation, and death!” (Clarke) 2. Since there was something glorious and beautiful – indeed, heavenly about the priestly service, it was appropriate to make the garments glorious and beautiful.
Make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty: The priestly garments were made for glory and for beauty. We are priests because of our new birth into Jesus’ priestly family (1 Peter 2:5).ī. In the New Covenant, our priesthood is also not earned nor aspired to. It was only entered into by God’s call and invitation. The priesthood was no place for ambition or self-glory. It could only be inherited by birthright. Take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him: The priesthood of Israel was not earned by effort nor aspired to by ambition. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.”Ī. “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.
The command to make garments for the priests.