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Lesson by Brother Walt Durgeloh

Text:  Exodus 28:1-43;  39:1-31

There was special clothing and ornaments that made up the official high priests garment.

The high priest garments represented his function as mediator between God and the people.

The garments were necessary to do service for God in the Tabernacle.

 

Garment construction

All aspects of the garments were not left to Moses imagination

See Exodus 39, how many times the verses end with “as the Lord commanded Moses”. This fits how the tabernacle was constructed also, Exodus 25:9, 40 “according to the pattern showed thee in the mount”.

1. Exodus 28:2 they were considered holy garments, for glory and beauty.
2. Exodus 28:41 Priests had to be anointed and consecrated with the garments on.
3. Exodus 29:5-6; 39:1 Garments worn as part of the Priests service
4. Exodus 29:29 Garments were passed on to each high priest
5. Exodus 28:3; 31:10 Garments were made by men filled with God given talent.
6. Exodus 28:2-3 The details of the high priests garment speak of the Lord Jesus in His glory.
7. Hebrews 3:1-3 Jesus is worthy of more glory than man could ever give, the glorious garments were a picture of the glory Jesus deserves and is worthy of.
8. Hebrews 8:1-6 Jesus is our High Priest now, forever, the Tabernacle and high priests being a shadow of heavenly things (v.5).
9. Exodus 28:43 If the priests did not have the proper garments on (and cleansed at the altar) they would be killed as they entered in.
10. Exodus 35:20-29 Material for the garments came from the people, things they had spoiled from the Egyptians, because God had laid it on the Egyptians heart to do so.

Ex 36:4-7 They had more than enough, the people were told to stop giving.

 

The Ephod   Exodus 28:6-14; 39:2

1. Like an apron, with two shoulder pieces of multi colored (gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen) that came down to the knees, front and back. Ex 28:7; 39:4
2. The gold in the fabric was real gold, made into wires and woven into the fabric.

Ex 39:2-3

Had a girdle (belt around the waist) made of the same multi colors as the ephod. Ex 28:8

1. Girdle (belt) of the ephod Exodus 28:8; 39:5

Called the “curious” girdle of the ephod, it was multi colored just as the ephod (gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen).

1. Onyx stones Exodus 28:9-14; 39:6-7
2. Two stones, each had 6 names of the tribe of Israel engraved on them, one on each shoulder (names also on the breastplate over the heart). The names were in order of their birth.
3. The stones along with the names were a memorial or in remembrance.

Ex 28:12

1. Ex 28:23-27 The two stones were set in gold “ouches” (settings) with braided gold chains at the ends of the settings to attach to the top of the breastplate (breastplate had a gold ring at each top) and to the side of the ephod above the waist (Ex 28:27 gold rings there also towards the front, forepart = front).

So the onyx stones in their settings were positioned and attached to the top of the shoulders.

 

The Breastplate  Exodus 28:15-29

1. Breastplate was on the ephod, above the girdle, made up of the same multi colors as the ephod (gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen). Called the breastplate of judgment.

Ex 28:15, 29.

1. Breastplate was a “span” (about 9 inches) squared in size. It was made up of “doubled” fabric, open at the top to form a pocket.   Ex 28:16; 39:9
2. Stones were set on it, 4 rows of 3 stones, all set in gold. Each stone had a name of a tribe of Israel engraved on it.
3. First row was a sardius (ruby), topaz, and a carbuncle.
4. Second row was an emerald, sapphire, and a diamond.
5. Third row was a ligure (jacinth or opal), agate, and an amethyst.
6. Fourth row was a beryl, onyx, and a jasper.
7. Like the onyx stones on each shoulder, the names of the 12 tribes were worn on the heart. Ex 28:29   As a memorial before god.

Shows God will never forget his people or those that are His.

Isaiah 44:21; 49:15; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5

1. Breastplate was fastened to the ephod. Ex 28:28 “Breastplate not loosed from the ephod” meaning it was attached firmly so the priest could work and not be hindered by the breastplate.

The top and bottom of the breastplate had golden rings.  Ex 28:23, 26

The ephod had gold rings above the waist, below the arm pits. Ex 28:27; 39:20

1. The top two rings of the breastplate had the gold braided chains attached and went up to the two onyx stones (which were fastened down the back to the gold rings that were on the ephod under the arm pits). Ex 28:24-25
2. The bottom two rings were fastened to the ephod gold rings by blue lace. Ex28:28; 39:21

D.      The Urim and Thummim   Ex 28:30; Leviticus 8:8

Two objects made of metal or precious stones and inscribed with symbols. Used possibly to determine God’s response to a question by “yes” or “no”, like “casting lots”.  (see 1 Sam 23:9-12, 28:6).

a. Was considered the medium or way God communicated to His people.

Urim definition is: lights, revelation.

Thummim definition is: perfection, truth.

Numbers 27:21

Deuteronomy 33:8

Ezra 2:63

Nehemiah 7:65

b.  Breastplate was made so it had a pocket where the Urim and Thummim were placed.  Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8

 

The blue Robe of the Ephod  Exodus 28:31-34; 39:22-26

Was a blue robe worn over the white coat.  It had a hole in it with sewn edges so not to fray, for the priest head. Ex 28:32; 39:23

1. Blue represents heavenly origin, to show the character and ministry of Jesus. He came from heaven and resides in heaven.

Hebrews 12:2  Jesus is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Sam 2:28 Priest was a picture of Christ, ministering to the people and God, so the ephod represented the priest heavenly authority given by God.

Hosea 3:4-5  Israel at this time has no priest with the ephod, so no mediator as before with the high priest. They have the promise of being restored.

1. Bells of gold and pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet

Hem of robe alternated between a bell and a pomegranate

Gold bells showing deity and the sound from bells ringing out as the high priest served, showed heavenly sound.

Psalm 150:1-6 Each ring of the bells praised God.

Pomegranates pictured richness, fruitfulness, and the different colors showed the different aspects of Jesus, blue = heavenly, purple = royalty, scarlet = sacrifice.

Philippians 1:11  the fruits of righteousness, like the fruits of the spirit, is where one’s life portrays Jesus, everything about Him.

Galatians 5:22-23  Spirit led person will show these things in their life.

 

The Holy Mitre

Mitre is a headdress or turban.

1. Holy Mitre was an engraved plate of gold (diadem) on blue lace, fastened on the front of the linen mitre (fastened on front or forehead). Ex 28:36-38; 39:30-31
2. Engraved with “Holiness to the Lord”. Ex 28:36; 39:30
   1. Rev 4:8-11 As this will forever be on the lips of those before the throne.
3. Purpose: “That Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things…that they may be accepted before the Lord”. Ex 28:38   the people had been called to serve and bring God glory.

John 4:23-24 We are also to worship Him.

1 Peter 2:5  We are the priests today, to offer sacrifices to God.

1. Bonnet (head piece) Ex 28:40; 39:28

 

The Priests Coat   Exodus 28:39-43;

1. The white linen coat 28:39; 39:27
2. Coat was made of fine linen and was embroidered. It was spotless and of the finest quality.

Hebrews 4:15; 7:26 Jesus was sinless (spotless), above reproach (finest quality), undefiled, higher than the heavens.

1. Aaron sons also wore these coats along with the girdles, bonnets, and breeches. Only the high priest wore the ephod and blue robe, the breastplate along with Urim and Thummim, and the Holy Mitre. Exodus 28:40-43
2. The breeches (pants) Ex 28:42; 39:28

To cover their nakedness. Went down to tops of knees (unto the thighs).

Lev 6:10 Breeches were always part of the garments.

Lev 16:4 Washed before putting on the garments including the breeches.

1. Ezekiel 44: 10-23 The priests were to:

1. be separate
2. maintain the purity of the tabernacle and everything in it.

• make sure no one entered the courtyard unless their sacrifice was acceptable.

1. make sure they wore the right garments (no wool to cause them to sweat).
2. teach the people between holy and profane.

Just as we are today  1 Peter 2:5

 

Censor of high Priest

Lev 16:12-13

Priest took coals from the off the altar of sacrifice fire, put in censor, and went within the veil to the  mercy seat, and put the incense on the coals.  The cloud of the burning incense was to cover the mercy seat.

This was a picture of bringing acceptable sweet smelling worship to God.

This was done before the priest offered the blood on the mercy seat as an atonement for his own sins. Sprinkled seven times.

Then the sacrifice for the people was made and that blood brought within the veil.

Ex 30:34 – 38 Incense was reserved just for use just for God.

Lev 10:1 – 2  Done out of order resulted in death.

Numbers 16:17 – 18  Many had censors.  Verse 38 – 40 were flattened and attached to altar as a memorial that no one unless priests could bring incense before God.

Rev 8:3 – 5 Used in heaven. Picture of prayers accompanying the cloud of incense to make prayers acceptable.