Exodus 28:1-5 Garments and Duties of the Priests of the LORD

"Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites,

along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, 

so they may serve me as priests.

Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor.

Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters

that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration,

so he may serve me as priest.

These are the garments they are to make:

a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash.

They are to make these sacred garments

 for your brother Aaron and his sons,

so they may serve me as priests.

Have them use gold and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."

Exodus 28:1-5 (NIV)

_______________________________________________

In this passage, Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar are set apart as priests of the LORD.  The garments which they are going to be given will help indicate their position of dignity and honor -- not so that they will exalt themselves, but so that the people will recognize that God has set these men apart to serve Him as priests.  In fact, three times in this very passage similar statements are repeated: "...so they may serve me as priests"/ "so he may serve me as priest".

The garments which are to be made are the following:  a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash.  In the following posts which deal with verses 6-43 of Exodus chapter 28 we will take a closer look at each of these items.

First, though, let's take a moment to see what Scripture says about the duties of the priest of the LORD.  The NIV Study Bible notes on these verses mention these three duties:

1)"to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins"  Hebrews 5:1-2

2)"to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray"  Hebrews 5:1-2

3) to read the law of Moses to the people and remind them of their covenant
    obligations                Deuteronomy 31:9-13  

      "So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.  Then Moses commanded them:  'At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.  Assemble the people -- men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns -- so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.  Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.' "
                                                                              Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (NIV)


"...all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate.  They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.  He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand.  And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law."
                                                                              Nehemiah 8:1-3  (NIV)

Note:  Later verses in Nehemiah chapter 8 (v.4) indicate that Ezra read from a high wooden platform which enabled everyone to be able to see him.  Also, the Levites instructed the people and explained things so that the people could understand what was being read. (v.7-8,12)  Hearing God's Word brought both joy (as they understood the meaning of the law) and the realization of their own sins (as they realized that they had not kept their covenant obligations).

Exodus 27:20-21 Lamps and the Light of the World

"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives

for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.

In the Tent of Meeting,

outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony,

Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD

from evening till morning.

This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites

for the generations to come."

Exodus 27:20-21 (NIV)

___________________________________________

The NIV Study Bible notes on these verses inform us that unripe olives were crushed in a mortar, then placed in a cloth basket so that the oil could drip through, producing a clear fuel which burned with little or no smoke.

Aaron and his sons were to keep these lamps burning from evening till morning.  The lamps were outside the curtain which is in front of the ark of the covenant/ark of the Testimony.  Previously I had written about this curtain, which was made of blue, scarlet and purple yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it.  (Exodus 26:30-33)  Since this curtain separated the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the Testimony was set, from the Holy Place, it had these cherubim worked into the design not only for beauty, but as a warning that no one should approach the Most Holy Place carelessly.  Its symbolism harks back to the time when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life, so that Adam and Eve in their sinful state should not take of the tree of life and live forever in that condition. (Genesis 3:22-24)

Only the high priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies -- and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement.  Before he did so, he had to purify himself and offer a sacrifice for  his own sins, before coming before God's presence in order to intercede on behalf of the Israelites:

"Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.  This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 5:1-3 NIV)

Interestingly, at the very moment when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, the curtain in Herod's temple tore from top to bottom, signaling that the sacrifice Christ made on the cross had opened the way for the believer to approach God directly -- and that no further sacrifice needed to be made on man's behalf, for Jesus Christ had offered his own blood as an atoning sacrifice for our sins:

Mark 15:37-38  (NIV) "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!' " 

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV) "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a High Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 10:19-22  (NIV) "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

Exodus 27:9-19 The Court of the Tabernacle

"Make a courtyard for the tabernacle.
The south side shall be a hundred cubits long
and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,
with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases
and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long
and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases
and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

 The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide
and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases.

On the east end toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide.
Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance,
with three posts and three bases, and curtains fifteen cubits long
are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long,
of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen
-- the work of an embroiderer --
with four posts and four bases.

All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.
The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,
with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.
All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle,
whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it
and those for the courtyard,
are to be of bronze."

Exodus 27:9-19 (NIV)
_________________________________________________

The instructions for the courtyard of the tabernacle are continued in these verses.  These instructions are very specific as to the length and width of the courtyard, and the materials to be used in making the curtains, the hooks and bands on the posts, other utensils and even the tent pegs.  Detailed instructions regarding the positioning of the curtains is also included.

Although some may find these details tiresome, they serve to underline the serious nature of coming to worship the God who made the universe.  The details also reveal an emphasis upon God's holiness:  It is no light matter to come before the Holy One.

Some of the material is even repeated for emphasis.  The last paragraph in these verses is a summary of previous details which were given regarding the construction of the tabernacle courtyard.  Some new information, though, is included:  the curtains are to be five cubits high, which is about 7.5 feet or about 2.3 meters.  Also, the instructions for the making of other utensils -- even down to the tent pegs -- are additional commands.

Exodus 27:1-8 The Altar of Burnt Offering

"Build an altar of acacia wood,

three cubits high;

 it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.

Make a horn at each of the four corners,

so that the horns and the altar are of one piece,

and overlay the altar with bronze.

Make all its utensils of bronze --

its pots to remove the ashes,

and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

Make a grating for it, a bronze network,

and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network.

Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.

Make poles of acacia wood for the altar

and overlay them with bronze.

The poles are to be inserted into the rings

 so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

Make the altar hollow, out of boards.

It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain."

Exodus 27:1-8 (NIV)

______________________________________________

Some observations:

• This altar is the altar of burnt offerings. (Exodus 38:1-7)
• There were horns at each of the four corners. Their function is not elaborated upon, but both Adonijah and  Joab laid hold of these horns when attempting to seek refuge from Solomon. (I Kings 1:50; 2:28)  I will go into more detail when we get to those passages, but Adonijah had made moves to secure the throne for himself when David was old.  Specifically, he had "exalted himself" (I Kings 1:5) by inviting the king's sons and all the royal officials of Judah to what basically amounted to a party to declare his own right to the throne.  He neglected to invite officials from Israel or anyone else who had been loyal to David, like David's mighty men or the prophet Nathan or Zadok the priest...or his brother Solomon.  When Bathsheba (Solomon's mother) and Nathan warned David of these things, David called for Solomon to be immediately declared king in his place, as he had promised.  When Adonijah's guests realized that Solomon had been declared king by David, and that they had become unwitting partakers in Adonijah's rebellion, they fled the scene and Adonijah had taken hold of these horns on the altar.
• The ESV Study Bible notes that it was a common ancient Near Eastern custom to take asylum at shrines.  (Exodus 21:12-14)   However, even in that passage in Exodus, it allows for the possibility of being taken away for punishment even from the Tabernacle altar's horns, for the asylum was intended for when someone had accidentally killed another, not murdered him.  Of course Adonijah had not murdered anyone yet, but if he had been declared king I am sure that Bathsheba and Solomon and others loyal to David would have been removed.]
• By the way, when Solomon found out that Adonijah was clinging to the horns of the altar for refuge, he promised that if Adonijah acted worthily, he would be spared, but if Adonijah continued in rebellion, he would die.  Unfortunately, Adonijah later made another not-so-subtle attempt to usurp the throne when he requested one of David's former wives as a wife for himself.  Being the oldest of David's living sons and having one of David's former wives would have lent Adonijah a certain credibility in the eyes of the people and strengthened his claim upon the throne.  King Solomon recognized this attempt by his older brother to rebel against his own rule and gain the throne for himself, and had him killed.  Joab, who fled to the horns of the altar, was also killed, for his support in this plan and also as punishment for his part in the previous murders of Abner and Amasa.  (I Kings 2:13-36)  Again, the idea of refuge at the altar did not include using it as an escape from willful murder.
• Verse 8 of this passage notes that Moses had been shown how the Tabernacle furnishings should look -- when he was on the mountain with God.

Exodus 26:31-37 Curtains for the Tabernacle

"Make a curtain of blue,purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen,

with cherubim worked into it by a skillful craftsman.

Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold

and standing on four silver bases.

Hang the curtain from the clasps

and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain.

The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle

and put the lampstand opposite it on the south side.

For the entrance to the tent

make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen --

the work of an embroiderer.

Make gold hooks for this curtain

and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold.

And cast five bronze bases for them."

Exodus 26:31-37 (NIV)

_________________________________________________________

A  curtain was made which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.  It was made of finely twisted linen, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn.  A cherubim design was worked into the curtain, which brings to mind the cherubim which God had stationed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)  Gold hooks secured this curtain onto four acacia wood posts which had been overlaid with gold and set into four silver bases.

Within this Most Holy Place was the ark of the Testimony.  I wrote of that in greater detail here.

Outside the Most Holy Place was the Holy Place.  A table stood outside the curtain of the Most Holy  Place on the north side.  A lampstand stood opposite it on the south side.

For the entrance to the Holy Place there was another curtain.  This one was also made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen.  There is no mention of a cherubim design being worked into this curtain.  This latter curtain was attached by gold hooks to five acacia wood posts which had been overlaid with gold, set into five bronze bases.

Exodus 26:15-30 A Sturdy Tabernacle

"Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.

Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,

with two projections set parallel to each other.

Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.

Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle

and make forty silver bases to go under them --

two bases for each frame, one under each projection.

For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle,

make twenty frames and forty sliver bases --

two under each frame.

Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle,

and make two frames for the corners at the far end.

At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top,

and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that.

So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases --

two under each frame.

Also make crossbars of acacia wood:

five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,

five for those on the other side,

and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle.

The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames.

Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars.

Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain."

Exodus 26:15-30 (NIV)

______________________________________________________

Some notes about the frames:

• Altogether the framework for the Tabernacle was sturdy.  It had special projections built into the bottoms of each frame, so that they could be inserted into the silver bases which supported the structure.  There were also crossbars to help support the structure.
• The silver for making these bases came from an offering from the Israelite community. (Exodus 38:25-27).
• There were 100 silver bases made:  forty indicated in Exodus 26:19, another forty indicated in verse 21, sixteen bases in verse 25 and four bases which are mentioned in verse 32 (which is not a part of this passage).  If you add up these figures, they come out to 100 bases.
• Each base was made from a talent of silver.  (Exodus 38:27)

I am sure that there are other interesting facts about the framework which we can discover.  I will update this post when I find anything else about it.

Exodus 26:7-14 Coverings for the Tabernacle

"Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle --

eleven altogether.

All eleven curtains are to be the same size --

thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.

Join five of the curtains together into one set

and the other six into another set.

Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent.

Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set

and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set.

Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops

to fasten the tent together as a unit.

As for the additional length of the tent curtains, 

the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle.

The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides;

what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it.

Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red,

and over that a covering of hides of sea cows."

Exodus 26:7-14 (NIV)

______________________________________

I was impressed with the depth of detail which was given about the construction of the tabernacle.  However, this makes sense when you consider that the tabernacle was God's kingly tent where He dwelt among the Israelites.  (Exodus 25:8-9)  Of course such a tent could not contain Him, but it provided a place where his people could come before Him.

These instructions are for a tent made of goat hair which would cover the fine linen curtains which made up the inner part of the tabernacle.  There would be other layers over this one.  One was a covering of ram's skins dyed red, and over that a covering of hides of sea cows.

What, you may ask, is a sea cow?  Well,  I wondered, too, so I did a bit of research and it seems that it is a popular name for the manatee.  You can put 'sea cow' into your favorite search engine and get quite a few pictures, including some amusing ones where the artists depict familiar black and white cows with fins and flippers.  The manatees did look surprisingly cow-like, with their elongated snouts -- especially when the pictures showed them chomping away at some type of sea vegetation!  They also like to graze in herds, sometimes up to several hundred in number.

I have also seen 'sea cows' translated as 'porpoises' in some versions of the Bible.  However, I have also seen the words translated as 'goatskins'.  Now I will have to check the Hebrew.

Oh my.  No, not 'lions and tigers and bears', but would you believe 'badgers, seals and porpoises'?
The site I checked translated the Hebrew word in that verse as 'porpoise'.  Other versions of the Scriptures translated the word in various ways:

• badgers  (which is pretty often rejected, especially since the badger was considered an 'unclean' animal for the Israelites.)

• seals

In conclusion, it is likely that the word meant some type of sea creature like a porpoise, seal or manatee -- probably something with a hardy skin which would withstand the elements.  That would make sense since this is the outermost layer of the coverings. 

If you are wondering where the Israelites would get such skins of sea creatures as they journeyed, remember that God had told them to ask their Egyptian neighbors for various valuable items (clothing, jewelry,etc.) before they were delivered from slavery in Egypt.  (Exodus 3:22; 12:35-36)   Perhaps some already-tanned porpoise/manatee skins were also selected from these Egyptians, who, after experiencing the ten plagues (especially the final one -- the death of the first born son in each household), were all too willing to hand over whatever they requested so that the Israelites would leave Egypt as quickly as possible. 

I suppose there is also the possibility of having encountered traders along the way, or of obtaining and processing the skins themselves, as there were times in their journey back to the promised land when they would remain in one place for awhile until God indicated that they should move on.  Not that they would have had time to build a boat and go on extensive sea journeys, but one type of 'sea cow', the dugong, grazed in fairly shallow areas among sea grasses along the coasts.  These slow-moving creatures might have become easy prey to an enterprising Hebrew.  However, to me that seems like the least likely possibility, especially since it would have taken quite a number of these animals to make up such a covering for the tabernacle.

As far as habitat, the current habitat maps don't show manatees near the Sinai Peninsula, where the Israelites would have been traveling.  However, these same maps did show dugongs ranging as far as the Nile River (the animals also inhabited inland waterways at times), which is interesting if you think that the Hebrews might have obtained the skins of these mammals from their Egyptian neighbors before they left Egypt.  Altogether, I got the impression as I researched that there is still much to learn about these animals, and that populations of them could have existed in places from which we do not currently have fossil evidence.

If I find out any more I will return and add it to this post.  But for now, 'that is all'.