Exodus 28

Chap. XXVIII. Ver. 1—43. The garments and breast-plate of Aaron.—The Jewish service is distinguished from the Christian in nothing more than in its pomp and splendour, compared with the modest simplicity of the latter. The former was not the people only adapted to impress them with awe and reverence, in the rude state of society in which they were when they came out of Egypt; but all this temporal splendour had a reference to higher objects, either of spiritual or celestial glory. But as we need not, as Christians, enter into all the events which were necessary to building and furnishing the Jewish tabernacle, we shall confine our reading and remarks to those objects which were most clearly and significantly typical of the Jesus bears the names of his people on his heart.

The inscription of the high priest’s crown, of that God whom all revealed religion—HOLINESS TO THE LORD—has so beautifully illustrated this similitude between the high priests of Judaism, and Christianity, that we cannot refrain from quoting his language. “Jesus, in thee our eyes behold A thousand glories more, Also in the while we have the name he served, we have also the sacred object of Jehovah.” But Dr. Watts

Notes on the verses

evangelical dispensation.—The tabernacle itself, we have seen, was typical of the incarnation of the Son of God, who, “in the days of his flesh,” tabernacled among men; but the most holy place represented his present state of exalted glory. The great High Priest of our profession having entered within the vail, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with his own most precious blood, he hath sprinkled it before the throne, and “ever liveth, to plead on our behalf the merit of his atonement.” This is the scene typically portrayed before us in this chapter, under the figure of Aaron, in his priestly robes and ornaments. The purity and splendour of Aaron’s robes evidently prefigured the excellences of character which unite in Christ our Lord.

And the breast-plate of judgment, which contained twelve precious stones, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel, represented the manner in which our Lord [bears the names of his people]—Chap. XXVIII. Ver. 4. A breast-plate.—[Choshen, in Arabic, according to Giggeius (cited by Le Clerc on ch. xxv. 9.) signifies the breast, and also a brigandine, or coat of mail, particularly the forepart; but in Hebrew, it is only used for the square breast-plate of the high-priest, in which were set twelve precious stones, each being engraved with the name of one of the sons of Jacob.]—Bagster. Compare verse 15.—An ephod.—{The Ephod, from aphad, to bind close, as round the body, seems to have been a short cloak without sleeves, girded over all the other garments.

There were two kinds of ephods; one of plain linen for the common priests, and the other superbly ornamented and embroidered for the high-priest. The latter is what is described from ver. 6, 8.—Bagster.—A robe.—A long slip of blue cloth, connected with the ephod.—A broidered coat.—A tunic, or straight coat with sleeves.—A mitre.—Hebrew, mitsnepheth, from tsanaph, to wrap round; a turban.—And a girdle curiously wrought, ver. 8.—Dr. Clarke. Ver. 13. Ouches of gold.—The word rendered ouches, the same learned commentator would render sockets, in which the jewels were inserted. Sometimes it seems used for buttons and loops; at others, for clasps; perhaps any kind of fastening by jewellery.

Than the rich gems, and polish’d gold, The sons of Aaron wore. They first their own burnt-offering brought, To purge themselves from sin; Thy life was pure, without a spot, And all thy nature clean.

Once in the circuit of a year, With blood, but not his own, Aaron within the vail appears, Before the golden throne. But Christ, by his own powerful blood, Ascends above the skies, And, in the presence of our God, Shows his own sacrifice. He ever lives to intercede Before his Father’s face: Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father’s grace.” It seems used for buttons and loops; at others, for clasps; perhaps any kind of fastening by jewellery.

Ver. 17. Set it in setting, or ruby.—Odem, from adam, to be red, ruddy, seems to denote the ruby; as adam does in Persian, a beautiful gem of a fine deep red colour, with a mixture of purple; viii. 11. F i ate, topazius, with which stantly rendered by the LXX: ‘Topadzion,’ and Vulgate agrees Josephus. The topaz is a precious stone of a dead green, with a mixture of yellow, sometimes of a fine yellow; and hence called Chrysolite by the moderns, from its gold colour; Chap. 8.—Carbuncle.—Bareketh, from barak, to lighten, glitter, the carbuncle, a very elegant gem of a deep red lively colour, it had the name colour, with a mixture of scarlet. From its name of carbunculus, a little coal; like a piece of bright burning charcoal.—Bagster.—Helech, an emerald, the same with the ancient Sma- Ver.

18. Emerald.—{No. ragdus, as it is rendered by Onkelos and JOR, one of the most beautiful of all the gems, and of a bright green colour, without any

Ver. 30. Urim and Thummim. The Urim and Thummim, lights and perfections; rendered by the LXX. manifestation and truth; Vulgate, Doctrina et Veritas, doctrine and truth. Among the contradictory opinions respecting the nature and substance of these mysterious appendages, the most probable seems to be that of Josephus, Philo, Bp. Patrick, Parkhurst, and the Jewish writers generally; who state, that they were no other than the twelve precious stones of the high priest’s breast-plate. Support of this statement, it is observed, 1. That in the description of the high priest’s breast-plate, (Exodus 39:8). et seq., the Urim and Thummim are not mentioned, but only the rows of stones; and, on the contrary, in (Leviticus 8:8). four rows of stones. 2. As Moses has given such a particular description relative to the high priest’s dress, these would certainly have been mentioned, had they been different from what was previously mentioned. The learned Brunius supposes, that when Moses commanded to put in the breast-plate the Urim and Thummim, it meant only that he should choose of the most perfect set of stones, and have them so polished the brightest and finest lustre.—Bagster.—On this, see Levit. (Numbers 17:21). “the breast-plate of judgment, because in cases of judgment that were too hard for the judges, they mixture.

Priest, who was to inquire of God by Urim and Thummim, in the breast-plate, for a determination, according to (Numbers 17:7-8).”—President Edwards. Ver. 32, Habergeon.—Armour for the neck.—Dr. Johnson.

Ver. 35. His sound shall be heard.—The design of these was, that they might know when the incense was offered, and mingle their prayers with it.—Orient. Cust. No. 46.

Ver. 36. Plate of pure gold.—[The word tzitz, which we translate a plate, properly signifies a flower. It is rendered by the LXX. a leaf; and is called by Josephus a nezer, a crown, a diadem, by the author of the book of Wisdom. He says that it was adorned with three rows of the flower which the Greeks call kaunos, probably the blue bottle.

The Jewish doctors say that it was two fingers broad, of a circular form suited to the shape of the head, and so long, which was tied behind the head; and as the plate reached only half round the head, the remaining part of the ribband was highly ornamented with artificial flowers.—Bagster.

Ver. 41. Consecrate them.—Hebrew, “Fill their hand;” namely, with the sacrifices they were to offer. Thus was their ordination perfected; hence the LXX. use the term perfecting for consecrating; and St. Paul, in viii. 8., applies it to our great High Priest, (Hebrews 7:28).—Ainsworth.