Exodus 28

Aaron and his Sons are ordained for the High-Priests office , v.1. etc. their holy attire, 2. the Ephod , 6. the curious girdle , 8.two Sardonix stones , on which the names of the sons of Israel were engraven , 9. The breast-plate woth twelve precious stones in it, whereon the names of the twelve Sonnes of Israel were engraven 15. golden chains at the breast-plate , 22. and golden rings on them , 23. The Urim and Thummim , 30. The cloak of the Ephod , 31. the golden plate whereon was engraven , THE HOLINES OF THE LORD , 36 the Coat full of eyes ; the Hat , the Girdle , the Coat of Aarons Sons , their Girdles and Caps , and their linnen drawers , 39, etc. These garments Aaron and his Sonnes were to put on , when they served in the Holy place. 41.

1. After that [viz. When the Tabernacle and furniture thereof shall be made ready and accomplished] thou shalt cause Aaron thy brother, and his Sonnes, to draw near unto thee , out of the midst of the children of Israel , for to administer the Priestly office unto me : namely, Aaron , Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the Sonnes of Aaron .

2. And thou shalt make holy Garments for thy brother Aaron : [i.e. such Garments as he shall put on and wear , when he goeth about to administer his Priestly office in the Sanctuary . Heb. cloathes of holiness.] for Glory and for Ornament .

3. Thou shalt speak likewise to all that are wise of heart, [See Job 9:4.] whom I have filled with spirit of wisdome ; that they make garments for Aaron to sanctifie him, that he may administer the Priestly office unto me .

4. These now are the Garments which they shall make : A breast-plate ( or, stomacher ) and an Ephod, [or body-coat , wast-coat , see above chapter 25.7.] and a cloak [or , upper-vest , upper-garment , whereon the bels hung , see verse 32.] and a Coat full of eyes , [understand curiously wrought with imbellishments , in fashion of eyes . This is held to be the under-coat , being longer then the former and upper , termed cloak here .] a hat , [this was a cover which was as it were wound round about the head , after the manner of the Turkish Turbands or Tulibands ; it was the head-cover and ornament for Kings and Priests .] and girdle : then theyn shall make holy garments , for thy brother Aaron and his Sonnes , to administer the Priestly office unto me.

5. They [viz. the wise men , or skilfull artificers , spoken of verse 3.] shall likewise take that gold ; [which the children of Israel shall have freely brought in , whereof mention is made above chapter 25.] and sky-colour , and purple , scarlet, and fine linnen.

6. And shall make the Ephod of gold , [The golden Ephod was onely to be worn by the High Priest ; but there were likewise Ephods made of linnen , which other Priests and other people also did wear . See 1 Samuel 22:18. and chapter 2.18. and 2 Sam. 6.14.] skie-colour, and purple , scarlet, and fine twined linnen , and most artificial work.

7. It shall have two joyning shoulder- bands on both ends thereof , whereby it may be joyned together.

8. And the artificial girdle of his Ephod [viz. Whereby the Ephod was to be girded about . Whether this Ephod did hang from the shoulder both before and behind down to the loins , and under this girdle ; or else , whether it hung onely back-ward , down to the girdle , or upon , or over it : or, whether being open before and behinde , and fastned to the shoulders , it hung from the loins down to the feet ; Opinions do much vary : Yet the later is embraced by the most learned Hebrew Rabbies] which is upon him , shall be like its work , of the same , [stuffe, viz. Whereof the Ephod is made . Oth.out of it , i.e. of the very same piece] of gold , sky- colour, and purple , and scarlet , and fine-twined linnen.

9. And thou shalt take two sardonix-stones , and engrave the names of the Sons of Israel theron.

10. Six of their names upon the one stone ; and the six remaining names upon the other stone . According to their births .

11. According to (the) Engravers work, as the seals are graven , [Heb. the graving of a seal] so shalt thou engrave these two stones , [i.e. as neatly and compleately as may be done by the art man]with the names of the Sons of Israel : thou shalt make them to be compassed about in the ouches of gold . [thus the concavities , or hollow places are called , in rings , or jewels , wherein precious stones use to be set for to e seen .]

12. And thou shalt set two stones on the shoulder-bands of the Ephod, being stones for Remembrance , to the children of Israel : and Aaron shall bear their names on both his shoulders , for remembrance before the face of the LORD. [The sense of these words is , that Aaron standing before God with these stones upon his shoulders , it would make God , as it were , still minde-full of the children of Israel.]

13. thou shalt likewise make ouches of gold .

14. And two small chains of pure gold ; a-like-ending thou shalt make them , [i.e. of a like size and length ; and so below , verse 22.] turned work , [oth.wreathed, or wrested work] and the turned (or wreathed) chains thou shalt fasten to the ouches .

15. Thou shalt likewise make a Breast-plate of Judgememt, [Thus called, because the High Priest put it on , when there fell out any thing of great weight and concernment ,which withal was very doubtful and difficult , for to ask Gods advice and direction in the same] of most artificial work , like the work of the Ephod shalt thou make it ; of gold , sky-colour , and purple , and scarlet , and fine twined linnen shalt thou make the same.

16. It shall be four -square , and doubled : a span shall be its length , and a span its breadth .

17. And thou shalt fill filling stones therein ; four rowes of stones : one rowe [i.e. The first, as Gen. ch.1.5. And chapter 22,11.] of a Sardis , [about the interpreting of names of these stones the most Learned Translators differ much ; we followed the most and chiefest , both ancient and modern] a Topaz, and Carbuncle ; this is the first row .

18. And the second Row, of an Emerald , a Saphir , and a Diamond .

19. And the third Row , of Hiacinth , Agat and Amethist .

20. And the fourth row of a Turkois , and a Sardonix , and a Jasper . [The Hebrew names of all these twelve stones stand thus ; 1. row. Odem , Pitda , Bareketh . 2. row. Nopheth, Sappir , Jahalem. 3. row. Leschem , Schebo, Achlamah. 4. row. Tarschish , Schoham , Jaspe] they shall be encompassed with gold in their fillings . [i.e. in the ouches wherein they shall be set. Compare above chapter 25. on verse 7.]

21. and these stones shall be with the twelve names of the sons of Israel, by their names ; they shall be engraven like seals , each one with his name ; they shall be for the twelve Tribes .

22. Thou shalt likewise make for the breast-plate little chains alike-ending of turned ( or, wreathed ) work, of pure gold .

23. Thou shalt likewise make two golden rings on the breast-plate , and thou shalt set the two rings on the two ends of the breast-plate.

24. Then thou shalt put the two turned golden ( chains ) into the two rings , on the ends of the breast-plate .

25. But the two end of the two turned (chains ) [Hebr. of both the turnings , or , wreathings , wreaths] thou shalt put the two ouches , and thou shalt set them on the shoulder-bands of the Ephod , right upon the fore-most side [Heb. face] of the same.

26. Thou shalt make two golden rings yet , and shalt set them on the two ends of the breast-plate ; inwardly on the edge [Heb. lip] thereof, which shall be at the side of the Ephod .

27. Yet shalt thou make two golden rings , which thou shalt set on the two shoulder-bands of the Ephod , beneath , of the fore-most side , over against its jointure [or, joining together] above the artificial girdle of the Ephod.

28. And they shall tie the breast-plate with its rings to the rings of the Ephod upwards ; with a sky – colour string , that it may be upon the rtificial girdle of the Ephod : and the breast-plate shall not be seperated from the Ephod .

29. Thus Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breast-plate of Judgement , upon his heart , wherein he is to go into the holy (place) , for ( a) remembrance before the face of the LORD continually.

30. Thou shalt likewise set the Urim and Thummim [these words might be rendred , lights and perfections : God was pleased with them to impart his clear and perfect answers to the high Priest : Nevertheless what they were , is uncertain . We read no where , that god commanded Moseh to make the same, muvh less how and whereof they were made . Compare Lev.8.8.] into the breast-plate , that they may be upon the heart of Aaron , where he is to go in before the face of the LORD : thus Aaron shall bear that Judgement of the children of Israel upon his heart continually, before the face of the LORD.

31. Thou shalt likewise make the cloak of the Ephod , [To wit the cloak, or coat , which was to be worn under the Ephod] altogether of sky-colour .

32. And the top-hole of it, [i.e. The open place above , whereby it was to pass the Priests head , to hang or sit on his shoulder . Heb. the mouth of its head] shall be in the midst thereof : this hole shall have a seam round about of woven work: as the hole of a coat of male shall it be thereon , that it may not be rent . [it, viz. the hole, others make it relate to the Ephod.]

33. And on its seams thou shalt make pome-granates , of sky-colour, and of purple, and of scarlet , on its seams round about : and golden bells round about betwixt them . [Oth. in the midst of them .]

34. That there be a golden bell, after that a pomegranate ; ( again ) a golden bell and pomegranat : on the seams of the cloak round about .

35. And Aaron shall have the same on for to serve : that his sound may be heard , [Understand the sound or noise of his bells] when he goeth into the Holy ( place) before the face of the LORD , and when he goeth forth , that he die not. [to wit, being smitten by the LORD .]

36. moreover thou shalt make a plate [Heb. a flower , which is fair in the eye] of pure gold , and thou shalt engrave thereon , as they grave the seals ; { heb. with the graving of a seal ] THE HOLINES OF THE LORD. [oth. Holines to the LORD.]

37. And thou shalt fasten the same with a sky-colour string , so that it be on the hat ; [See above verse 4.] it shall be on the foremost part of the hat .

38. And it shall be on the fore-head of Aaron , that Aaron may bear [i.e. bearing , remove , or take away] the unrighteousness of the holy things , which the children of Israel shall have hallowed , in all the gifts of their hallowed things ; [here Aaron is a type of Christ , who by his own Holiness hath taken away the sins of his people , which they do frequently commit , even in their most holy acts and services , John 1:29. and 2 Cor.5.19. and 1 John 2:1.] and it shall be upon his head continually ; [understand whensoever the high Priest was to wear his hat , serving and adminstring his office] for to make them acceptable before the face of the LORD.

39. Thou shalt likewise make a coat full of eye-lets , of fine linnen ; also the hat thou shalt make of fine linnen ; but the girdle thou shalt make of embroidered work.

40. Unto the sons of Aaron , thou shalt likewise make coats , [viz. Of fine linnen , as those of the high Priest were , Exodus 39:27. understand this likewise of their hats, caps, or bonnets which were not much different from the high Priests] and thou shalt make them girdles ; thou shalt make them caps also [or, raised caps , which were bound to , or wound about the head , Lev.8.13.] for glory and ornament .

41. And thou shalt draw them on to thy brother Aaron , and his sons also ; [Heb. with him] and thou shalt annoint them , [viz. with the holy oyl, which God commanded to be made . See Exodus 30:23. and 29.7.]and fill their hand , [see Leviticus 8:33.] and hallow them, that they administer unto me the Priests office .

42. Make them likewise linnen drawers , to cover the flesh of the shame ; [or , nakedness] they shall be from the loins to the thighs.

43. Aaron now and his sons shall have them on , [Heb. And they shall be upon Aaron and upon his sons] when they go into the Tent of the Congregation ; or when they shall step to the Altar , for to serve in the holy (place) , that they may bear no iniquity [i.e. no punishment of , or for iniquity , See Leviticus 5:1.] and die : ( This ) shall be an everlasting Institution to him , and to his seed after him.