The Book of
Exodus 28
43 verses≈ 8 min1 personBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
- 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
- 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
- 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
- 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle plannedChapter 28
- 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the glory
Garments for the Priests
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
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Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.
You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests. They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
The high priest’s garments
Whiteboard
From head to hem, the high priest’s clothes: the turban with its gold plate; the ephod with two onyx stones on its shoulders; the breastpiece with twelve stones over his heart; the blue robe beneath, ringed with pomegranates and bells; the linen tunic and sash; and linen undergarments beneath it all. God said they were “holy garments,” made “to give him glory and splendor.”
The Ephod
They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened. And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.
Fashion gold filigree settings and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings.
Reflect
Carried before God
Aaron was to carry the names of Israel’s sons on his shoulders “as a memorial before the LORD,” and soon over his heart as well. Not one tribe was left off the stones. Jesus, our great High Priest, carries His people before the Father in the same way. Whose names would you like to carry to God in prayer this week? Write them down, and start with your own.
The Breastpiece
You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. It must be square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.
First row
Ruby, topaz, emerald
And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones:
In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
Second row
Turquoise, sapphire, diamond
in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
Third row
Jacinth, agate, amethyst
in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Fourth row
Beryl, onyx, jasper
and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.
Set in gold filigree
Mount these stones in gold filigree settings.
Twelve names
One stone for each tribe
The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
For the breastpiece, make braided chains like cords of pure gold. You are also to make two gold rings and fasten them to the two corners of the breastpiece. Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
Make two more gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.
Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband. The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.
Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
Pray
The Priest who carries my name
Every time Aaron went into the Holy Place, he carried Israel’s names “over his heart” as “a continual reminder before the LORD.” Hebrews says Jesus always lives to intercede for those who come to God through Him. Thank Him that your name is not forgotten before the Father. Then bring Him the people and needs on your heart today.
Additional Priestly Garments
You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.
You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash. Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.
After you put these garments on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them so that they may serve Me as priests.
Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.
Question
Quick question
The high priest wore stones engraved with names on his shoulders and over his heart.
Whose names did Aaron carry on the onyx stones and the breastpiece?
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Exodus 28
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A verse to carry with you
Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.
Exodus 28:29
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