Exodus 28

Aaron in his priesthood the type of Jesus. I. IN HIS APPOINTMENT ( Exodus 28:1 ). 1 . He is chosen of God ( Hebrews 5:4 ), and therefore our accepted intercessor. 2 . He is taken from among his brethren; "from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me." The priest who ministers before God for us must go up with a brother's heart and with experience of human infirmity ( Hebrews 4:15 ). II. IN HIS ARRAY . The holy garments were "for glory and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:2

Holy garments have provoked an extreme aversion and an extreme affection at different periods of the world's history. In Moses' time probably no one thought of raising any objection to them. Priestly dresses of many different kinds were worn in Egypt, and some costume other than that of ordinary life, was probably affected by the priest class of every nation. Without entering into any elaborate "philosophy of clothes," we may say that the rationale of the matter would seem to be that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:3

Wise-hearted . In modern parlance the heart is made the seat of the affections and emotions, the brain of the intellect. But the Hebrew idiom was different. There the heart was constantly spoken of as the seat of wisdom. (See below, Exodus 31:6 ; Exodus 35:10 , Exodus 35:25 ; Exodus 36:1 , Exodus 36:2 ; Job 9:4 ; Proverbs 11:29 , etc.) The spirit of wisdom might seem to be scarcely necessary for the work of constructing a set of priestly garments; but where "glory and beauty"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:4

These are the garments . The enumeration does not follow the same order exactly as the description. The two agree, however, in giving the precedence to the same three articles of apparel out of the six—viz; the breast-plate, the ephod, and the robe. His sons — i.e; his successors in the office of high priest, read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:5

The materials of the priestly garments. The materials for the priestly garments were to be limited to six—precious stones, which are not here mentioned, as being ornamental, rather than essential, parts of the apparel; a blue thread, known as "blue" (compare Exodus 25:4 ); a purple or crimson one, known as "purple;" a scarlet one, known as "scarlet;" and a white one, which is called "fine linen." These were the same materials as those used for the veil ( Exodus 26:31 ), and curtains ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:6

The Ephod , They shall make the ephod The word ephod signifies etymologically any "vestment" or "garment;" but in its use it is confined to the special vestment here described, the great object of which was to be a receptacle for the "breast-plate." The ephod was a sort of jerkin or waistcoat, consisting of two pieces, one to cover the chest and the other the back, joined together probably by a seam, above the shoulders, and united at the waist by a band called "the curious girdle of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:7

The two shoulder-pieces thereof, Literally, "Two shoulder-pieces." There is no article, and no possessive pronoun. At the two edges thereof. Literally, "at its two ends." A union of the back and front flaps of the dress by a seam at the top of the shoulder seems to be intended. Female dresses were made in this way among the Greeks, but fastened with a brooch or buckle. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:8

The curious girdle . Josephus says of the ephod, ζώνῃ περισφίγγεται βάμμασι διαπεποικιλμένῃ χρυσοῦ συνυφασμένου , "it is fastened with a girdle dyed of many hues, with gold interwoven in it." Hence its name, khesheb , which means properly "device" or "cunning work." Of the ephod . Rather "of its girding"— i.e. "wherewith it (the ephod) was to be girded." Shall be of the same . Compare above, Exodus 25:19 . The girdle was to be "of one piece" with the ephod, woven on to it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:9

Two onyx stones . The correctness of this rendering has been much disputed. The LXX . give σμάραγδος , "emeraid." as the Greek equivalent in the present passage, while many argue for the beryl (Winer, Rosenmuller, Bollermann), and others for the sardonyx. This last rendering has the support of Josephus and Aquila. The sardonyx is, in fact, nothing but the best kind of onyx, differing from the onyx by having three layers—black, white, and red—instead of two—black and white—only. When... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:1-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:9

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