Exodus 28:5-30 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:1-5

We have here, I. The priests nominated: Aaron and his sons, Exod. 28:1. Hitherto every master of a family was priest to his own family, and offered, as he saw cause, upon altars of earth; but now that the families of Israel began to be incorporated into a nation, and a tabernacle of the congregation was to be erected, as a visible centre of their unity, it was requisite there should be a public priesthood instituted. Moses, who had hitherto officiated, and is therefore reckoned among the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:6-14

Directions are here given concerning the ephod, which was the outmost garment of the high priest. Linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests, 1 Sam. 22:18. Samuel wore one when he was a child (1 Sam. 2:18), and David when he danced before the ark (2 Sam. 6:14); but this which the high priest only wore was called a golden ephod, because there was a great deal of gold woven into it. It was a short coat without sleeves, buttoned closely to him, with a curious girdle of the same stuff (Exod.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:15-30

The most considerable of the ornaments of the high priest was this breast-plate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously wrought with gold and purple, etc., two spans long and a span broad, so that, being doubled, it was a span square, Exod. 28:16. This was fastened to the ephod with wreathen chains of gold (Exod. 28:13, 14, 22) both at top and bottom, so that the breast-plate might not be loosed from the ephod, Exod. 28:28. The ephod was the garment of service; the breast-plate of judgment was an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:5

And they shall take ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, out of their substance; that is, those that were wise hearted, and had knowledge and skill in making such garments; these were to take, not out of their own personal substance, but they were to take or receive from Moses what the people freely offered for such service, Exodus 36:3 , gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen ; pieces of gold, which they beat into thin plates, and drew into wires, and which they worked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:6

And they shall make the ephod ,.... This was the outermost garment of, all, and was put over the robe; it was a short garment, reaching to the loins, as Kimchi F16 Comment. in 1 Chron. 15. 27. ; or to the buttocks, as Abarbinel F17 Comment. in loc. ; and not to the heels or feet, as Jarchi F18 Comment. in loc. , and Maimonides F19 Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 9. ; for Josephus F20 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 5. says it was but a cubit long, which was little... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:7

It shall have the two shoulder pieces thereof ,.... Which were two pieces that joined to the ephod, reaching from the arm holes to the shoulders both on the right and left, coming from before and behind; and meeting on the shoulders, were buttoned with two onyx stones, and covering the shoulders are called by this name: joined at the two edges thereof ; the two edges of the ephod; not sewed thereunto with a needle, as Maimonides F23 Ut supra. (Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 9.) ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:8

And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it ,.... Which was worn along with it, and went out from it like two thongs, as Jarchi says, which girt the ephod close to the back and breast: shall be of the same ; of the same matter as the ephod, and woven in the same manner, and together with it: according to the work thereof ; wrought with the same coloured, curious, and cunning work: even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen ; and from the gold... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:9

And thou shall take two onyx stones ,.... called from the colour of a man's nail, which they to resemble: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call them stones of beryl, and so the Syriac version; the Septuagint, stones of emerald, and the Arabic version, crystal stones: but, according to Josephus F24 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 5.) , they were sardonyx stones, and in which Brannius F25 De Vestitu Sacerd. Heb. l. 2. c. 18. sect. 4. p. 730. thinks he was right: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:10

Six of their names on one stone ,.... The names of the six eldest on the stone upon the right shoulder: and the other six names of the rest on the other stone : the names of the six youngest on the stone upon the left shoulder; for these stones, as afterwards said, were put on the shoulders of the priests: according to their birth ; the order of it; so that upon the first stone were engraven the names of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, and Naphtali; and on the second stone the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone ,.... Not in common but precious stones: Moses was not to do this himself, as it could not be supposed he should, but he was to employ an engraver, whose business it was, and one that was capable of doing it in a professional manner: like the engravings of a signet shall thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel : as in signets or seals, by which impressions are made on wax, the letters or figures are cut deep, that they... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:6-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:15-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:11

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