Exodus 28

Moses in Mount Sinai Receives God’s Revelation.

Moses In The Mountain With Yahweh For Forty Days and Nights (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 31:18 ).

After receiving the covenant and putting it into writing Moses was called by Yahweh to go up to Him into the Mountain. The Great Overlord wished to establish the necessary protocol for His people’s approach to Him. There through revelation Moses was to be given instructions concerning the provision of a Dwellingplace for Yahweh, with all its furniture, so that they could know that He ‘dwelt among them’. This was in order to confirm to Israel His gracious intentions towards them (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 29:46), and which will enable them to reveal their continued loyalty and concern for His holiness (Exodus 30-31).

An Earthly Dwellingplace Is To Be Prepared For Yahweh’s Convenience (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 29:46 )

The first act is to establish a Dwellingplace among them which will be a reminder that He is their Overlord. The preparation of the Dwellingplace falls into two sections:

1). That which expresses Yahweh’s sovereign activity towards His people and His provision of atonement (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 29:46), and at the end of it He expresses His intention to dwell among them (Exodus 29:45).

2) This is followed by the provision of the means by which they can express their loyalty to Him, and can approach Him, through their representatives, in His throne room, and at the end of this He gives them the covenant as sealed by His hand (Exodus 30:1 to Exodus 31:18).

The New Priests And Their Garments (Exodus 28:1-41 ).

At this stage Aaron and his sons are to be instituted as priests for the service of the Dwellingplace. We are given no direct information as to how the priesthood previously operated. Perhaps Moses operated as ‘the Priest’ (high priest) (Exodus 24:4), and perhaps the patriarchs of households, or the redeemed firstborn (Exodus 13:2), acted as priests for their households, although the latter were more likely simply assistants as the Levites would be. The future ideal was that all might become a ‘kingdom of priests’ (Exodus 19:6). We do know that in Exodus 24:5 some young men assisted Moses in the offering of burnt offerings and the sacrifice of peace offerings. But everyone then knew what their system was and no one needed to be told, and there may have been a number of variations. It was only because a major change was to take place that we have these detailed descriptions. They would incorporate something of the old and introduce other things that were new.

For we must remember that the present ‘Israel’ was made up, not only of connections with the twelve tribes in Egypt, but also of a ‘mixed multitude’ (Exodus 12:38), many of whom would have had their own gods and their own form of priesthood. Only a short while had passed since the deliverance, and it was now necessary to formalise the way of worship for all that they might be one people with one way of worship. Had just anyone been appointed ‘high priest’ (in those early days regularly called ‘the Priest’) there may have been dissension, but none could dissent at the appointment of one who with Moses had been a major player in the deliverance. All would recognise his worth and recognition by God.

This chapter may be analysed as follows:

a Aaron and his sons to be set aside to minister in the priest’s office (Exodus 28:1).

b Preparation for making the holy garments (Exodus 28:2-5).

c The making of the Ephod, the priestly surcoat, with the Girdle, the Ephod containing the names of the tribes of Israel on its shoulders (Exodus 28:6-14).

c The making of the Breastpouch which contains on its jewellery the names of the twelve tribes and within it the Urim and the Thummim (Exodus 28:15-30).

c The making of the Robe of the ephod to be worn beneath the ephod hemmed with pomegranates and bells (Exodus 28:31-35).

c The making of the Headplate to be on the mitre and declaring Holiness to Yahweh (Exodus 28:36-38).

b The making of the garments for Aaron’s sons (Exodus 28:40).

a The robing, anointing, consecrating and sanctifying of Aaron and his sons to the priest’s office (Exodus 28:41).

The Appointment of Five Priests Including Aaron the Leading Priest (Exodus 28:1).