From the place to the people and Moses was instructed to take Aaron, his brother, and Aaron’s sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, and appoint them as priests and make garments for them for glory and beauty. (v1,2)
This role was God’s appointment, and it was to pass down through the family line.
Moses was instructed to find gifted people, filled by God with the spirit of wisdom, to make these garments. Not just any old people. This was a gift of God just as important as the priest’s role. Aaron was to be consecrated to minister to God and the people as priests. (v3)
The garments which they were to make were a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skilfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. “So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.” (v4)
Notice again that their role was to minister to God. A priest ministers to God for man and to man from God.
We seem to have got the wrong idea of a ‘priest’ today. Anyone who tends to wear a clerical collar is referred to as a priest but under the New Covenant brought by Jesus Christ, believers and followers of Jesus Christ are all priests to God.
We start with the ephod (v5-14) which was to be made out of blue, purple and scarlet thread and fine woven linen, artistically worked. It was an apron-like garment with two shoulder straps. On the shoulder straps were to be placed two onyx stones with the names of the twelve tribes inscribed, six on each one, thus the High Priest bore the names of the twelve tribes before The LORD as a memorial.
Next, we have the breastplate of judgment (v15-30) which, again, was artistically made. There were four rows of three gemstones, twelve in all representing the twelve tribes. Each of the stones were to be set in gold and the High Priest would be bearing the twelve tribes before The LORD. God’s people are precious to Him.
In the breastplate was to be the Urim and Thummim. It is not clear what these were. Some think they were two stones, one light and one dark. They were to be used to ask God for guidance, ‘yes’ or ‘no’. One commentator suggested that they flashed brightly for ‘yes’ or dimly for ‘no’. Often, we rely on feelings or outward appearances which are poor substitutes for God’s guidance. Even though we are unsure as to what they were exactly, there is no doubt that it was ordained by God, just as we have God’s Word to guide us.
We then come to the priest’s robe (v31-35). This was to be all of blue. It was seamless with an opening for his head. On its hem all around between the ornaments of pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet thread alternated with golden bells. The purpose of the bells was that it would be heard when he went into the holy place to indicate he was still alive, otherwise the silence may indicate that he had died in there as they couldn’t see him.
In verses 36-38 they were instructed to make a turban and engrave a plate of pure gold on the front of it with the words, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD”. The turban was of linen with the engraved plate on it to indicate that he was serving The LORD. This sign indicated such. Holiness is not following a set of rules but a separation to God. It was on Aaron’s forehead, and he was bearing the iniquity of the holy things – even the sacrifices and the other things were lacking, but when God saw these, He would accept their worship. The holy things were not sinful, but the connection between what the priest was bringing on behalf of the iniquity of the people, the sacrifice for their sin. The tunic, the turban and the sash worn by Aaron were to be skilfully woven of fine linen thread (v39).
God is holy and we must come before Him in holiness. None of us are perfect but we must come before Him in holiness.
Finally, there was the preparation for the sons of Aaron (v40-43). They were to make tunics, sashes and hats for glory and beauty. They were to be anointed, consecrated and sanctified so that they may minister as priests to God. They were to make linen thigh-length trousers. The clothing of the sons, who were of a lower category of priests than the High Priest, was very much ordinary, whereas the clothing of the High Priest spoke of the glory of Jesus. It is thought that the linen trousers to cover their nakedness was a reference stressing purity in worship against the pagan priests who often ministered naked in their worship of pagan gods.
We then come to anointing, consecration and sanctification. Anointing was the pouring of oil of oil on the head which represented filling and trusting in the power of God, The Holy Spirit. The word is commonly used today, perhaps overused but it simply means that a person is obedient to the working of God in their lives and service. Consecration is being totally committed to the service of The Lord. And sanctification is being made clean and pure in our lives.
Whilst in the context these were specific ceremonies, today they would represent our growing and maturity in our Christian lives, becoming more like Jesus in our daily walk.
