We continue our study of the subject as we consider the way it was incorporated into the life of the nation of Israel.
The Priesthood
The subject of the priesthood revolves around the personnel, their garments, their consecration and their service. As with the Tabernacle, everything about the priesthood was proscribed by the Lord. The writer of the Hebrew letter confirms this: “… there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, 'See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain' ” (Heb. 8:4–5).
The Personnel
The first High Priest was Aaron – his name means ‘very high’. Some explain the name to mean ‘mountaineer’ or a ‘mountain of strength’. As High Priest he was elevated above others of his family and his tribe. Jesus, also as High Priest (but of the order of Melchizedek) was also elevated to the highest place that heaven affords. He was exalted and is now ‘very high’ and in His office is called a great High Priest: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Heb. 4:14). The names of the sons of Aaron also contribute to our understanding of the New Testament regime under the High Priesthood of Christ. Nadab means ‘liberal or generous’, adjectives that can certainly be applied the Jesus, as also Abihu which means ‘My Father is He’ (that is God). Eleazar directs us to the throne of grace where Jesus operates as our great High Priest, meaning as it does ‘God helps’. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Ithamar (land of palm) directs us to the palm tree. The palm tree is used as a picture of those who stand to serve in the Temple of the Lord. “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing ” (Psalm 92:12–14).
The Garments
“And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully 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 ” (Exod. 28:2–4). The Priests’ garments were also proscribed, especially those of the High Priest. His garments were designed to reflect his high office, an office to which he had been called, and which he occupied by the gift and grace of God. There was a dignity to his office that commanded respect from those he represented. Paul acknowledged this when rebuked for speaking ill of the occupant of the office when brought before the members of the Sanhedrin.
While the High Priest’s robes gave added beauty and glory to the person that occupied that high office, it stands in contrast to the High Priesthood of Christ inasmuch as His is an inherent beauty and glory. The High Priest’s garments added an outer glory whereas the humanity of Christ covered His inner glory. Three of His closest disciples were allowed to see that inner glory when He was in fellowship and communion with His Father on the Mount of Transfiguration, but generally His identification with humanity was so complete that most simply saw a good man. But His resurrection initiated a change when He took up His appointment as the High Priest of our profession. Since then the outshining of His glory has been constant. Stephen witnessed the glory of God when he saw Jesus standing by the throne of God, and Paul was blinded by it on the road to Damascus: “… I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus ” (Acts 22:11) and John bowed before it: “… His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev. 1:16). This was only to be expected since Jesus, because of His mighty victory on Golgotha was crowned with glory and honor.
The robe of the High Priest was made of the same fabric with the same colors as the entrance and inner curtains in the Holy Place, no doubt to indicate that the priest’s main place of service was in the room that held the golden altar, the menorah and the table which held the ‘bread of the presence’.
The ephod was an outer garment in something of the fashion of an apron; most likely made of two pieces, front and back, and fastened together at the shoulders. It also had a belt made of the same material, to hold it in place. While it was somewhat of an apron it was fashioned of exquisite materials and embroidered by skillful hands using threads of scarlet, blue and purple. Although it was made of linen, it was far more glorious for it had fine gold thread woven through it. The thread was not just gold in color, it was the precious metal gold, so not only did it look beautiful but also reflected the light of the menorah when the priest entered the Holy Place. It was another small prophetic indication that Jesus, the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek would have an outshining like the rays of the golden sun.
On the shoulders of the ephod were two receptacles, one on each shoulder; each to hold an onyx stone on which the names of six of the tribes of Israel were engraved. In this way the High Priest symbolically carried the nation of Israel (the twelve tribes whom he represented), on his shoulders when he went into the presence of God. The listing of the tribes was in the birth order of the sons of Israel, so for this purpose it is likely that on the right shoulder were the names Reuben (Gen 29:32), Simeon (Gen 29:33), Levi (Gen 29:34), Judah (Gen 29:35), Dan (Gen 30:5) and Naphtali (Gen 30:8). The left shoulder stone would have been inscribed with the names of Gad (Gen 30:11), Asher (Gen 30:13), Issachar (Gen 30:18), Zebulun (Gen 30:20), Joseph (Gen 30:24), and Benjamin (Gen 35:18). To carry Israel into the presence of God in this way was particularly important when the ministry was one of intercession.
The ephod also had a breastplate that was soon considered to be part of the ephod since the two were not used separately. The breastplate’s full title was “the breastplate of judgment” (Exod. 28:15). It was made of the same material as the ephod but was like a large pouch, some eighteen inches square. It had twelve semi-precious stones set in it, four rows of three, each stone engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. Since the twelve tribes were also placed in a particular order around the Tabernacle, it is likely that they would be similarly ordered on the High Priest’s breastplate. From right to left (as per the Hebrew script) Judah, Issachar, Zebulun; Reuben, Simeon, Gad; Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin; Dan, Asher, Naphtali.
The pouch itself held two stones, the Urim and Thummim, which were used to find out the mind of God for important national decisions. Urim means ‘Lights’: it is the plural of the word commonly used for light. Thummim means ‘Perfections’. In the Septuagint they are translated by the words ‘delosis’ and ‘aletheia’, that is, ‘Manifestation’ and ‘Truth’. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). John said Jesus “… was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus is not only ‘Light’ but also ‘Truth’. That Jesus told the truth has always been accepted, especially those sayings of His that were identified as particular verities. Luke reports Jesus prefacing some statements with the phrase, “But I tell you truly” (Luke 4:25; 9:27; cf. 12:44; 21:3); whereas the more familiar identifier was ‘Truly’ or ‘Verily’. But the impact of Jesus was greater than just a man who told the truth. John declared He was full of truth; He brought the truth; and He is the truth.
An example of the use of the Urim and Thummim is given to us in the life of David when he fled from Saul. Abiathar, the only surviving priest of the line of Eli went to David with the ephod in his hand, having escaped the slaughter at Nob. David enquired of God as to whether the inhabitants of Keilah would alliance themselves with Saul against him. By the use of the two stones he was able to discern that it was not safe for him to stay and he left the area with his men. There are further examples from David’s biography at 1 Samuel 30:7,8 and 2 Samuel 2:1, although in this last instance the priest and ephod are not mentioned.
By use of the Urim and Thummim the High Priest of the Aaronic priesthood was able, in a limited way, to ascertain the will of God; whereas our great High Priest of the order of Melchizedek is fully aware of the will of God. During His earthly sojourn He was always confident that He was doing the will of God (see John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 6:40; cf. Matt.12:50; 18:14; Mark 3:35). Moreover, he can communicate the full counsel of the throne because He is also the Word of God.
More about the garments next time.
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