However, at Jesus Sanhedrin trial, the High Priest Caiaphas (the name means rock) tore his clothes even though this was forbidden. He offers sacrifices after every six paces, gets the ark into a . Divinely Righteous. The Aorist tense is punctiliar: meaning something that happens at a specific point in time; a moment. [5] Since the oracular process is considered by scholars to have been one of cleromancy, with the Urim and Thummim being the objects which were drawn as lots, the Ephod is considered by scholars to have been some form of container for the Urim and Thummim;[2][5] to harmonise this with the descriptions of the Ephod as a garment, it is necessary to conclude that the Ephod must have originally been some sort of pocket, which the priests girded to themselves. It reminds us of our need to obey Gods laws and of His authority over us. And David danced before the LORD with all, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. There was onlyone time of the yearthat the High Priest wore the white garments. In particular, I was interested in the conquest where David defeated the Amalekites. His name is Jesus Christ, and He is our great High Priest. He was also the King of Salem, which means peace. When Jesus says It is finished (or completed),what He is actually saying is, It is finishedand will continue to be finished. The first element of the perfect tense: the Aorist, punctiliar, point in time statement It is finished is powerful. The making of the gold thread provides a glimpse into what our Jesus endured for our sakes when He was beaten, pressed, hammered, cut, bruised, and battered for our redemption. The twelve stones on the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel. 2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, God our Father looks upon us with all the favor with which He looks upon His own unique Son Jesus that He loves infinitely. That is, right standing or rather the right to stand before our Holy God. Note that God is concerned about covering our nakedness or private parts (Exodus 20:26. It is finished; an end is made of transgression by bringing in everlasting righteousness. That is, God became something He was not before. Jesus is our high priest, our Redeemer, and He is all we need. Jesus is the one who can help us find forgiveness and eternal life. Priesthood garments - Ephod - and significance - JudaicaWorld archives The ephod was also a symbol of the unity of the people. Once you become purple, you can never become red again. The ephods front and back were made to be as one garment by a sash or girdle, which was tied about the priests waist. (significance and symbolism), And thats it, folks, the ephod in the bible, Dream About the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (Raw), 31+ Brilliant Bible Emergency Numbers (Verses). This bespoke of custom-fitted, meticulously detailed, and immaculately clean garments. CSB Samuel served in the Lord's presence--this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod. On many levels, linen and cotton are similar fabricsone made from the fibers of the cotton plant, the other from fibers of the flax plant, which has many of the same qualities as cotton. It reminds us that we are His chosen people and have been given authority over the enemy. O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.. David's Ephod. Here is a super detailed video that explains the priestly garments with a very good visual: Exodus 28:30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aarons heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Its threads were 12 plies. Gideons ephod became a snare because it was an object of worship. Its appearance can be likened to an apron; it was worn in back, on top of his other garments, and was fastened by a long belt in the front, opposite his heart. There was also a girdle sewed to the breastplate. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. A linen ephod; the usual habit of the priests and Levites in their sacred ministrations, yet sometimes worn by others, as it was by the young child Samuel, 1 Samuel 2:18, before he was come to those years in which the Levites were allowed to minister; and so hereby David, who laid by his royal robes, and put on this robe, to signify and declare, They show us that we can consult God on all of our decisions. The first two articles of clothing worn by the High Priest were the linen breeches and the linen coat. Further, two onyx stones are to be mounted in gold and fastened on the ephods shoulder pieces. These names were to be a reminder to the nation and The LORD of the history of Israel, and so were called the stones of remembrance. I appreciate your kind sentiments. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! She has a weekly YouTube devotional, too. The high priest wore a skillfully crafted ephod consisting of gold shoulder pieces bearing carved onyx stones showing the names of the 12 tribes, and a woven band of colorful threads. Thats the number of GRACE! An ephod ( Hebrew: f; / fd / or / ifd /) was a type of apron, which according to the Hebrew Bible, was worn by the Jewish high priest the kohen gadol, an artifact and an object to be revered in ancient Israelite culture, and was closely connected with oracular practices and priestly ritual. Furthermore, the Lord clothes us with His own beauty, having imputed to us His sanctification. The ephod reminds us that we need to seek His face and ask for His help in everything we do. That is, we have the righteousness of Jesus imputed to us based on His finished work and are now free from the impossible task of attempting to earn righteousness through our dead works (1). So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. For Glory and Beauty, the garments bring praise to God and admiration from all that gaze upon them. These included: According to scripture (Exodus 28:6-12), the high priests ephod consisted of two gold shoulder pieces and an intricately woven band of gold, scarlet, blue, and purple yarn connecting them. This blog post will discuss 12 fascinating facts about the ephod. . It was a strip twice as long as it was wide but folded back on itself to form a square bag into which theUrimandThummimwere placed. Is it an article of clothing, or a piece of jewelry? Goldwas beaten, pressed, and hammered into paper-thin sheets, then cut into tiny strips. Furthermore, Hal believes that being a successful leader in the church or workplace is no substitute for failing to be a successful leader at home. The stones upon the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were borne before the Lord continually as a memorial. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. And as were told in 1 John 5:14, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.. 2:18), and once even David (ii Sam. Hebrews 12:23) This is because we are hidden in Christ, so the perfect light only reflects the perfect work of Jesus in removing our sins. God desires His ministers to be even-tempered (i.e., cool-headed). The second row contained acarbuncle,jasper, and a sapphire. The Bible instructs that each thread used in the High Priests breastplate and ephod must be 28 plies. Gideon is additionally described as creating an ephod made up of 1,700 shekels of gold (Judges 8:2527). Gold (pure) (1) Almighty God who is Holy. This is so important because it indicates a condition, a state of being, a resting place. This does not mean we are to sit around and do nothing all day. This means that we are eternally secure in Jesus. [1][2] The object made by Gideon is plainly described as having been worshipped, and therefore the idol of some deity, while the object made by Micah is closely associated with a Teraphim, and the Ephod and Teraphim are described interchangeably with the Hebrew terms pesel and massekah, meaning graven image, and molten image, respectively. Finally, I will take a look at the significance of the ephod today and how it can be applied to our lives. For instance, in 1 Samuel 23, when David heard Saul was plotting against him, he went to Abiathar the priest and asked him to bring the ephod (v. 9). The breastplate, called the Urim and Thummim would rest in a cloth receptacle upon the ephod. I will also explore some of the most famous stories involving the ephod, such as Gideon and David. This sash was made of only white linen thread. Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. It is clear that the ephod (and the associated breastpiece with the Urim and Thummim stones) was a way that God was able to direct His people (this is some time after he fights Goliath as a boy). Again, linen isa unique fabric that keeps the wearer cool in hot weather and warm when cold, which were efficient qualities for living in an arid climate with hot days and cold nights. I agree that more studies need to be done on the O.T. Ephesians 2:8,9. This arrangement of the tribes forms a cross with its base to the East. After his victory, Gideon made an ephod out of the gold that he had captured from the Midianites. The first significant passage is in Exodus where God is providing Moses with the design of the ephod that Aaron, the high priest, would wear. Although David was not a priest, he was a man of God who sought to follow His will in all things. (Hebrews 2:17;4:15) He does not simply understand what we feel, He feels what we feel! Its width is approximately 4 cm (approximately 1.5 inches). We dont need an ephod or any special objects in order to do this; all we need is the Holy Spirit. The ephod is a very important symbol in the Bible. The same as the High Priests undergarments previously described. Thanks Lallie, thanks for stopping by! Hallelujah! The Present tense is linear: meaning something that continues on into the future and has ongoing results/implications. Remember, it was customary in Israel to tear their garments and put sackcloth and ashes on their heads upon the death of a relative (Genesis 37:33,34). The High Priest was revered as much or more than any king or royalty of the nations around Israel. Note It is always mentioned second. Stating that it was held together by a girdle, and had two shoulder straps which were fastened to the front of the ephod by golden rings, to which the breastplate was attached by golden chains (Exodus 28:614). June 13, 2014 by Peter Leithart. The integration of the stones in the breastplate, as well as the Hebrew usage of "Urim" as "lights," suggest that the Urim and Thummim may have been a type of ocular device through which the priest would look when receiving divine communication. The other items are a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban, and sash (Exodus 28:4). Notice that there are five components: Gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen. This sparked an interest in re-reading the story of David and his conquests. In addition to being a holy item, the ephod is a symbol of the people, as well as their sins. The high priest was to wear the ephod as a reminder that he must obey all of Gods laws. That day was the highest andmost holy day of the year, the Day of Atonement, a day also called the Day of Judgment. The holy garments that the priests wore while performing their duties set them apart from the rest of the Israelites. (Matthew 13:44) When God, who is light, looks upon us living stones in Christ, He sees reflected back His perfect light from the stones. When we understand this, we can see how important it is to have a relationship with him. (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20) Even as the Levites were priests of the Old Covenant, we believers are all priests and kings after the order of Melchizedek and ministers of the New Covenant. Gideons ephod just added to this division. Today, the ephod is not worn by the High Priest. (1 Peter 2:9). They would be alone, isolated, without helpwithout God or a way to communicate with Him. On each shoulder piece, six of Jacobs sons names were engraved on an onyx stone (these were the 12 men who founded the 12 tribes of Israel). Since the twelve stones were in one breastplate, they speak of the oneness of the people of God, while their position upon Aarons breast speaks of Gods affection for His people. Glad this was of some help. What is a Ephod and what does it look like? - Quick-Advice.com Most likely some sort of bag or pouch that carried the Urim and Thummim, some sort of objects used for divination. Shes also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Titus 2:14) The names were not simply written on the stones but rather engraved, meaning they can never be removed. His thoughts are for us. According to the ancient apocryphal Lives of the Prophets, after the death of Zechariah Ben Jehoiada, the priests of the Temple could no more, as before, see the apparitions of the angels of the Lord, nor could make divinations with the Ephod, nor give responses from the Debir. Ephod - The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia As previously stated,Urim and Thummim were an important part of the ephod and were used to inquire of the Lord about specific matters. which was of the forementioned colors, with gold intermixed which, when it had gone once round, was tied again upon the seam and hung down.. Only Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship and devotion. Only certain people were allowed to wear the ephod. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx . Years later the prophet Samuel, who so pleased God especially in comparison to the showy, sinful sons of the prophet Eli, is described as wearing a linen ephod as he served the Lord as a boy (1 Samuel 2:18). Ephod - Meaning and What Was it Used For? The ephod was a symbol of the authority of the high priest. [6], The object at Nob, which must have been somewhat freestanding since another object is kept behind it, and the objects made by Gideon and by Micah, from molten gold, logically cannot have just been garments. The high priest also wore a plate of pure gold on his forehead. The same as High Priests Turbin previously described. (1) A sacred vestment originally designed for the high priest ( Exodus 28:4; 39:2 ), and made "of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen," held together by two shoulder-pieces and a skillfully woven band which served as a girdle for the ephod. We dont need an ephod to talk to God today, just as we no longer need to sacrifice lambs on the altar to atone for our sins. The names on the breastplate were always close to Aarons heart, just as with Christ and His precious ones. While the priestly garments were allowed to have a combination of wool and linen, those of the laity were not. Scarlet,or red, is the last color mentioned. (Matthew 6:25-34). White Righteousness and purity. The word "ephod" occurs 51 times in 41 verses in the NASB, and refers to the sacred outer garment worn by the high priest, made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn (colors of royalty), to which the breastpiece was attached, and worn over a blue robe. The ephod is a garment of great significance. The name Urim means lights, while Thummim means perfections.On the front of the breastplate were fastened twelve precious stones infourrows of three. It was worn outside the robe and probably kept in place by a girdle and by shoulder pieces, from which hung the breast piece (or pouch) containing the sacred lots (divinatory objects), Urim and Thummim, whose precise function is now unknown. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aarons garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. This plate was inscribed with the words HOLY TO THE LORD. The high priest was to wear this plate whenever he went into the Holy of Holies, the most sacred room in the tabernacle or temple (Exodus 28:36-38). But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic, as they have always been in Oriental countries, of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion. The wearer of such linen would not sweat. What Do We Learn about Babylon in the Bible? The people of Israel worshipped the ephod as if it were a god. Leviticus 10:1-7) Furthermore, he could not go near any dead person, including his father and mother (Leviticus 21:11). They attempted to follow everything God commanded, from His rules about how to properly make a sacrifice and how to build the tabernacle, to who gets to enter the tent and how they are to ceremonially prepare for this work. That word literally means blue. Consequently, theblue thread is another picture of the God who came from Heaven, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose completed work is what holds us close to God our Fathers heart. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. Blue Heaven the abode of God. This ephod might have been worn or set upon an altar. Red and blue combined yield purple. superhumerale) is a kind of garment mentioned in the O. T., which differed according to its use by the high-priest, by other persons present at religious services, or as the object of idolatrous worship.. Ephod of the High-Priest.Supplementing the data contained in the Bible with those gleaned from Josephus and the Egyptian monuments . Consequently, it is NOT all about us but rather all about Jesus Christ, and we are hidden in Him! It was this very expensive garment that the Roman soldiers gambled for at the foot of His cross. [1], Besides its use as a garment, an Ephod was also used for oracular purposes, in conjunction with Urim and Thummim;[5] the books of Samuel imply that whenever Saul or David wished to question God via oracular methods, they asked a priest for the ephod. Josephus, Antiquities 3:7:1 Twelve stones were also on the breastplate, extraordinary in largeness and beauty; and they were anornament not to be purchasedby men, because of theirimmense value. 2 Samuel 6:14 Commentaries: And David was dancing before the LORD with The book of 1 Chronicles states that David was "clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the . You might be surprised at how relevant the image of the ephod is today. This led to even more division among the Israelites. The Stones of the Ephod. It was worn over the tunic; the tunic was longer than the robe by one handbreadth, so it was visible underneath the robe at the bottom. It was as if The Word (i.e., Jesus) offered the animal sacrifices to God the Father. This skillful weave was not the routine cross-weave pattern found in most linen garments made from Israels looms. Later, the same thing happened. The tunicwas first invented by God for Adam and Eve after they had sinned, and He made them from the skin of an animal which I believe was a ram. The simplest explanation of an ephod is given to us in Exodus 28:6-8.