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The Garments of the Priests

INTRODUCTION: The tabernacle is not complete without the priests to serve in it, and the sacrifices they offer for the people. This passage specifically describes the garments worn by the priests. The consecration of the priests is described in Exodus 29:1-46.

  1. AN OVERVIEW OF THE GARMENTS (Exodus 39:1)
    1. Their Colors
      1. Blue
      2. Purple
      3. Scarlet
    2. Their Purpose
      1. Cloths of service
      2. To do service in the holy place
      3. Holy garments for Aaron
  2. THE EPHOD (Exodus 39:2-7; Exodus 28:6-14)
    1. The Colors (Exodus 39:2)
      1. Gold
      2. Blue
      3. Purple
      4. Scarlet
    2. The Gold (Exodus 39:3)
      1. Beat into plates
      2. Cut into wires
      3. Worked into the blue, purple and scarlet
    3. The Shoulderpieces (Exodus 39:4)
      1. Used to couple together the ephod
      2. Coupled together by the two edges
    4. The Girdle of the Ephod (Exodus 39:5)
    5. The Onyx Stones (Exodus 39:6-7)
      1. Their ouches (pouches) (Exodus 39:6)
      2. Their writings (Exodus 39:6)
        1. Graven as signets are graven
        2. Graven with the names of the children of Israel
          1. Six on one stone (Exodus 28:10)
          2. Six on the other stone (Exodus 28:10)
          3. According to their birth (Exodus 28:10)
        3. Their placement (Exodus 39:7)
          1. Placed on the shoulders of the ephod
          2. Placed for a memorial to the children of Israel
  3. THE BREASTPLATE (Exodus 39:8-21; Exodus 28:15-29)
    1. The Colors (Exodus 39:8)
      1. Gold
      2. Blue
      3. Purple
      4. Scarlet
    2. The Size (Exodus 39:9)
      1. Foursquare
      2. A span was the length thereof
      3. A span was the breadth thereof
      4. Doubled
    3. The Order (Exodus 39:10-14)
      1. The first row (Exodus 39:10)
        1. Sardius
        2. Topaz
        3. Carbuncle
      2. The second row (Exodus 39:11)
        1. Emerald
        2. Sapphire
        3. Diamond
      3. The third row (Exodus 39:12)
        1. Ligure
        2. Agate
        3. Amethyst
      4. The fourth row (Exodus 39:13)
        1. Beryl
        2. Onyx
        3. Jasper
    4. The Chains and Rings (Exodus 39:15-21)
  4. THE ROBE (Exodus 39:22-26; Exodus 28:31-35)
    1. The Color (Exodus 39:22)
      1. Of woven work
      2. All of blue
    2. The Construction (Exodus 39:23-26)
      1. The hole (Exodus 39:23)
        1. A hole was in the midst of the robe.
        2. The hole was as the hole of a habergeon.
        3. A band was round about the hole so that it did not rend.
      2. The hems (Exodus 39:24-26)
        1. The pomegranates (Exodus 39:24)
          1. Of blue
          2. Of purple
          3. Of scarlet
          4. Of twined linen
        2. The bells of pure gold (Exodus 39:25)
        3. The order (Exodus 39:26)
          1. A bell and a pomegranate
          2. A bell and a pomegranate
          3. Round about the hem
  5. THE COAT (Exodus 39:27; Exodus 28:39)
    1. The Construction
      1. Of fine linen
      2. Of woven work
    2. The Recipients
      1. For Aaron
      2. For the sons of Aaron
  6. THE MITRE (Exodus 39:28; Exodus 28:39)
    1. Made of Fine Linen
    2. To be Worn on the Head
  7. GOODLY BONNETS (Exodus 39:28; Exodus 28:40)
    1. Of Fine Linen
    2. For Glory and Beauty (Exodus 28:40)
  8. LINEN BREECHES (Exodus 39:28; Exodus 28:42-43)
    1. Their Construction - of fine twined linen
    2. Their Purpose
      1. To cover their nakedness (Exodus 28:42)
      2. To reach from the loins to the thighs (Exodus 28:42)
    3. Their Protection
      1. To be worn in the tabernacle of the congregation or when coming near unto the altar to minister in the holy place (Exodus 28:43)
      2. Failure to obey in this matter would bring forth death (Exodus 28:43).
      3. It was a statute forever for Aaron and his seed after him (Exodus 28:43).
  9. THE GIRDLE (Exodus 39:29)
  10. THE CROWN (Exodus 39:30-31; Exodus 28:36-38)
    1. The Plate (Exodus 39:30)
    2. The Writing (Exodus 39:30)
      1. Like the engravings of a signet
      2. Saying, HOLINESS TO THE LORD
    3. The Fastening (Exodus 39:31)
      1. A blue lace
      2. Fastened high upon the mitre (Exodus 39:31)
      3. Fastened on the forefront of the mitre (Exodus 28:37)
    4. The Security (Exodus 28:38)
      1. It signified that Aaron was bearing the iniquity of the holy things.
      2. It brought acceptance for the people before the Lord.

CONCLUSION: God made a way for the Israelites to have and to maintain a right relationship with Him. We are not under the law, but we must still keep a right relationship with God. However, Jesus Christ is our High Priest and we need no earthly mediator. What a blessing to know the Lord!