Topical Bible: The High Priest: Worn at his Consecration

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The role of the High Priest in ancient Israel was of paramount importance, serving as the chief religious leader and mediator between God and the people. The consecration of the High Priest was a significant event, marked by specific garments that symbolized his sacred duties and the holiness required of his office. These garments, detailed in the Book of Exodus, were not only functional but also rich in symbolic meaning, reflecting the glory and beauty of the priestly office.

Garments of the High Priest

1. The Ephod: The ephod was a richly embroidered garment made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. It was worn over the robe and was fastened with a skillfully woven waistband of the same materials. The ephod had two shoulder pieces, each set with an onyx stone engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the High Priest bearing the people before the Lord. "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen, the work of a skilled craftsman" (Exodus 28:6).

2. The Breastpiece of Judgment: Attached to the ephod was the breastpiece, a square, double-folded piece of fabric adorned with twelve precious stones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel. The breastpiece contained the Urim and Thummim, used for discerning God's will. "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD" (Exodus 28:29).

3. The Robe of the Ephod: This seamless blue robe was worn beneath the ephod. Its hem was adorned with pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, interspersed with golden bells. The sound of the bells announced the High Priest's entrance into the Holy Place, ensuring he would not die. "And you are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth" (Exodus 28:31).

4. The Turban and the Plate of Gold: The High Priest wore a fine linen turban, to which a plate of pure gold was fastened with a blue cord. The plate was inscribed with the words "Holy to the LORD," signifying the consecration of the High Priest to God's service. "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD" (Exodus 28:36).

5. The Tunic and Sash: Beneath the robe, the High Priest wore a tunic of fine linen, along with a sash woven with the same colors as the ephod. These garments symbolized purity and the righteousness required of the High Priest.

6. The Linen Undergarments: To maintain modesty and purity, the High Priest wore linen undergarments that reached from the waist to the thigh. "Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh; they must extend from the waist to the thighs" (Exodus 28:42).

Significance of the Garments

The garments of the High Priest were not merely ceremonial; they were imbued with deep spiritual significance. Each piece represented aspects of the High Priest's role as an intercessor and a representative of the people before God. The use of precious materials and intricate craftsmanship underscored the sanctity and honor of the priestly office. The High Priest's attire served as a constant reminder of the holiness required in approaching God and the weighty responsibility of mediating between the divine and the human.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 8:7,9
And he put on him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it to him therewith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
... the filthy garments which the accused had worn are changed for ... symbolical of sin,
for the full array of the high priest. ... now made sure to him and his people by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a vision of judgement and.htm

Concerning the Holy and Immaculate Mysteries of the Lord.
... away discontentedly from what is not well-worn by custom ... a type and image of Christ,
the true high-priest [2424 ... For thou art a priest for ever after the order of ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xiii concerning the holy and.htm

Relation of the Pharisees to the Sadducees and Essenes, and to the ...
... to trace up their history either to the high-priest Zadok, or ... for they might not
be put away till quite worn out"but ... A priest opened and closed it with prayer ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 15 relation of the.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... But the high-priest in particular had eight vestments ... scarlet twice dyed and twisted
linen: and on his shoulders he ... it was square in shape, and was worn on the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Eucharistic Rites. Liturgy.
... 2: Mystag., iv.88) were worn until the Octave of ... that the people sometimes speak
with the Priest, when even ... the very Cherubim and the Powers on high they send ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/chapter v eucharistic rites liturgy.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --Life of S. Cyril.
... of Paulinus [22] ," by whom he had been recently ordained Priest. ... the Bishop of that
city, to be worn when he ... Basil of Ancyra was a man of high moral character ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction chapter i life of s.htm

Prolegomena. Section i. --The Life.
... Being under the names of The Most High and The ... the question which he wrote to Cledonius,
a Priest of Nazianzus ... His knees were worn with kneeling, and his whole ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/prolegomena section i the life.htm

The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... the Cross in Ephesus in memory of having worn it during ... They were then greater than
the high priest when he carried ... was pale, and he had a high forehead, large ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm

The King --Continued.
... spires that burst their bonds and flame heaven high, he is ... mirroring God and quickening
and beautifying the worn world, the servants of the priest-king are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/xii the kingcontinued.htm

Appendix.
... into the soul of many a faithful priest in those ... successor the sacred symbol of the
same high office in ... had not yet been repealed, their edge had worn away, or ...
/.../various/the sermons and addresses at the seabury centenary/appendix.htm