Priests

Home > Bible Study > Book Studies > Exodus > Segment 3: Israel at Sinai > Tabernacle Blueprints > Priests

In this section: (Chapters 28-29)

  • Priestly Garments 28
  • Consecration of Priests 29

Blueprints: Priestly Garments 28

nHeb 9:11  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
nHeb 9:12  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

 

“In the beginning man acted as his own high priest. We remember Cain and Abel offering their sacrifices to God. Later we find the father, as head of the household, offering sacrifices to God. Abraham was one of many who practiced this sacred duty. Still later in the history of mankind, we find a man chosen of God to act as priest for a nation, and finally Christ Himself as priest for the entire world. Jesus said: “No man cometh unto the father, but by me.” (John 14:6)” -Mishkan Ministries

Please excuse the grammatical errors on this diagram, as it has been translated from Chinese.

 

nTechelet is a dye color made from the blood of a sea snail called Murex trunculus.

nTechelet (תּכלת) is translated as “blue” in most English translations
nBut Techelet is a particular shade of blue, it is not a royal blue or navy as we tend to think of when we hear the word blue, but rather, a rich sky blue.

nThink about this: the high priest is wearing robes the color of the heavens

nJosephus asserts that the curtains of the tabernacle seem to be the same color as the sky

nThe bottom of the ephod has woven pomegranates and bells… nLike thunder and lightning

 

“To enter the tabernacle, one must be dressed properly. Under the Old Covenant, a priest had to wear particular clothes while in service in the tabernacle. Inappropriate dress could lead to one’s death. Under the New Covenant, one must clothe themselves with Christ to experience an intimate relationship with God.” –Mishka Ministries

 

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal 3:27)

 

Jesus tells parable of a man invited to a wedding who dressed inappropriately: “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ” (Mat 22:11-13)

 

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” (Rev 3:4)

 

“In the beginning man acted as his own high priest. We remember Cain and Abel offering their sacrifices to God. Later we find the father, as head of the household, offering sacrifices to God. Abraham was one of many who practiced this sacred duty. Still later in the history of mankind, we find a man chosen of God to act as priest for a nation, and finally Christ Himself as priest for the entire world. Jesus said: “No man cometh unto the father, but by me.” (John 14:6)” – Mishka Ministries

 

Breastplate of Judgment

On the front of the Ephod is a “breastplate of judgment”. It is made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen. It has 12 stones mounted in it representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

 

 

Carbunkle/Emerald/
Yellow Quartz


Topaz


Sardius/Ruby

Diamond

Sapphire

Emerald/Turquoise

Amethyst

Agate/Chalcedony

Jacinth/Ligure

Jasper

Onyx

Beryl/Chrysolite

 

Do the gems on the breastplate order left to right or right to left? The text doesn’t specify. But Hebrew does read right to left.

 

According to Exodus 28:21 the stones each represent one of the twelve tribes (likely the Ephraim and Manasseh version rather than the Levi and Joseph version) and says they shall be “like the engravings of a seal”.

One Art

Zebulon

Simeon

Judah

Gad

Naphtali

Asher

Benjamin

Reuben

Dan

Issachar

Manasseh

Ephraim

 

Do we know for sure what all the gems in the breastplate are? No, some of them are very well known gems (eg. Diamond) that we are certain of their translation. Other gems (Carbunkle in particular) are somewhat obscure and bible historians disagree heavily on what modern day gem the Hebrew word is indicating.

Blueprints: Consecration of Priests 29

[todo]

On to The Finishing Touches…