Exodus 28
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Aaron - and his sons - The priesthood was to be restrained to this family because the public worship was to be confined to one place; and previously to this the eldest in every family officiated as priest, there being no settled place of worship. It has been very properly observed that, if Moses had not acted by the Divine appointment, he would not have passed by his own family, which continued in the condition of ordinary Levites, and established the priesthood, the only dignity in the nation, in the family of his brother Aaron. "The priests, however, had no power of a secular nature, nor does it appear from history that they ever arrived at any till the time of the Asmoneans or Maccabees." See Clarke's note on Exo 19:22.
Open source ↗APPOINTMENT TO THE PRIESTHOOD. (Exo. 28:1-43) take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him--Moses had hitherto discharged the priestly functions (Psa 99:6), and he evinced the piety as well as humility of his character, in readily complying with the command to invest his brother with the sacred office, though it involved the perpetual exclusion of his own family. The appointment was a special act of God's sovereignty, so that there could be no ground for popular umbrage by the selection of Aaron's family, with whom the office was inalienably established and continued in unbroken succession till the introduction of the Christian era.
Open source ↗And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him,.... Moses is bid to fetch or send for Aaron and his sons to him: or "cause" them to "draw near" (n) to him, and stand before him, that he might in the name of the Lord, and by his authority, distinguish and separate them from among the children of Israel: and before them all invest them with the office of priesthood, as it follows: that they may minister unto me in the priest's office, before this time every master of a family was a priest, and might and did offer sacrifice, and all the Israelites were a kingdom of priests; and Moses, as Aben Ezra calls him, was "a priest of priests"; but now it being enough for him to be the political ruler of the people, and the prophet of the Lord, the priestly office is bestowed on Aaron and his sons; nor might any afterwards officiate in it but such as were of his family; and a great honour this was that was conferred on him, and to which he was called of God, as in Heb 5:4 and it is greatly in the favour of Moses, and which shows him to be an upright and undesigning man, that sought not to aggrandize himself and his family; that though he had so much honour and power himself, he sought not to entail any upon his posterity. It is hinted in the latter part of the preceding chapter, that Aaron and his sons should minister in the sanctuary, and look after the candlestick, and its lamps; and here the design of God concerning them is more fully opened, which was, that they should be his peculiar ministers and servants in his house, to do all the business appertaining to it: even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons: who were all the sons that Aaron had that we read of; though Aben Ezra thinks it probable that he might have other sons, and therefore th…
Open source ↗(cf. Ex 39:1-31). Appointment and Clothing of the Priests. - Exo 28:1, Exo 28:5. "Let Aaron thy brother draw near to thee from among the children of Israel, and his sons with him, that he may be a priest to Me." Moses is distinguished from the people as the mediator of the covenant. Hence he was to cause Aaron and his sons to come to him, i.e., to separate them from the people, and install them as priests, or perpetual mediators between Jehovah and His people. The primary meaning of cohen, the priest, has been retained in the Arabic, where it signifies administrator alieni negotii, viz., to act as a mediator for a person, or as his plenipotentiary, from which it came to be employed chiefly in connection with priestly acts. Among the heathen Arabs it is used "maxime de hariolis vatibusque;" by the Hebrews it was mostly applied to the priests of Jehovah; and there are only a few placed in which it is used in connection with the higher officers of state, who stood next to the king, and acted as it were as mediators between the king and the nation (thus Sa2 8:18; Sa2 20:26; Kg1 4:5). For the duties of their office the priests were to receive "holy garments for glory and for honour." Before they could draw near to Jehovah the Holy One (Lev 11:45), it was necessary that their unholiness should be covered over with holy clothes, which were to be made by men endowed with wisdom, whom Jehovah had filled with the spirit of wisdom. "Wise-hearted," i.e., gifted with understanding and judgment; the heart being regarded as the birth-place of the thoughts. In the Old Testament wisdom is constantly used for practical intelligence in the affairs of life; here, for example, it is equivalent to artistic skill surpassing man's natural ability, which is therefore described as being filled w…
Open source ↗We have here, I. The priests nominated: Aaron and his sons, Exo 28:1. Hitherto every master of a family was priest to his own family, and offered, as he saw cause, upon altars of earth; but now that the families of Israel began to be incorporated into a nation, and a tabernacle of the congregation was to be erected, as a visible centre of their unity, it was requisite there should be a public priesthood instituted. Moses, who had hitherto officiated, and is therefore reckoned among the priests of the Lord (Psa 99:6), had enough to do as their prophet to consult the oracle for them, and as their prince to judge among them; nor was he desirous to engross all the honours to himself, or to entail that of the priesthood, which alone was hereditary, upon his own family, but was very well pleased to see his brother Aaron invested in this office, and his sons after him, while (how great soever he was) his sons after him would be but common Levites. It is an instance of the humility of that great man, and an evidence of his sincere regard for the glory of God, that he had so little regard to the preferment of his own family. Aaron, who had humbly served as a prophet to his younger brother Moses, and did not decline the office (Exo 7:1), is now advanced to be a priest, a high priest to God; for he will exalt those that abase themselves. Nor could any man have taken this honour to himself, but he that was called of God to it, Heb 5:4. God had said of Israel in general that they should be to him a kingdom of priests, Exo 19:6. But because it was requisite that those who ministered at the altar should give themselves wholly to the service, and because that which is every body's work will soon come to be nobody's work, God here chose from among them one to be a family of priests, the…
Open source ↗28:1-43 These glorious and beautiful (28:2) garments for Aaron were to distinguish him as a priest set apart (Hebrew qadash, “consecrated”) for [the Lord’s] service (28:3). The magnificence of these garments is in keeping with the grandeur of the Tabernacle, which functioned as a portable earthly palace for God. There would come a day when Jesus Christ, the true High Priest, would enter the Most Holy Place once for all, and the distinction between priests and people would fade away (Heb 10:11-22). Until that time, human mediators were needed to symbolize the wonderful thing that God was planning to do in the hearts, lives, and behaviors of those with whom he shared his presence. 28:1-2 The garments described in this chapter are primarily those for Aaron, the first high priest. The clothing for Aaron’s sons, who functioned as his assistants, is described in 28:40-43.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity כָּהַן (kâhan, H3547) — to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia נָדָב (Nâdâb, H5070) — Nadab, the name of four Israelites אֲבִיהוּא (ʼĂbîyhûwʼ, H30) — Abihu, a son of Aaron אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites אִיתָמָר (ʼÎythâmâr, H385) — Ithamar, a son of Aaron
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) כָּהַן (kâhan, H3547) — to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia
Open source ↗בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֹשֶׁן (chôshen, H2833) — perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems), used… אֵפוֹד (ʼêphôwd, H646) — a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image מְעִיל (mᵉʻîyl, H4598) — a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment) תַּשְׁבֵּץ (tashbêts, H8665) — checkered stuff (as reticulated) כְּתֹנֶת (kᵉthôneth, H3801) — a shirt מִצְנֶפֶת (mitsnepheth, H4701) — a tiara, i.e. official turban (of a king or high priest) אַבְנֵט (ʼabnêṭ, H73) — a belt קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… כָּהַן (kâhan, H3547) — to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky תְּכֵלֶת (tᵉkêleth, H8504) — the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith אַרְגָּמָן (ʼargâmân, H713) — purple (the color or the dyed stuff) שָׁנִי (shânîy, H8144) — crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it תּוֹלָע (tôwlâʻ, H8438) — the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed… שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8336) — bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אֵפוֹד (ʼêphôwd, H646) — a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky תְּכֵלֶת (tᵉkêleth, H8504) — the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith אַרְגָּמָן (ʼargâmân, H713) — purple (the color or the dyed stuff) שָׁנִי (shânîy, H8144) — crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it תּוֹלָע (tôwlâʻ, H8438) — the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed… שָׁזַר (shâzar, H7806) — to twist (a thread of straw) שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8336) — bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,…
Open source ↗שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold כָּתֵף (kâthêph, H3802) — the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments… חָבַר (châbar, H2266) — to join (literally or figuratively); specifically (by means of spells) to fascinate קָצָה (qâtsâh, H7098) — a termination
Open source ↗חֵשֶׁב (chêsheb, H2805) — a belt or strap (as being interlaced) אֵפֻדָּה (ʼêphuddâh, H642) — a girding on (of the ephod); hence, generally, a plating (of metal) מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky תְּכֵלֶת (tᵉkêleth, H8504) — the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith אַרְגָּמָן (ʼargâmân, H713) — purple (the color or the dyed stuff) שָׁנִי (shânîy, H8144) — crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it תּוֹלָע (tôwlâʻ, H8438) — the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed… שָׁזַר (shâzar, H7806) — to twist (a thread of straw) שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8336) — bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold שֹׁהַם (shôham, H7718) — a gem, probably the beryl (from its pale green color) אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone פָּתַח (pâthach, H6605) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone יָתַר (yâthar, H3498) — to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left;… שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again תּוֹלְדָה (tôwlᵉdâh, H8435) — (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
Open source ↗מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… חָרָשׁ (chârâsh, H2796) — a fabricator or any material אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone פִּתּוּחַ (pittûwach, H6603) — sculpture (in low or high relief or even intaglio) חוֹתָם (chôwthâm, H2368) — a signature-ring פָּתַח (pâthach, H6605) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מוּסַבָּה (mûwçabbâh, H4142) — a reversal, i.e. the backside (of a gem), fold (of a double-leaved door), transmutation… מִשְׁבְּצָה (mishbᵉtsâh, H4865) — a brocade; by analogy, a (reticulated) setting of agem זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone כָּתֵף (kâthêph, H3802) — the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments… אֵפוֹד (ʼêphôwd, H646) — a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image זִכְרוֹן (zikrôwn, H2146) — a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִשְׁבְּצָה (mishbᵉtsâh, H4865) — a brocade; by analogy, a (reticulated) setting of agem זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Open source ↗שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold שַׁרְשְׁרָה (sharshᵉrâh, H8333) — a chain; (architectural) probably a garland טָהוֹר (ṭâhôwr, H2889) — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense) זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky מִגְבָּלָה (migbâlâh, H4020) — a border עֲבֹת (ʻăbôth, H5688) — something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מִשְׁבְּצָה (mishbᵉtsâh, H4865) — a brocade; by analogy, a (reticulated) setting of agem
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,
The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest.
but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the offerings made by fire to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,
Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.