The video teaching is available at: https://youtu.be/Rrnm3xOs5Gs
Reading
– Exodus 27:20-28:1-5; 29:38-30:10
By Dan and Brenda Cathcart
This
Torah portion continues with the description of the tabernacle, the dwelling
place of God in the midst of His people Israel. However, the focus turns away
from the physical building and its furnishing to the garments that they were to
make for Aaron and his sons to minister in the tabernacle before the LORD.
These instructions are sandwiched by three specific duties that God lays out
for the priests. These are their service to God through the menorah and the
altar of incense and the command to bring the daily offering. Each of these
tasks was to be done continually. What is the message God is communicating
through these garments and these three tasks?
The
seven branched menorah represents the light of God’s presence in the
Tabernacle. The children of Israel were to provide the oil for the lamp so that
it could burn continually.
Exodus 27:20-21 NKJV 20 "And you
shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed
olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. 21 "In the
tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron
and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall
be a statute forever to their
generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
Aaron
and his sons were to tend the lamp each evening and morning. This implies that
the lamp was to be lit each evening to burn throughout the night. The Stone
Edition Chumash presents Rashi’s understanding of this practice.
Rashi (Shabbos 22b) comments that if
any of the flames were still burning in the morning, the Kohen would extinguish
them in order to clean the lamps, but he would allow the western one to
continue burning. During times when the Jewish people were worthy, a miracle
happened and the western lamp never went out. … The eternally burning western
lamp was proof of God’s Presence in the Temple.[i]
This
duty of tending the menorah was the first duty God gave to Aaron. It was their
last duty at night and their first duty in the morning. As such, it symbolizes
the new creation. The first words God spoke into the darkness of creation were
“Let there be light.” This light at creation was not the light of the sun or the
moon; they were created on the fourth day. This light is the light of God’s
Presence in His creation. When the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven,
there will be no need for the light of the sun, moon, or even the menorah
because God and the Lamb are its light.
Revelation 21:23 NKJV 23 The city had
no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God
illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
The
priests have the sacred duty to tend the light of God’s Presence in His
dwelling place on Earth in the midst of His people.
In
order to perform their duties, the priests had to be clothed appropriately.
Their garments are described as being for glory and for beauty.
Exodus 28:2-3 NKJV 2 "And you
shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3
"So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled
with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate
him, that he may minister to Me as priest.
The
Hebrew word translated as “glory” is “kaw-bode,” number 3519 in Strong’s
Concordance meaning to be heavy or weighty only in good sense of splendor or
glory. This is the glory of the LORD the children of Israel saw in the pillar
of cloud when God provided the manna from heaven and in the devouring fire at
the top of Mt. Sinai. When the children of Israel saw Aaron in his vestments of
his office of high priest, they were to be reminded of God’s glory.
The
word “beauty” is “tif-aw-raw,” number 8597, meaning ornament, beauty, honor, or
glory. When Moses describes the nation of Israel as a special people exalted
above the other nations, the word “tif-aw-raw” is translated as honor.
Deuteronomy 26:19 NKJV 19 "and
that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in
name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God,
just as He has spoken."
Aaron
wore the garments of the high priest for glory and beauty as well as for honor.
The children of Israel, as a nation of priests, wore the garments of their
holiness in honor of their position before God. Yeshua states that those who
overcome will be given white garments and will be presented before the Father.
Revelation 3:5 NKJV 5 "He who
overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before
His angels.
In
the context of the church of Sardis to whom Yeshua spoke these words, those who
overcome are those who remember the salvation they have received, repent of
their sins, and complete the deeds they have been given to do. In other words,
they have been faithful to the office to which they have been called.
The
garments for Aaron, the high priest, are different from that of his sons who
would serve under him. Aaron’s garments are both colorful and full of symbolic
meaning about his office of high priest. The first garment described is the
ephod made of woven linen embroidered with gold, blue, purple and scarlet
thread.
Exodus 28:5-6 NKJV 5 "They shall
take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, 6 "and
they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine
woven linen, artistically worked.
The
ephod contained the same colors as the veil across the Holy of Holies. In
addition to the blue, purple, and scarlet, the ephod was embroidered with fine
thread made from thin sheets of gold cut into thread.
Exodus 39:3 NKJV 3 And they beat the
gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue,
purple, and scarlet thread and the fine linen, into artistic designs.
Two
stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel were fastened to the shoulders
of the ephod.
Exodus 28:9-10 NKJV 9 "Then you
shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
10 "six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in
order of their birth.
God
explains that by wearing these stones on his shoulder, Aaron is bearing the
names of the tribes of Israel as a remembrance before God.
Exodus 28:12 NKJV 12 "And you
shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for
the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two
shoulders as a memorial.
Each
stone was engraved with the names of six of the sons of Jacob in their birth
order. In Hebrew, each set of six names contained exactly twenty-five letters.
The tribes were well balanced on Aaron’s shoulders. Not only did Aaron bear the
names of the tribes on his shoulders, he, also bore them as a remembrance on
the breastplate in four rows of three stones.
Exodus 28:21 NKJV 21 "And the
stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their
names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall
be according to the twelve tribes.
These
stones were worn on Aaron’s chest near to his heart. Every time he went into
the holy place, God would see the two stones on Aaron’s shoulders and the
twelve stones near to his heart and remember his people.
Exodus 28:29 NKJV 29 "So Aaron
shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over
his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD
continually.
In
turn, Aaron would feel the weight of responsibility for Israel on his shoulders
and carry their needs close to his heart. Every time he went into the holy
place, he carried the entire nation of Israel with him. Goran Larsson in his
book Bound for Freedom explains:
He stood as the representative of the
people before God and performed his service on their behalf. He shouldered
responsibility for the well-being of his people and took upon himself their
burdens both openly and in private. His people were to be inscribed on his
heart in such a way that their needs became his needs.[ii]
The
breastplate itself was to be made of the same fine linen as the ephod
embroidered with the same colors of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet. It was to
be doubled to form a pouch in which the Urim and Thummim were kept.
Exodus 28:30 NKJV 30 "And you
shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they
shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall
bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD
continually.
The
Urim and Thummim were stones of judgment. Their placement over Aaron’s heart
was a reminder that he held the judgment of Israel in his hands through his
office of high priest. Because of the presence of the Urim and Thummim, the
breastplate was called the breastplate of judgment. The actual meaning of the
words Urim and Thummim is debated with different root words proposed for each.
The most popular understanding is that “Urim,” number 224, means lights, and that
“Thummim,” number 8550, means perfections or completeness. The Septuagint uses
Greek words indicating that they refer to revelation and truth. The Urim and
Thummim were used by the high priest to inquire of God and make judgments. They
were symbolic of the light of God’s perfect judgment.
The
next item of the high priesthood is a blue robe with a binding around the
neckline to prevent tearing. Pomegranate shapes in blue, purple, and scarlet
were to be attached to the hem alternating with golden bells. Once again, the
colors were the same colors as those used in the veil in front of the Holy of
Holies. The bells would sound whenever Aaron went into the holy place.
Exodus 28:33-35 NKJV 33 "And upon
its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around
its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: 34 "a golden bell and
a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all
around. 35 "And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound
will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he
comes out, that he may not die.
The
word pomegranate is the Hebrew word “rim-mone,” number 7416, as a description
of the tree’s upright growth. Rim-mone comes from the word “raw-mam,” number
7426, meaning to rise or exalt. Although the meaning of the pomegranates and
the bells is unknown, they may have served to remind the priests of the need to
be humble and holy when they enter the dwelling place of the LORD.
The
next item that Aaron was to wear was a gold plate inscribed with the words “Holiness
to the LORD.” This plate was to be attached to his turban.
Exodus 28:36-37 NKJV 36 "You
shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a
signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37 "And you shall put it on a blue cord,
that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.
A blue cord is used to attach the plate to the
turban. Later, the children of Israel were told to wear a blue cord on the
corners of their garments as a reminder of God’s commandments.
Numbers 15:38-39 NKJV 38 "Speak
to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their
garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels
of the corners. 39 "And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon
it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may
not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,
All
those who looked at the high priest would immediately see that he is set apart
to the LORD. Similarly, looking at the blue cords called tzit-tzit found on the
corners of the garments would be a reminder of God’s commandments which set the
nation of Israel apart as a holy nation.
The
garments that Aaron’s sons wore were all made of fine linen which was
traditionally white. In contrast, colorful garments were made of wool because
they more easily accepted the dyes. When Aaron went into the Holy of Holies
once a year to make atonement for the tabernacle and the people, he did not
wear the garments marking him as the high priest. He wore special white
vestments that were almost the same as the simple white linen garments that the
rest of the priesthood wore.
Leviticus 16:4 NKJV 4 "He shall
put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded
with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are
holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.
When
going into the presence of God whose earthly throne was on the Mercy Seat
between the cherubim, Aaron came as an ordinary priest. It is perhaps a bit
ironic that the most holy garments Aaron wore were those of simple white linen.
The Stone Edition Chumash comments that white linen is symbolic of
forgiveness.[iii]
After
these instructions about the garments Aaron and his sons were to wear while ministering
before the LORD and the instructions for their installment as priests, the
Torah describes the next two duties of Aaron after tending to the menorah. The
next duty was to bring the continual or tamid offering twice a day.
Exodus 29:38-39 NKJV 38 "Now this
is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day
continually. 39 "One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other
lamb you shall offer at twilight.
The
first and last offerings on the altar
each day is a lamb. Any other offerings brought during the day would be brought
between these two offerings. This offering fits the description of the burnt
offering in which all of the animal is burnt on the altar and the smoke rises
to God bringing the one who offers the animal into the presence of God. As
such, these two offerings represent opening the path into God’s presence.
The
third duty, and the last one of this Torah portion, is to bring the incense
offering twice a day at morning and evening.
Exodus 30:7-8 NKJV 7 "Aaron shall
burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn
incense on it. 8 "And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall
burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your
generations.
God
instructs that the incense be brought in the morning and the evening at the
same time that Aaron is to tend the menorah. According to rabbinic tradition, offering
the incense is the holiest service a priest could perform. Goran Larsson
comments that the smoke of the incense represented the presence of the LORD.[iv]
These
three tasks are to be performed every day. In addition, before Aaron and his
sons could begin their service, they were to wash their hands and feet in the
bronze laver.
Exodus 30:19-20 NKJV 19 "for
Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. 20
"When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the
altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall
wash with water, lest they die.
As
Aaron and his sons start their day, they begin by putting on their priestly
garments. They, then, proceed to the bronze laver and wash their hands and
feet. Any dust as well as impurities must be washed away before they begin
their service to God. Notice that Aaron and his sons are not given any footwear
to wear. Moses was told to remove his footwear when God appeared before him in
the burning bush because it was sacred ground. The grounds of the tabernacle
were likewise sacred grounds because of God’s presence, and, thus, the priests
wore no footwear.
After
washing, they enter the tabernacle and tend to the lamps. The lamps of the
Menorah which shined throughout the night would be extinguished. If the center
light was still burning, it would remain lit throughout the day. Aaron would
bring the incense offering inviting God’s presence to remain in the Tabernacle.
They would, then, exit the tabernacle and begin the day with the first of the
two daily offerings. In the temple, the ritual was much more involved, and
these three specific tasks would have happened simultaneously. At the end of
the day, the priests would again wash in the laver, bring the closing daily
offering, and then enter the tabernacle to light the menorah for the evening.
The
light of the menorah and the incense are a reminder of the shekinah glory as
the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Finally, Aaron and his sons
would remove their priestly garments. Their service to God was completed until
the next day.
Through
these three tasks and the garments for Aaron and his sons, God is communicating
details of how He would dwell with the children of Israel. As a royal
priesthood, we must put on the garments given to us to serve God. We must wash
off any impurities before we come into God’s dwelling place. Our ability to
approach God is opened up through the offering of the lambs. We must act to
bring God’s dwelling place down to Earth through the light and the incense of
His presence. Yeshua said to seek to enter the kingdom of God.
Study
Questions:
2.
Aaron’s
garments were for glory and beauty. What does this mean? What does this mean in
terms of Yeshua our high priest, as well as us in our own lives?
3.
Aaron
wore the name of the twelve tribes on his shoulder and on his breastplate. What
was the purpose for wearing the names? How does it apply to Yeshua our high
priest as well as us in our own lives?
General Portion Questions
4.
Describe
the garments for Aaron’s sons, the “ordinary” priests (Exodus 28:40-43). The Stone
Edition Chumash stated that the white linen is symbolic of forgiveness. How
is this reflected in the garments of the priests and the garments of the high
priest when he goes into the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:4)
5.
We didn’t
cover the ceremony for anointing Aaron and his sons into the priesthood in
Exodus 29. What elements of this seven day ceremony stand out to you and why?
6.
What
other insights
did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there in this Torah
Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?
©
2023 Moed Ministries International. All right reserved.
[i] Stone
Edition Chumash. General Editors Rabbi Nosson Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zolotowiitz.
Mesorah Publications, ltd. ©1998, 2000. Page 691.
[ii]
Goran Larsson. Bound for Freedom. Hendrickson Publishers. ©1999
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Page 220.
[iii] Stone
Edition Chumash. General Editors Rabbi Nosson Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zolotowiitz.
Mesorah Publications, ltd. ©1998, 2000. Page 637.
[iv]
Goran Larsson. Bound for Freedom. Hendrickson Publishers. ©1999
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Page 234.
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