This blog post will discuss 12 fascinating facts about the ephod. White typifies righteousness and purity. In Hebrew, the word for red is Adam or Edom. Adam, one of the words for man and literally means red-blooded man. It is derived from the root word in Hebrew for blood: Dam. Redspeaks of Jesus shed blood, The One Who became the second and last Adam, or red or red-blooded man.. The actual blessing is done with both arms held horizontally in front, at shoulder level, with hands touching, to form the Hebrew letter shin. This stands for the Hebrew word for Shaddai, meaning Almighty [God]., (5)Wuests Word Studies From the Greek New Testament for the English Reader, Volume Three, Golden Nuggets, Kenneth S. Wuest, Reprinted 1999,ISBN-13:978-0802822802, (6) It is finished or completed is the translation of the Greek word Tetelestaiwhich only appears twice in the Bible (John 19:28,30). Only Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship and devotion. Both were made of white linen, woven without a seam. David leads the ark procession into Jerusalem wearing a linen ephod (1 Samuel 6). The High Priest and Priests wore no shoes or sandals, meaning they would walk barefoot, which is the prerequisite for walking on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). But praise be to God, we have a Savior! It was a strip twice as long as it was wide but folded back on itself to form a square bag into which theUrimandThummimwere placed. According to Josephus, the engraved onyx stones on the shoulders were designed so that the six eldest sons names were engraved on the stone on the right shoulder and those of the six youngest sons on the stone on the left shoulder. Therefore, the people knew they were not only duty-bound but also bound under threat of annihilation by God Himself to follow Gods commands. The breastplate was, in reality, a piece of elaborately finished cloth of the same material as the ephod. In the Old Testament this word has two meanings; in one group of passages it signifies a garment; in another, very probably an image. The people of Israel worshipped the ephod as if it were a god. Epomis, ephod, ephoud, Lat. May God bless you abundantly! Today, the ephod is not worn by the High Priest. Genesis 35:16-19). Girded with a linen ephod.This is usually spoken of as if David were arrayed in a distinctively priestly dress; but it is remarkable that the ephod was not prescribed as a part of the priestly dressthe ephod of the high-priest (Exodus 25:7, &c.) being quite a different thingand was worn by others, as Samuel (1Samuel 2:18). The tunicwas first invented by God for Adam and Eve after they had sinned, and He made them from the skin of an animal which I believe was a ram. superhumerale) is a kind of garment mentioned in the O. T., which differed according to its use by the high-priest, by other persons present at religious services, or as the object of idolatrous worship.. Ephod of the High-Priest.Supplementing the data contained in the Bible with those gleaned from Josephus and the Egyptian monuments . When we are trying to make a decision, we can ask God for guidance, and He will show us what to do. There were also had two shoulder straps that were sewn onto the belt. An ephod was a garment usually made of linen that covered the priest from the shoulder to the hip. He (David) has an infamous line Bring me the ephod.. 3 Surprising Reasons to Be Like Doubting Thomas. , Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolishthe Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them butto fulfill them.. The tribe of Levi was set apart by God to be His holy ministers. They are a part of the ritual the people must do to communicate with God, both to worship God and atone for their sins. He consecrated it to God, but after his death homage was paid to it as an idol. The wearing of the ephod, however, is spoken of in 1Samuel 22:18 as characteristic of the priests, and in Judges 8:27; Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14-20, it is connected with idolatrous worship. It was intended for both the front and back of the body and made in two parts, which were clasped together at the shoulder by two onyx stones set in gold. The onyx stones were meant to be memorial stones, we are told in Exodus 28:12, representing the sons of Israelliterally, the descendants of the biblical patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel, through his 12 sons birthed through his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah. Other biblical books describe an ephod that may or may not be similar to the one legislated for the High Priest. The High Priest was revered as much or more than any king or royalty of the nations around Israel. May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised forever and ever! You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. [1] The book of 1 Chronicles states that David was "clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark [and] David also wore an ephod of linen," [NAS Bible translation; 1 Chronicles, 15:27] "and David was wearing a linen ephod" [NAS Bible translation; 2 Samuel, 6:14]. Why did David request the ephod knowing he wasnt the High Priest? Because of His sacrifice, we can have eternal life. (Isaiah 9:6) They demonstrate that all believers, from the latest convert to the mature believer, are equally precious and complete in His sight. This is so important because it indicates a condition, a state of being, a resting place. The tearing by Caiaphas of the priestly garments represented the abolishment of the Levitical Priesthood and its replacement after the Melchizedek Priesthood order. However, at Jesus Sanhedrin trial, the High Priest Caiaphas (the name means rock) tore his clothes even though this was forbidden. CSB Samuel served in the Lord's presence--this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod. Note the story told by the colors and their order: Blue Jesus who is God came from heaven, Red Jesus was born of a red-blooded human virgin to become the Son of Man. The crown had three small holes: two on each end and one in the center located along the upper edge. and David was girded with a linen ephod; which others, besides priests, sometimes wore, as Samuel did, and which David might choose to appear in, rather than in his royal robes, as being more agreeable to the service of God, and lighter for him both to walk and dance in on this occasion. It was to be made of threads "of blue and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen" and embroidered in gold thread "with cunning work" ( Exodus 28:4; 29:5; 39:2; Leviticus 8:7 ). God bless you so much. The most important garment worn by the High Priest is the ephod. And why was it important? As an Image. When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided the city and burned it down. Gideons ephod became a snare because it was an object of worship. (1) A sacred vestment originally designed for the high priest ( Exodus 28:4; 39:2 ), and made "of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen," held together by two shoulder-pieces and a skillfully woven band which served as a girdle for the ephod. Listed below are a few of them. The word urim means lights, and thummim means perfections.. It was a day of rejoicing as David "and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets . But what is an ephod, exactly? Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them (Exodus 19:21-22). Per my previous explanations, the Ephod was a garment that was only to be worn by the high priest. These sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjaminall became the heads of their own family groups, comprising Gods people, Israel. The same as High Priests Tunic previously described. The high priest wore a skillfully crafted ephod consisting of gold shoulder pieces bearing carved onyx stones showing the names of the 12 tribes, and a woven band of colorful threads. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aarons heart, when he goes in before the Lord. The integration of the stones in the breastplate, as well as the Hebrew usage of "Urim" as "lights," suggest that the Urim and Thummim may have been a type of ocular device through which the priest would look when receiving divine communication. Satan seeks to display them in a shameful, exploitative way leading to a sense of vulnerability that approximates a fear of evil (Genesis 3:7). In early Old Testament history, there are references to the ephod as a rather simple, linen garment, possibly a short skirt, apron, or loin cloth. The first significant passage is in Exodus where God is providing Moses with the design of the ephod that Aaron, the high priest, would wear. June 13, 2014 by Peter Leithart. Much effort went into the making of the ephod, and it was crafted from finery. Jesus the Messiah! We are also given the Holy Spirit, who helps us to grow in our relationship with God. Why Is it Important for Us to Be Restored? (Exodus 33:20-23. God invents boxer shorts! Before He was born of Mary, Jesus was All God or rather All Blue. I believe God made the sky blue to reflect the glory of His Son! Later on in 1 Samuel 23 and 30, we see David call for the ephod in order to communicate with God at a time when Saul was plotting against him. The perfect tense is a combination of two Greek tenses: the Present tense and the Aorist tense. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Lesson 4: A LINEN EPHOD "And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod" (2 Sam. All rights reserved. In 1 Chronicles 15 (27-28), though not a priest, King David is seen wearing a linen ephod (not the high priests ephod) as the ark of the covenant is returned to Jerusalem. The robe is put on from above, meaning not self-appointed but rather office and authority God appointed (John 19:11). The preciousness of Jesus in the eyes of God the Father has been imputed to us even as His righteousness has been imputed to us. In modern Christianity, it is easy to gloss over the parts of scripture that are no longer seen or practiced like the garments and items the Jewish priests wore in the Old Testament. Mandrakes in the Bible | Thought-Provoking! It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together. The Ephod is a beautiful reminder of the history of the Jewish people and their faith. It was thin enough to arch across the forehead like a bow. We become like Jesus with the difference that we started out all red and He started out all blue (i.e., all God). Again, what Jesus is is what we are in the sight of God! [5] Since the oracular process is considered by scholars to have been one of cleromancy, with the Urim and Thummim being the objects which were drawn as lots, the Ephod is considered by scholars to have been some form of container for the Urim and Thummim;[2][5] to harmonise this with the descriptions of the Ephod as a garment, it is necessary to conclude that the Ephod must have originally been some sort of pocket, which the priests girded to themselves. What is a Ephod and what does it look like? (Genesis 3:21) However, here the tunic was made out of very fine linen. Great detail goes into the Lords description of the ephod. Learn how your comment data is processed. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people,a royal priesthood,a holy nation,Gods special possession,that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (Matthew 6:25-34). In the former the ephod is referred to in the priestly ordinances as a part of the official dress of the high priest, and was to be made of threads . For an object to be considered an object of worship, it must have the approval of the Aaronic priesthood and Levites. The Golden Garments of the High Priest revealed Jesus as God the Great High Priest in Heaven. God made a way. (significance and symbolism), And thats it, folks, the ephod in the bible, Dream About the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (Raw), 31+ Brilliant Bible Emergency Numbers (Verses). We know the ephod was a tool of ceremonya special, ornate, handcrafted item with great significance. Exodus 39:10-14). These stones, however, stood in three rows, by four in a row, and were inserted into the breastplate itself, and they were set in (p)ouches of gold, that were themselves inserted in the breastplate and were so made that they might not fall out. Here is a super detailed video that explains the priestly garments with a very good visual: Exodus 28:30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aarons heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Remember, it was customary in Israel to tear their garments and put sackcloth and ashes on their heads upon the death of a relative (Genesis 37:33,34). The high priest also wore a plate of pure gold on his forehead. On Mount Sinai, God commanded Moses to tell the people, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. That is, you cannot lose your salvation because the work of the Last Adam was greater than the work of the First Adam! (1 John 1:5. These stones are to be engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, with six names on one and six on the other, and two braided gold chains are to connect the stones (v. 9-14). Hebrews 4:16) (5), The Breastplate was attached to the Ephod by two solid gold chains on each side that were braided and twisted for double strength, meaning we are securely attached to our Great High Priest. Once you become purple, you can never become red again. When Saul or David wished to question Yhwh through the oracle, they commanded the priest, "Bring hither the ephod" ( 1 Samuel 14:18 [A. V. "ark of God"], 23:9, 30:7). The stones upon the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were borne before the Lord continually as a memorial. When we understand this, we can see how important it is to have a relationship with him. He has gone into the presence of God on our behalf and has made intercession for us. (2)http://www.templeinstitute.org/high-priest-garments-gallery.htm, (3) Ut supra. This belt was made of a mixture of blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn and white linen thread. Ephodits a word you dont typically see today, and yet it carries great weight in the Bible when it comes to ceremony and honor. An ephod was some sort of outer garment, probably apron-like, and was the typical attire of a priest. But the people had gone astray, as the Bible tells us. His thoughts are for us. [2] The biblical description also adds that there were two engraved gems over the shoulder straps (like epaulettes), made from shoham (thought by scholars to mean malachite,[2][3] by Jewish tradition to mean heliodor,[2] and in the King James Version translated as "onyx", and with the names of the 12 tribes written upon them; the classical rabbinical sources differ as to the order in which the tribes were named on the jewels (Sotah 36a). Indeed, no one is exactly certain just what an Ephod was, other than something liturgical. Years later the prophet Samuel, who so pleased God especially in comparison to the showy, sinful sons of the prophet Eli, is described as wearing a linen ephod as he served the Lord as a boy (1 Samuel 2:18). So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. In Judges, we see that there was already a lot of division among the Israelites. It was worn outside the robe and probably kept in place by a girdle and by shoulder pieces, from which hung the breast piece (or pouch) containing the sacred lots (divinatory objects), Urim and Thummim, whose precise function is now unknown. Photo credit: GettyImages/Javier_Art_Photography. David then inquired of God, and God told him what to do. I will also explore some of the most famous stories involving the ephod, such as Gideon and David. Some believe David sinned by wearing the linen ephod in his worship. It was listed first of these priestly garments, and the breastpiece was to be fashioned after the ephod, as well as tied to it with blue cord. This ephod might have been worn or set upon an altar. What has been done today was commanded by the Lord to make atonement for you. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. Note It is always mentioned second. The book of 1 Chronicles states that David was "clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the . The necks opening was round, with a hem that was doubled over and closed by weaving-not by a needle. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx . The high priest, in particular, wore skillfully crafted, expensive and beautiful items to indicate that he had been consecrated by God to come before Him on behalf of the nation. (Hebrews 2:17;4:15) He does not simply understand what we feel, He feels what we feel! Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? The ephod was one of these instructions, as significant as the rest. A special one was worn by the High Priest (and described in detail to Moses in Exodus 28:6-14, 22-28 ). That is, his personal emotions cannot overrule his ministry to represent people to God. God is holy and sin separated God from His people but they could still come before Him through a priest following sacrifices and cleansing.
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