The blue cord represents that Jesus mind is our mind (i.e., the mind of Christ). An ephod ( Hebrew: f; / fd / or / ifd /) was a type of apron, which according to the Hebrew Bible, was worn by the Jewish high priest the kohen gadol, an artifact and an object to be revered in ancient Israelite culture, and was closely connected with oracular practices and priestly ritual. God graciously communicated through these stones, leading His people. The color of Grace. 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. And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. A special one was worn by the High Priest (and described in detail to Moses in Exodus 28:6-14, 22-28 ). The first of the third row was aligure, then an amethyst, and the third an agatebeing the ninth of the whole number. It is clear that the ephod (and the associated breastpiece with the Urim and Thummim stones) was a way that God was able to direct His people (this is some time after he fights Goliath as a boy). You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aarons garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. For an object to be considered an object of worship, it must have the approval of the Aaronic priesthood and Levites. I agree that more studies need to be done on the O.T. For instance, in 1 Samuel 23, when David heard Saul was plotting against him, he went to Abiathar the priest and asked him to bring the ephod (v. 9). [1], Besides its use as a garment, an Ephod was also used for oracular purposes, in conjunction with Urim and Thummim;[5] the books of Samuel imply that whenever Saul or David wished to question God via oracular methods, they asked a priest for the ephod. Aww! Mosess brother, Aaron, donned the ephod and other priestly garments as his formal clothing at the holy tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites to worship the Lord during their years in the wilderness. What did the priestly garments look like? Well. The crafting of these priestly garments, along with other preparations for the elaborate details of the Lords tabernacle, takes up several chapter in Exodusfirst the descriptions of how they are to be made, then the description of the crafting itself. On each of these stones was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 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. p. 156, 157. Hebrews 4:14-15 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. I appreciate your kind sentiments. The breastpiece that was attached to the ephod also held huge significance and contained two stones, the Urim and Thummim. The second element of Jesus statement is equally important: the Present, ongoing, linearand will continue to be finishedcomponent of the perfect tense. Thanks Manu! It is mentioned throughout the Bible and has been worn by some of the most well-known figures in Christianity. It reminds us that we are His chosen people and have been given authority over the enemy. Each thread is made from 6 threads, each of sky-blue, of purple, of crimson and of white twisted linen, and 4 threads of pure gold. suggest that the ephod originally refers to a container for the stones used to cast lots and later became associated with many objects that also could contain the stones or were used in divination. (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. From my earlier description, it appears that the ephod was a very beautiful and intricate garment. They were all united under one High Priest. with all his mightintimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. The figure above graphically depicts how Israel was instructed to camp (Numbers 2:1-34) with the width (East and West) or height (North and South) of each tribe corresponding to its population. 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.. Linen Leggings (Short Pants Undergarments), Undergarments (Short Pants Linen Leggings). The word "ephod" occurs 51 times in 41 verses in the NASB, and refers to the sacred outer garment worn by the high priest, made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn (colors of royalty), to which the breastpiece was attached, and worn over a blue robe. The first of the fourth row was achrysolite, the next was an onyx, and then a beryl, which was the last of all. The Bible mentions Urim and Thummim many times. 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. . Breastpiece or breastplate of judgment.. He was the one who would offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The ephod was of great importance. As an Image. But these items, designed by God, are significant. He was not prepared, not clean and holy enough, to do the work of the Lord. Genesis 30:1-24. 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 . We dont need anything else when we have him. The same as High Priests Tunic previously described. As long as he wore the crown his thoughts were considered pure. God was furious over their disobedience and faithlessness and planned to destroy the Israelites. The High-Priest: His Clothes The Clothing of the High Priest But the people had gone astray, as the Bible tells us. , 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.. Ephod - Biblical Meaning and Significance Exodus 39:10-14). 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. These pomegranates were actually hollow spheres of fabric in the shape of pomegranates. The stones upon the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were borne before the Lord continually as a memorial. 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. This is a type of Christ's righteousness and perfect holiness during his entire human life. Why Is it Important for Us to Be Restored? David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. Sweat was part of the curse and represents human works, effort, reasoning, striving, worrying, fear, etc. The Lord would then answer the question through the stone. In conclusion,in Jesus statement It is finished, we have a declaration of salvation that is both in a particular moment in time and eternal, Aorist and Present, linear and punctiliar. (Leviticus 21:10. He was also the King of Salem, which means peace. Very informative, people need to study the Old Testament more for a solid foundation of understanding of the New Testament. What does 1 Samuel 2:18 mean? | BibleRef.com The stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were arranged in four rows of three stones each. In Hebrew, Dham means blood and Adham (i.e., Adam) means red-blooded man. 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. The biblical description (Exodus 28:16, 39:9) continues describing the size of the breastplate which is affixed to the front of the ephod as a square measuring one span by one span (the width of an outstretched hand from little finger tip to out stretched thumb tip). (Matthew 13:44) When God, who is light, looks upon us living stones in Christ, He sees reflected back His perfect light from the stones. ESV Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. The ephod was also a symbol of the unity of the people. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. Praecidan. But when Moses stayed with God too long on the mountain, 40 days and nights, the people turned away from the Lord and worshipped other gods (Exodus 32). [1][2], Even the ephods used for oracular purposes were not necessarily just pieces of cloth, as they are not described as being worn, but carried (though some translations render 1 Samuel 2:28 as wear an ephod rather than carry an ephod[4]); the Hebrew term used in these passages for carry is nasa, which specifically implies that the Ephod was carried either in the hand or on the shoulder. It was as if The Word (i.e., Jesus) offered the animal sacrifices to God the Father. After his victory, Gideon made an ephod out of the gold that he had captured from the Midianites. This skillful weave was not the routine cross-weave pattern found in most linen garments made from Israels looms. Heather, such a well detailed out explanation about the Ephod. In Exodus 39, we read how the Israelites were obedient in this and crafted the ephod exactly as God commanded. (1 John 1:5. In particular, I was interested in the conquest where David defeated the Amalekites. This diadem, crown, or headband was constructed with one piece of pure gold engraved with the simple message, Holy to the Lord. Unlike the crown worn by royalty on top of the head, this is worn across the forehead and extends from ear to ear. The golden garments wereworn all yearin the rituals performed as the High Priest when he, in view of the people of Israel, enters the sanctuary interior in themorning and evening sacrifices. The garment hung down in front and in the back, and its length extended all the way down to the priests feet. The purpose of this study is to review in detail each of the three priestly garments of the Old Testament. Urim and Thummim are two stones that were set in the ephod and were used to inquire of the Lord about specific matters. When David asked for the Ephod, he was asking for a symbol of Gods presence and favor. The ephod had twelve different stones set in it. It was made of linen with gold, blue, purple and scarlet. He is the only one who can truly meet our needs. Although the significance of the ephod has changed over time, it still represents the authority and power that God has given to His people. Then David asked God for guidance, and God told him what to do. We can replace Jesus Christ with money, power, status, or possessions. The breastplate, called the Urim and Thummim would rest in a cloth receptacle upon the ephod. Thanks Lallie, thanks for stopping by! You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and do what the Lord requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded (Leviticus 8:34-35). God bless you . Ephod (Heb. In the Bible, in the contexts where it is worn, the ephod is usually described as being linen, but did not constitute complete clothing of any kind, as the Books of Samuel describe. 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. The other meaning of ephod is somewhat similardescribed less as a garment but rather more as an item of ceremonial, sacred significance, much like an idol or other special item to be worn but not necessarily an item of clothing. The underpriest's ephod was probably like the high priest's in shape but was made of plain white cloth, not embroidered, and the linen of which it was made may not have been of the quality of the high priest's ephod. The ephod is a garment of great significance. This means that we are eternally secure in Jesus. For Glory and Beauty, the garments bring praise to God and admiration from all that gaze upon them. All rights reserved. White typifies righteousness and purity. Again, no sewing was used, simply weaving. The holy garments that the priests wore while performing their duties set them apart from the rest of the Israelites. A passage in the Book of Exodus describes the Ephod as an elaborate garment worn by the high priest, and upon which the Hoshen, or breastplate containing Urim and Thummim, rested. Finally, I will take a look at the significance of the ephod today and how it can be applied to our lives. When we understand this, we can see how important it is to have a relationship with him. 2 Timothy 1:9. (, The descendants of Aaron were responsible for offering sacrifices and keeping the tabernacleor, later, the templeclean and orderly. Goldwas beaten, pressed, and hammered into paper-thin sheets, then cut into tiny strips. (Antiqu. People started arguing over who should wear the ephod and who shouldnt. God bless you! Gold (pure) (1) Almighty God who is Holy. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. What Is an Ephod - Purpose and Meaning in the Bible The other Levites were tasked with helping the priests in these duties (. 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. Mathew Henry describes all that is finishedat that exact moment in time: It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Father concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. The most important garment worn by the High Priest is the ephod. The High Priests Day of Atonement garment. Further, two onyx stones are to be mounted in gold and fastened on the ephods shoulder pieces. O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.. The ephods front and back were made to be as one garment by a sash or girdle, which was tied about the priests waist. [See on [265]1Ch 15:27.]. The Urim and Thummim were placed inside this pouch. Exodus 39:6,7). Learnt a lot from the work you put into this. Although David was not a priest, he was a man of God who sought to follow His will in all things. . David Was Wearing a Linen Ephod | Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay The Golden Garments of the High Priest revealed Jesus as God the Great High Priest in Heaven. The Gospel of John Jesus the Son of God. Before Jesus, most people didnt simply talk with God about His will, whether out of fear they were not holy enough and would incur His wrath or because God typically only spoke through His prophets. Both were made of white linen, woven without a seam. That is, you cannot lose your salvation because the work of the Last Adam was greater than the work of the First Adam! There were instances in scripture when the people took their eyes off God and chose to worship an ephod in His place, forgetting that the power belonged to God, not the ephod. In the book of Exodus and in Leviticus one is described as being created for the High Priest to wear as part of his official vestments (Exodus 28:4+, 29:5, 39:2+; Leviticus 8:7). On many levels, linen and cotton are similar fabricsone made from the fibers of the cotton plant, the other from fibers of the flax plant, which has many of the same qualities as cotton. The High Priests garment was holy and sacred; therefore, not to be torn even for a relatives death. Why Does the Bible Use the Word Long-suffering? (Romans 5:1,2. However, it is still a very important part of Jewish tradition and culture. The ephod is also a reminder of our need for God. The Bible tells us that we are not to worship anything but God. These stones represented that all the names of Gods Special Treasure (i.e., His people) and their needs are carried on His shoulders which represents being upheld by His strength. 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. Likely this had to do with the sacredness of the priesthoods garments and what these materials and colors represented typologically. He reminded His people of His faithfulness with beautiful depictions of the names of the 12 sons of Jacob on the onyx stones on the ephod (and breastpiece). He remains faithful, He is the God who saves. thanks for this info concerning the ephod it helped me with my assignment. 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. As Moses explained to Aaron, they needed to follow these directions perfectly or face consequences, including death. Also, the names were not simply written on the stones but rather engraved, meaning they can never be removed. We cant be sure, but we do know that it was a significant part of the priests garments and it was worn out of obedience to God while they made intercession and heard from God. (Matthew 26:62-65). (Isaiah 9:6) They demonstrate that all believers, from the latest convert to the mature believer, are equally precious and complete in His sight. The Talmud argues that each of the textures was combined in six threads with a seventh of gold leaf, making 28 threads to the texture in total. More specifically, it was worn only by the high priestthe head of the Aaronic priesthood. This sash was made of only white linen thread. This belt was made of a mixture of blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn and white linen thread. An ephod (Hebrew: f; /fd/ or /ifd/) was a type of apron, which according to the Hebrew Bible, was worn by the Jewish high priest the kohen gadol, an artifact and an object to be revered in ancient Israelite culture, and was closely connected with oracular practices and priestly ritual. The breastplate was held in place by golden chains attached to the onyx shoulder clasps and blue lace ribbons, which attached the breastplate to the ephod. No demand made upon that grace can delete it. Just as the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to commune with God on behalf of the people, we need a Savior to go into the presence of God on our behalf.