And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. God also told Moses to make sure the people stayed back and did not try to approach the Lord, for they were not holy or capable enough to be in His presence. This plate was inscribed with the words HOLY TO THE LORD. The high priest was to wear this plate whenever he went into the Holy of Holies, the most sacred room in the tabernacle or temple (Exodus 28:36-38). According to the Talmud, the wearing of the ephod atoned for the sin of idolatry on the part of the Children of Israel.[7]. Gideon went on to make an ephod out of the gold won in battle; according to Ginzberg's The Legends of the Jews: "..In the high priest's breastplate, Joseph was represented among the twelve tribes by Ephraim alone, not by Manasseh, too. Wearing the Ephod demonstrated his humility and faith. When Gideon made the ephod, he made it an object of worship for the Israelites. What does it look like? It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. (http://www.ciu.edu/content/it-finished-look-greek), Hal has been teaching the Bible for over three decades. Pictured above: Blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn along with white linen thread and pure gold thread. The Ephod was an apron-like garment worn in priestly activities at the temple. (John 14:27) We are to rest in Jesus completed work seated with Him (i.e., resting) in the Heavenly realms. (John 10:28,29). We are also called to be holy people, set apart for His (Gods) purposes. That is, his personal emotions cannot overrule his ministry to represent people to God. If you are unsure of what to do, dont be afraid to ask God for guidance. Red Blood (1), the requirement for redemption that leads to righteousness. That is, God the Father looks at Jesus to judge Christians. Lets take a closer look at why this act of making an ephod became a snare. It is kept in position on the body by means of two shoulder pieces (v. 7) and a fastening band (v. 8).". The breastplate, called the Urim and Thummim would rest in a cloth receptacle upon the ephod. The high priest also wore a plate of pure gold on his forehead. There are two basic meanings for the word ephod. 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. The Aorist tense is punctiliar: meaning something that happens at a specific point in time; a moment. Indeed, no one is exactly certain just what an Ephod was, other than something liturgical. 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. (Romans 5:1,2. It was this very expensive garment that the Roman soldiers gambled for at the foot of His cross. Gideons ephod just added to this division. 3 Surprising Reasons to Be Like Doubting Thomas. The occasion was the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. A. This blog post will discuss 12 fascinating facts about the ephod. The stones upon the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were borne before the Lord continually as a memorial. It carried much symbolic weight. 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. (1 Peter 2:9). God made a way. Again, no sewing was used, simply weaving. (Matthew 26:62-65). The ephod reminds us that we need to seek His face and ask for His help in everything we do. But what is an ephod, exactly? Jesus removed the barrier between us and God. which was of the forementioned colors, with gold intermixed which, when it had gone once round, was tied again upon the seam and hung down.. Now the first three stones were asardonyx, a topaz, and an emerald. Lesser priests, as well as others engaged in sacred ministrations, Samuel (i Sam. As stated earlier, there is a part of the ephod called the breastplate of judgment. However, now- through Jesus, we have the breastplate of righteousness. Romans 5:1;10:15. Only the special priest could wear the ephod. Best effort color determination of Breastplate Stone colors since some of the stones names have changed over time (Exodus 28:17-21. 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). Great detail goes into the Lords description of the ephod. Titus 3:5. People started arguing over who should wear the ephod and who shouldnt. Learnt a lot from the work you put into this. It is mentioned throughout the Bible and has been worn by some of the most well-known figures in Christianity. (Isaiah 9:6) They demonstrate that all believers, from the latest convert to the mature believer, are equally precious and complete in His sight. Well, I recently wrote a blog post on breakthrough and touched on David. Just like how the ephod easily became a snare based on the three points provided, we can draw some lessons that we can apply today. The Bible mentions Urim and Thummim many times. This post is all about the ephod in the bible. The ephod was of great importance. These were integral elements in the communion between God and the high priest, like our union with Christ today, who represented the entire nation before God. And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. God made a way. 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. They would be alone, isolated, without helpwithout God or a way to communicate with Him. Those who spoke to God would use holy items, such as the ephod, to help them communicate with the Lord. And David danced before the LORD with all, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Some believe David sinned by wearing the linen ephod in his worship. (Exodus 33:20-23. He made a covenant with Moses, promising He would still be with the people in spite of their misdeeds as long as they obeyed God (Exodus 34:10-11). Here goes: Modern-day society can replace Jesus Christ with various things. 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. One he wore in the morning and the other in the evening. No demand made upon that grace can delete it. Also, the names were not simply written on the stones but rather engraved, meaning they can never be removed. (Colossians 3:9,10. Birth mother is indicated and the birth order (Genesis 29:31-35. A. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance has now come, and all the shadows are done away. It also points to Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who sacrificed Himself for our sins. - They shall make the ephod The word ephod signifies etymologically any "vestment" or "garment;" but in its use it is confined to the special vestment here described, the great object of which was to be a receptacle for the "breast-plate." The ephod was a sort of jerkin or waistcoat, consisting of two pieces, one to cover the chest and the other the back, joined together probably by a . 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. attempt to assign meaning to the details of the Ephod, but such meanings are not given in either the biblical description or the Talmud. We can replace Jesus Christ with money, power, status, or possessions. Purple is the color of Royalty. Why did David request the ephod knowing he wasnt the High Priest? Again, what Jesus is is what we are in the sight of God! Connection Between Ephod and Oracle. CSB Samuel served in the Lord's presence--this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod. The ephod is frequently mentioned in close connection with the sacred oracle. Later, the same thing happened. It is often used in ceremonial dress, and it is also used in religious artwork. Although the significance of the ephod has changed over time, it still represents the authority and power that God has given to His people. Pomegranates, by contrast, are somewhat easier to identify. When we are trying to make a decision, we can ask God for guidance, and He will show us what to do. The same as High Priests Tunic previously described. And why was it important? David's Ephod. 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. Here, we explore the biblical meaning and spiritual significance of the ephod. Doulos Hal's Topical Index, on The Tabernacle of Moses Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VI: The Priestly Garments, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part I: The Outer Court, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part II: The Holy Place Golden Lampstand, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part III: The Holy Place Table of Showbread, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part IV: The Holy Place Golden Altar of Incense, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part V: The Most Holy Place, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VI: The Priestly Garments, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VII: Our Great High Priest, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VIII: The Women of the Tabernacle, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel Introduction, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Burnt Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Meal Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Peace Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Sin Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Trespass Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Red Heifer Offering, http://www.templeinstitute.org/high-priest-garments-gallery.htm, http://www.ciu.edu/content/it-finished-look-greek, The Beautiful Attitudes Part IV: Blessed are those that Hunger and Thirst, Part X: The Lord of the Scroll When will the King of Kings Return? Today, the ephod is not worn by the High Priest. God invents boxer shorts! He believes, second to cultivating his relationship with God that raising his family unto the Lord is the most significant task for him while on Earth. (Hebrews 2:17;4:15) He does not simply understand what we feel, He feels what we feel! 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. Pictured above: Memorial Stones with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which had the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) according to their birth order and were placed on the shoulders of the ephod (Exodus 28:9-12. When Jesus cried out FINISHED from the cross, He only said one word in Aramaic:KLH: Finished or fulfilled! God bless you . (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20) Even as the Levites were priests of the Old Covenant, we believers are all priests and kings after the order of Melchizedek and ministers of the New Covenant. They are a part of the ritual the people must do to communicate with God, both to worship God and atone for their sins. l. 3. c. 7. sect. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Both were made of white linen, woven without a seam. But these items, designed by God, are significant. Only he can save us from our sins and give us eternal life. However, it is still a very important part of Jewish tradition and culture. Titus 2:14) The names were not simply written on the stones but rather engraved, meaning they can never be removed. Shortly after, in Leviticus 8, we read how Moses then adorned Aaron with the priestly garments, fastening them all on him just so. To most commentators, a belt and shoulder straps suggested an apron-like garment. 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. While cotton fabric is derived from the fibers in the bolls that grow around the plant's seed heads, linen is made from fibers in the stems of the flax plant. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ephod&oldid=1142452419, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 13:06. 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. Here, the ephod is included among a litany of sacred garments Aaron is to wear. From the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron was chosen to serve as priests. 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. Notice that there are five components: Gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.. APUD or APDO Gr. Once you become purple, you can never become red again. The video helped a lot in the understanding of how it was made. Bluespeaks of Jesus Divinity as Very God having come down from Heaven the abode of God. Urim and Thummim were used to ask questions about war, judgment, and guidance from God. Without the ephodor the breastpiece, tunic, or sashthe priest was unfit to serve. Some believe that the bells and pomegranates were interspersed alternatively, in between each other; however, others hold that the bells were placed inside the pomegranates (the author of this article believes the latter). 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! NASB Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. It was slightly wider than a mans back since it was to cover his back and extend a little towards the front on both sides as well, covering a portion of his belly from either side. 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 ). 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. The High Priests Day of Atonement garment. There appears to have been a strong religious and ceremonial implication to wearing an ephod, since the 85 priests at Nob are specifically identified as being the type of people who wore an ephod;[2] though the Masoretic text here describes them as being linen ephods (1 Samuel 22:18) the word linen is not present in the Septuagint version of the passage, nor is it present when the Septuagint describes David and Samuel as girding themselves with an ephod. The ephods front and back were made to be as one garment by a sash or girdle, which was tied about the priests waist. Because of His sacrifice, we can have eternal life. Hallelujah! It was not, therefore, a peculiarly priestly dress, though naturally more worn by them than by any one else. He is our high priest, and he represents us before God. The ephod is a garment of great significance. He took a merciless beating so we would not have to take one! We know the ephod was a tool of ceremonya special, ornate, handcrafted item with great significance. All the best with your assignment, I hope you get a good grade. Scarlet,or red, is the last color mentioned. The wearer of such linen would not sweat. Jesus came from Heaven to become a red-blooded man. In this manner, the crown, itself a thin plate, was kept tied and in place on the High Priests forehead. When you and I accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we, the red of human birth, accept the blue of Christs divinity,and we become purple, too! 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. You might be surprised at how relevant the image of the ephod is today. Yarn and Thread Colors Five Colors which is the Biblical Number for Grace. Jesus is our high priest, our Redeemer, and He is all we need. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. These straps were attached to the ephod at the two upper corners. When we wear Jesus Christ, we are clothed in his righteousness and are forgiven of our sins. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. And as were told in 1 John 5:14, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.. What Jesus is, we are in the sight of God. That means today there is a real, live, beating human heart in Heaven representing you and meat the right hand of the Father. Feel free to use the table of contents to see what topics Ill cover. When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided the city and burned it down. We dont need an ephod anymore, because Jesus fulfilled its purpose. In those days the Israelites were so addicted to the worship of Beelzebub that they constantly carried small images of this god with them in their pockets, and every now and then they were in the habit of bringing the image forth and kissing it fervently. In Jesus statement, It is finished, we have a declaration of salvation that is both in a particular moment in time and eternity. In the Old Testament this word has two meanings; in one group of passages it signifies a garment; in another, very probably an image. But the people had gone astray, as the Bible tells us. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. This ephod might have been worn or set upon an altar. It symbolized authority and power and signified the wearers status as a mediator between God and man. The garment hung down in front and in the back, and its length extended all the way down to the priests feet. This led to idolatry and spiritual adultery. The ephod iss mentioned only in the Old Testament. Its threads were 12 plies. (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. In order to understand the ephod, lets try to get a picture of what the priestly garments are comprised of since they were a unit (See Per Exodus 28:4): Lets touch on a few essential pieces of the priestly garments: It was made of linen, and it had two shoulder straps attached to it. The second element of Jesus statement is equally important: the Present, ongoing, linearand will continue to be finishedcomponent of the perfect tense. The High Priest was revered as much or more than any king or royalty of the nations around Israel. col. 1793. Other biblical books describe an ephod that may or may not be similar to the one legislated for the High Priest. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. These pomegranates were actually hollow spheres of fabric in the shape of pomegranates. Much effort went into the making of the ephod, and it was crafted from finery. thanks for this info concerning the ephod it helped me with my assignment. The Ephod is a beautiful reminder of the history of the Jewish people and their faith. P.S Here is the YouTube video that relates to this blog post: Wow! It is also the color ofgrace. Despite their periods of faithlessness, God remained faithful. We will ultimately be let down when we put our trust in anything other than Jesus Christ. Well. (Antiqu. The settings for the two sardonyx stones (i.e., memorial or remembrance stones) were attached at the ends of these straps, on the shoulders. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. The simplest explanation of an ephod is given to us in Exodus 28:6-8. The same as the High Priests sash previously described. (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. Thanks Manu! 1 Samuel 2:18. Its appearance can be likened to an apron; it was worn in back, on top of his other garments, and was fastened by a long belt in the front, opposite his heart. It is a place of unlimited grace (i.e., unlimited favor). Long sleeves were worn by privileged people, meaning they did not have to perform manual labor. But the ephod is not just mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus. The ephod was also a symbol of the unity of the people. He is the only one who can truly meet our needs. 2:18), and once even David (ii Sam. On each side, one chain represents that we will never be snatched from God our Fathers hand, and a second chain represents we will never be snatched from our God Jesus hand. They sacrificed to it and made offerings to it. However, I know if you are super interested, you will likely move along the post in a systematic fashion. Mandrakes in the Bible | Thought-Provoking! 1 Corinthians 12:20-24). As Christians, we can look at the image of the ephod and praise God that through the death of His Son, Jesus our Great High Priest, we can have direct access to God. We are hidden in Jesus the PRECIOUS of God the Father (2 Peter 2:6), which makes us precious to Him! For all time and eternity, we are the objects of the Fathers supreme affection, the recipients of His unlimited mercies (i.e., unlimited ability to meet all our needs, wants, and desires). Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like itof one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen (Exodus 28:6-8 NIV). Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. 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. 6:14) wore a simple ephod of linen, apparently during sacred service or at special celebrations (i Sam. The Gospel of Luke Jesus the Son of Man. The first of the third row was aligure, then an amethyst, and the third an agatebeing the ninth of the whole number. So, just as the ephod was a reminder of Gods power for the Israelites, so too can our relationship with Jesus be a source of strength and comfort for us. What Was the Spiritual Purpose of the Ephod in the Bible? The perfect tense is a combination of two Greek tenses: the Present tense and the Aorist tense. Lets find out more about the significance of the ephod. Why Is it Important for Us to Be Restored? It is also to be noted that the high priests ephod (Exodus 28:6; Exodus 28:8, &c.) was made of shesh, while the garments of the ordinary priests, as well as the ephods of Samuel and David, were of bad. Breastplate Ephod (Vest or Apron) Robe (Coat - Outer Garment) Plate (Diadem or Crown) Tunic (Long Shirt - Inner Garment) Turban (Hat or Mitre) Sash ( Linen (1) Belt or Girdle) Undergarments (Short Pants) Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. 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. Goldwas beaten, pressed, and hammered into paper-thin sheets, then cut into tiny strips. Realize, precious stones are typically located deep within the earth. The ephod reminds us that we are set apart. 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. When David asked for the Ephod, he was asking for a symbol of Gods presence and favor. Most likely some sort of bag or pouch that carried the Urim and Thummim, some sort of objects used for divination. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! [6], The object at Nob, which must have been somewhat freestanding since another object is kept behind it, and the objects made by Gideon and by Micah, from molten gold, logically cannot have just been garments. 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. In addition to being a holy item, the ephod is a symbol of the people, as well as their sins. The other items are a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban, and sash (Exodus 28:4). Anyone who dared to wear it without being authorized by God Himself would be judged harshly. He was the one who would offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. He used to be only All God, but now He is also All man, making HIm the Perfect Man! Blue Heaven the abode of God. 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. [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). We dont have to fear Gods wrath when we approach Him or think He cannot hear us. Each garment was individually made from the finest white flax linen in Israel. They have to be diligently searched for with great determination, excavated, washed, and finally cut andpolished(1) by the master jeweler to release their true beauty.
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