Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Exodus, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God’s Identity and Power
Redemption and Deliverance
The Covenant
Mediators and the Priesthood
Summary
Analysis
God instructs Moses to gather his brother Aaron and Aaron’s sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar— to serve the LORD as priests. Sacred vestments should be made for Aaron’s “glorious adornment.” The vestments must include a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. All these should be made of gold; blue, purple, and crimson yarns; and fine linen.
After giving the specifications for the tabernacle, Exodus turns to those who will serve within it. Not just anyone can do so; because of God’s holiness, only specific men among the Israelites are set apart to minister as priests (much as Israel itself is especially set apart by God as a “royal priesthood” among nations). The priests’ “glorious” vestments, matching the tabernacle colors, convey the holiness of their work.
Themes
The ephod should have two shoulder-pieces. On these pieces should be two onyx stones; on the stones, the names of the 12 sons of Israel should be engraved, with six names on one and six on the other. When Aaron wears the ephod, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders before the LORD.
Like the tabernacle furniture, the parts of the priests’ vestments have symbolic meanings. The ephod is an apron-like garment. The appearance of the tribes’ names on the shoulder-pieces shows that Israel is precious to God, and also that Aaron is Israel’s representative before God.
Themes
There should also be a “breastpiece of judgment” made in the same style as the ephod. The breastpiece should contain four rows of precious stones, three stones in each row, each engraved with the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The breastpiece should be attached to the ephod by golden cords. In this way, Aaron will bear the names of the sons of Israel on his heart when he enters the holy place. The breastpiece should also contain the Urim and Thummim, by which Aaron will continually bear the judgment of the Israelites before God.
The breastpiece, too, contains the names of Israel’s 12 tribes, a further reminder of whom Aaron represents. The meaning of “Urim and Thummim” is less clear; the function of these elements is not explained, although later books of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament refer to these objects as being used to seek God’s will when making decisions.
Themes
The ephod’s robe should be blue, with pomegranates around the hem, alternating with golden bells. When Aaron ministers in the holy place before the LORD, the bells will sound, so that he won’t die. Aaron’s turban should have a golden rosette with “Holy to the LORD” engraved on it. The rosette will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will personally take on any guilt that is incurred in the Israelites’ offering. That way the Israelites will always find favor before the LORD.
It's not exactly clear how the sounding of the bells keeps Aaron from dying. The point is that priesthood is sacred work, and that Aaron should never act carelessly while serving in the tabernacle. Perhaps the ringing of the bells reminds him to be intentional in all his actions while within the tabernacle. The message engraved on Aaron’s turban is a reminder that Aaron is set apart as God’s holy servant, representing the Israelites before God (that is, he bears the people’s guilt in God’s presence and bears God’s blessing back to the people).
Themes
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Like Aaron, Aaron’s sons should also have tunics, sashes, and headdresses for their “glorious adornment.” Aaron and his sons should be dressed in these vestments and then anointed, ordained, and consecrated, so that they may serve God as priests. They should also be given linen undergarments to wear, or else they will incur guilt.
The linen undergarments prevent the exposure of any nakedness within the tabernacle (also a concern back in Chapter 20). In Genesis, nakedness—namely the need to cover it up— was associated with the guilt of humanity’s fall and expulsion from the Garden; perhaps that’s being referred to here. All of this goes to show that priests were expected to embody the utmost holiness while serving before God.
Themes
