Exodus 28

Exodus 28:1

TAke thou unto thee] Call them unto thee, to conferre upon them, from me, the office, title, and ensignes of my Priest-hood.

Exodus 28:2

For glory] To make them venerable, and Majestick in the executing of their offices.

Exodus 28:3

To consecrate him] To distinguish him from the common sort, by his garments, as he is internally by my vocation: which separates him from the condition and employments of the civill life: to be wholly dedicated to my service.

Exodus 28:5

Gold] The Italian hath it, Of that gold] Namely, of the voluntary offering, Ex: 25: 3.

Exodus 28:6

The Ephod] An Hebrew name, which signifieth a kind of garment that is girded or tyed to the body. It was an outward garment a Cubit long, or thereabouts, made of two square pieces, made fast upon the shoulders, and to the sides. Now there were two sorts of them, one of severall colours and stuffes, which was peculiar to the high Priest only; the other of Bysse, or pure fine Linnen, which was common for all Priests. 1 Sam. 2. 18. and 22. 18. and also for other men in any sacred solemnities. 2 Samuel 6:14 Of gold] beaten out in plates, and cut into Wyers. Exodus 39:3 Cunning work]. As Exodus 26:1.

Exodus 28:8

Is upon it] The Italian hath it, From the Ephod] that is to say, woven together, not sown, nor hooked to.

Exodus 28:12

Upon the shoulders] In that place where the two square pieces are fastned together Of memoriall] By the sight of which, God should (as it were to say) remember his people in grace, beholding them in his Priests sacred person, when hee entreth into the Sanctuary, after he had accomplished all the expiations, Leviticus 16:2. in token that God being satisfied, admitteth his people to come into his presence. A figure of Christ, who after he had ostered himselfe, went up into heaven, to carry and present his Church before the face of God, which by Gods imputement is wholly comprehended in the two Jewells of his Priest-hood, which are his absolute justice and satisfaction. Now the names graven in the stones upon the shoulders, signifie the intercession of Christs merit: the stones upon the breast, 29. the intercession of his charity.

Exodus 28:14

At the ends] The chains must not be made in compasse, as the chains that are worne about ones neck; but must be like two pieces of a chain fastened to the two Oix stones, and comming down lower, must be hooked to the rings of the breast-plate, to hang that on: as likewise there were two other little chains hanged to the sides of the Breast-plate, which went upwards, and were hooked to two Rings of those Ouches, v. 22. Exodus 39:18.

Exodus 28:15

The breast-plate] This was a wrought piece laid over the Ephod, upon ones breast, and it was called of the judgement; because the Priest was to have it on, when he was in Gods name to answer upon doubtfull cases and secrets, as by the oracles of a supream sentence, Numbers 27:21. 1 Sam. 28. 6. and 30. 7. Ezra 2:63. Nehemiah 7:65. And this Breast-plate was as a signe of the gift of the Prophetick spirit: which God had promised to conferre upon that person in that act: See Malachi 2:7. John 11:50. And besides, it might be a figure of the manner how the Church is justified in Gods judgement; namely by Christs intercession, who is the everlasting Priest.

Exodus 28:16

Doubled] To be so much the stronger, to beare the stones, or ouches, made fast to it.

Exodus 28:24

Thou shalt put] And hang them to those rings.

Exodus 28:26

Upon the] That is to say below, for the other v. 25. were upon the upper sides, Inward] the brest plate was double, v. 16. therfore the hem, which was on that side that touched the Ephod, whereunto these rings were fastened, was called the inward hem.

Exodus 28:27

Underneath] The breast plate, Coupling] upon the hips, where the two squares of the Ephod did meet, and were fastened together, Girdle] of which see 8.

Exodus 28:29

When he] once a yeare, in the day of the attonements, Exodus 20:10. Leviticus 16:6.

Exodus 28:30

The Urim, and the Thummim] These two Hebrew words signifie lights, & perfections: It is not certainly known what it was, but it is manifest that it was not made by any of the workmen, Exodus 39:8. Leviticus 8:8. but put in by Moses: Whatsoever it was, it represented the two chief vertues that any servant of God can have, and especially Christs most perfect wisdome and justice, who by vertue of them presents the Church to God his Father, 1 Corinthians 1:30 The judgement] The breast plate was so called for the reasons specified above, v. 15 Upon his] To shew what affection the shepheards affection towards his flock should bee, and especially what an unspeakable charity, Christs charity towards his Church is.

Exodus 28:31

Of the Ephod] That is to say, upon which the Ephod must be applied and worn.

Exodus 28:33

Pomegranats] According to Josephus, they were flat of mbrodery work, mixed with bels sowed between them, upon the hem of the robe, and not hanging beneath it. Now these pomegranates and bels o seem to signifie the two indivisible qualities of a true shepheard, which are a sounding speech, and holy works: See Matthew 5:19. 2 Corinthians 6:6-7. And these bels were also to warne the people to second the priest with heart and mind in his sacred acts.

Exodus 28:35

He die not] For his disobediende; now this threat, representeth the condemnation of all those Pastors, which do faile in those fore said parts.

Exodus 28:36

Holinesse to the Lord] The Italian hath it, The Holinesse of the Lord] to shew us that the Churches perfect holinesse, remaines in Christ its head, Daniel 9:24. 1 Corinthians 1:30. Hebrews 7:26. And to teach all sacred ministers; to have God and his holinesse continually before their eyes.

Exodus 28:38

May beare] That is to say, may intercede, by this ceremony, between my people and me, that I may not punish the errors which they commit in my service. A figure of Christ, who with his most absolute justice, covereth all the defects of our good works which are still spotted with some 〈◊〉: S Leviticus 16:16. Isaiah 64:6. Hebrews 13:5. 1 Pet. 〈◊〉. 5 Alwayes] every time as he shall present himselfe before God to do his office.

Exodus 28:39

The coat] This was the first garment next to the body, reaching down to his heeles, made of two doubles of linnen cloth, backstitched together, as may be gathered by Josephus the historian: The miter] The coverture of his head, made, as it is supposed, like a turbant: The girdle] which according to Josephus, was foure fingers broad, and went twice about his body, & then hanged down to his feet.

Exodus 28:40

Coates] They were long linnen coates, for inferiour priests were fordidden to wear any woollen stuff in their garments, Ezekiel 44:17 Banets] they were caps made pointed:

Exodus 28:41

Consecrate them] The Hebrew hath it, fill their hands, because they used to consecrate them by putting of bloud on the outside of their hand, and certain parts of the sacrifices of consecrations in the palmes of their hands, Exodus 29:20; Exodus 29:24.

Exodus 28:42

Breeches] To eschew all danger of dishonest discovery, see Exodus 20:26.