The Holy Garments For Aaron (An article by Braxton Hodgin)

AUGUST 1, 2023

 “And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. … And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.” (Exodus 39:2, 6-14)

We find in this glorious chapter holy instructions given to Moses by God about how to make the holy garments for Aaron the high priest. We know the high priest of Israel was a type of our heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14 says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…” Knowing this, there is much we can learn about our Savior by looking at all which pertained to the high priestly office of old. The main role given to those that held this office was to make atonement for the sins of the people, exactly as the Lord commanded. Once a year, the high priest would enter the second part of the temple, which is called “the holiest of all,” with blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. We read in Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Atonement means At-One-Ment. Our sins have separated us from our God, and in order for us to be reconciled to Him and enjoy sweet fellowship, atonement must be made, which could only be done by the shedding of blood. This work, given to the high priest of old, was only temporary, and pointed to the perfect and eternal work of our great, heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” When we read that our hearts should shout for joy!

Now let us look at our present passage as we try to unfold the unsearchable riches of Christ. Aaron, the high priest of Israel, had holy garments made specifically for him and his office. Two main parts of his garments were the ephod and the breastplate. Both of these pieces were beautiful and glorious to look at. They were both made of cunning work, of gold, blue and purple, and scarlet and fine twined linen (vs. 3, 8). But notice what was placed on both pieces.

Verses six and seven say, “And they wrought onyx stones enclosed in ouches of gold, graven as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.” We see here that the high priest of old would carry the names of the children of Israel upon his shoulders everywhere he went, but this is especially significant as it pertains to his work of atonement as he entered into the holy of holies. Not only did Aaron carry the names of the children of Israel on his shoulders, but they were also placed upon his breastplate. As we see each stone in vs. 10-13 and then read in vs. 14, “And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his names, according to the twelve tribes.” The high priest, carrying these names upon his shoulders and placed upon his heart, could not forget those for whom he was making atonement, as it is with our heavenly High Priest.

Jesus came to fulfill a specific work given Him of the Father; atonement for our sins. There were certain ones He came to redeem that were given to Him from the Father. John 6:39 says, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” There was a specific people that Jesus came to make atonement for, the names of which He carried upon His shoulders, and had written upon His heart. These names, given unto Him by the Father, He made full atonement for and would lose none of them. We read in Isaiah 49:15-16, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Jesus, as our Great High Priest ever liveth, making intercession for us. We are ever before Him and never forgotten. Even now, Jesus bears the scars in His hands and feet, which were pierced on our behalf and for our sins.