Difference between revisions of "Ephod"

<p> 1. The ephod worn by the high priest. Minute instructions were given as to its construction. It was to be made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. The gold was beaten into thin plates and then cut into wires, which were woven into the fabric. Its GIRDLEwas also to be of the same materials with embroidered work. On the shoulders were fastened two stones, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, sixnames on each stone; so that whenever Aaron wore the ephod the twelve tribes were represented. We read also of the ROBE OF THE EPHOD,which was all of blue, and along the bottom of which were pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, with bells of gold between them. The robe was doubtless much longer than the ephod, which is supposed not to have reached the knees, and which was worn over the robe, and the BREASTPLATEover the ephod. There was also a broidered coat of fine linen; this was worn under the robe. These with the mitre constituted Aaron's garments 'for glory and for beauty.' &nbsp;Exodus 28:1-39 . Apparently the ordinary priestly garments worn by Aaron's sons are also said to be 'for glory and for beauty.' &nbsp;Exodus 28:40 . </p> <p> In the various textures of the ephod there are typified divine righteousness, heavenliness, royalty, dignity, and the graces of the Spirit: the virtues that characterised the Lord Jesus. Inseparably attached to the ephod was the breastplate, in which were the [[Urim]] and Thummim; thus in wearing the ephod the judgement of the children of [[Israel]] was borne before the Lord, according to His lights and perfections. Though not worn on ordinary occasions, it was required when directions were sought from God: cf. &nbsp;1 Samuel 21:9 . Thus receiving answers from God is also associated with the Urim and Thummim, which were placed in the breastplate. &nbsp;Exodus 28:28 : cf. &nbsp;Numbers 27:21; &nbsp;1 Samuel 28:6; &nbsp;Ezra 2:63; &nbsp;Nehemiah 7:65 . The word 'Ephod' is the same in the Hebrew, and is from 'to bind round or gird,' so that its meaning does not seem to go beyond 'a priestly garment.' &nbsp;Exodus 29:5; &nbsp;Exodus 35:9,27; &nbsp;Exodus 39:2-22; &nbsp;Leviticus 8:7; &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:28 . </p> <p> 2. Besides the above, which may be called <i> the </i> ephod, there were others whichthe priests wore, but which are not described. &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:3; &nbsp;1 Samuel 22:18; &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:6,9; &nbsp;1 Samuel 30:7; &nbsp;Hosea 3:4 . David, on the occasion of bringing up the ark, wore a linen ephod. &nbsp;2 Samuel 6:14; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 15:27 . Samuel also, when only a child, wore a linen ephod. &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:18 . In all the above passages the ephod bears the character of a priestly garment, though David was not of the tribe of Aaron. Type of the kingly [[Priest]] of the order of Melchisedec. </p> <p> 3. A strange deviation from the above was the ephod which [[Gideon]] made of the gold, the ornaments, and the purple raiment taken from the Midianites, after which all Israel went astray, and which became a snare to Gideon and his house. &nbsp; Judges 8:27 . Still worse was the case of Micah who, having a house of gods, made an ephod, and consecrated one of his sons to bepriest. A [[Levite]] coming to the house fell in with the whole arrangement, and pretended to inquire of God by the ephod. When the gods were stolen by the children of Dan, the Levite was glad to accompany the idols and the ephod, and to be a priest to this tribe. Thus was the priestly garment that should have been restricted to the service of [[Jehovah]] associated with idolatry. &nbsp;Judges 17:5; &nbsp;Judges 18:14-20 . </p>

<p> '''1.''' The high priest's vestment, with the breast-plate and Urim and Thrumhim (some material objects in the bag of the breast-plate, used for consulting Jehovah by casting lots: Speaker's Commentary; but (See HIGH PRIEST) in it. This [[Abiathar]] carried off from the tabernacle at Nob, and David consulted (&nbsp;1 Samuel 21:9; &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:6; &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:9; &nbsp;1 Samuel 30:7). The breast-plate, with its twelve precious stones, gave an importance to the ephod which led to its adoption in the idolatries of Gideon and Micah (&nbsp;Judges 8:27; &nbsp;Judges 17:5; &nbsp;Judges 18:14). </p> <p> The large amount of gold used by Gideon on his ephod was not the material of it, but the means wherewith he completed it; including the breast-plate (choshen ), the 12 precious stones, and the two for the shoulders, the gold thread throughout, and gold braid, and gold twist chains fastening the breast-plate upon the ephod, and lastly the price of the labor (&nbsp;Exodus 28:6-30). (See [[Gideon]] .) His aim was by wearing it to have a vehicle for inquiring the will of Jehovah, through the Urim and Thummim, the holy lot, and breast-plate. </p> <p> The ephod was also used, but without the breast-plate, by the ordinary priests, as their characteristic robe (&nbsp;1 Samuel 2:28; &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:3; &nbsp;1 Samuel 22:18; &nbsp;Hosea 3:4). David's ephod, in bringing the ark to Jerusalem, differed from the priests' in being of ordinary linen (baad ), whereas theirs was of fine linen (sheesh ). </p> <p> '''2.''' Father of Hanniel, head of Manasseh, assisted Joshua and [[Eleazar]] in apportioning [[Canaan]] (&nbsp;Numbers 34:23). </p>

<p> ' <em> Êphôd </em> (אֵפֹד, Strong'S #646), “ephod.” This word, which appears in [[Assyrian]] and (perhaps) Ugaritic, occurs 49 times in the biblical Hebrew, 31 times in the legal prescriptions of Exodus—Leviticus and only once in biblical poetry (Hos. 3:4). </p> <p> This word represents a close-fitting outer garment associated with worship. It was a kind of long vest, generally reaching to the thighs. The “ephod” of the high priest was fastened with a beautifully woven girdle (Exod. 28:27-28) and had shoulder straps set in onyx stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes. Over the chest of the high priest was the breastplate, also containing twelve stones engraved with the tribal names. [[Rings]] attached it to the “ephod.” The Urim and [[Thummin]] were also linked to the breastplate. </p> <p> Apparently, this “ephod” and attachments were prominently displayed in the sanctuary. David consulted the “ephod” to learn whether the people of Keilah would betray him to Saul (1 Sam. 23:9-12); no doubt the Urim and [[Thummim]] were used. The first biblical occurrence of the word refers to this high priestly ephod: “Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate” (Exod. 25:7). So venerated was this “ephod” that replicas were sometimes made (Judg. 8:27; 17:1-5) and even worshiped. [[Lesser]] priests (1 Sam. 2:28) and priestly trainees wore less elaborate “ephods” made of linen whenever they appeared before the altar. </p> <p> <em> ’Apuddah </em> means “ephod; covering.” This word is a feminine form of <em> 'êphôd </em> (or <em> 'ephod </em> ). The word occurs 3 times, first in Exod. 28:8: “And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of … gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.” </p>

<p> &nbsp;Exodus 25:7 (c) This garment represents part of that wardrobe described in &nbsp;Isaiah 61:10 as the "garments of salvation." It was on this garment that the twelve stones were set in the breastplate and fastened to the garment. It may represent that part of our [[Christian]] experience in which and through which we show forth the virtues of our Lord [[Jesus]] CHRIST. The ephod contained gold, blue, purple crimson and cotton. These colors and materials represent the various and glorious characteristics of our Lord JESUS, and are imparted and imputed to us when we are made children of GOD. On the shoulder pieces of this garment were two large stones on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, six on each stone. All of this refers in some way to our Lord JESUS who carries us on His shoulders and on His breast. </p>

<p> (Hebrews Ephod', אֵפֹד, an [[Ephod]] [q.v.]; Sept. Οὐφίδ v.r. Σουφί, Vulg. ''Ephod),'' the father of Hanniel, which latter, as head of the tribe of Manasseh, was one of the men appointed to assist Joshua and Eleazar in the apportionment of the land of Canaan (&nbsp;Numbers 34:23). B.C. ante 1618. </p>