Ch. 28-30

Pgs. 535-545

XXVIII. And thou, bring near to thee Aharon thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister before Me: Aharon, Nadab, and Abihu, Elazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon. And thou shalt make garments of holiness for Aharon thy brother, for glory and for praise. And thou shalt speak with all who are wise of heart, and whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make the vestments of Aharon to consecrate him to minister before Me. And these are the vestments they shall make: the breastplate and ephoda, and the robe, and the embroidered tunics, the mitres and girdles; and they shall make the holy garments for Aharon thy brother, and for his sons, to minister before Me. And they shall take from their treasures gold, and hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen. And they shall male the ephod of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, twined, the work of the artificer. Two shoulder (pieces) shall it have, conjoined to its two sides, and (so) it shall be united. And the ornamented girdle which is to be upon it shall be of the same work; of gold, hyacinth, purple, and crimson, and fine twined linen, shall it be. And thou shalt take two gems of onyx, and engrave upon them the names of the sons of Israel. Six of their names shall be engraven upon one gem, and the six remaining names upon the second gem; they shall be set in the order of their nativity. The engraved gems shall be the work of the artificer, engraven, and the engraving be distinct as the engraving of a ring; thou shalt engrave the two gems according to the names of the sons of Israel in their work round about; inset in gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt fix the two gems upon the shoulders of the ephod, to be set for a memorial of righteousness for the sons, of Israel; and Aharon shall bear the names of the sons of Israel upon his two shoulders for a memorial. And thou shalt make the sockets of gold. And two chains of pure gold, measured shalt thou make them, of twisted work, and insert the twisted chains in the sockets. [JERUSALEM. Chains.]

And thou shalt make the BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT, by which are made known the judgments that are hidden from the judges; and the order of the victories of their battles, and amends that are made for the judges; the work of the artificer; as the work of the ephod, thou shalt make it; of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen twined, thou shalt make it. Square shall it be, doubled; a span its length, and a span its breadth. [JERUSALEM. A handsbreadth.] And thou shalt fill it with a fulness of precious stones: four rows of precious gems, answering to the four regions of the world. The first row, carnelian, topaz, carbuncle; and on them shall be engraven and expressed the names of the tribes Reuben, Shemeon, and Levi. [JERUSALEM. And thou shalt fill it with a filling of stones, four rows of precious stone; the first row, carnelian, and topaz, and carbuncle; written with expression upon it (shall be) the name of the three tribes, Reuben, Shemeon, Levi.] And the name of the second row, smaragd, and sapphire and chalcedony; and upon them shall be engraven and expressed the names of the three tribes, Jehuda, Dan, and Naphtali. And the name of the third row, ligure, and agate, and amethyst; and upon them shall be written and expressed the names of three tribes, Gad, and Asher, and Issakar. And the name of the fourth row, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper; and upon them shall be written and expressed the names of three tribes, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin. Set in gold shall they be, in their completeness. [JERUSALEM. And the second row, carbuncle, and sapphire, and amethyst; in writing expressed upon them, the name of the three tribes, Jehudah, Issakar, and Zebulon. And third row, ligure, and beryl, and smaragd; written expressly upon them (shall be) the name of the three tribes, Dan, Naphtali, and Gad. And the fourth row, chrysolite, bdellium, and margelite.[1] Written expressly upon them shall be the name of the three tribes, Asher, Joseph, and Benjamin: socketed in gold shall they be, in their completeness.] And the jewels shall be taken according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve are they according to their names, engraven and set forth as the engraving of a ring; the gem of each man according to his name: (so) shall they be for the twelve tribes.

And thou shalt make upon the breastplate measured chains of twisted work of pure gold, and shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of pure gold, and put the two rings upon the two sides of the breastplate. And thou shalt put the two golden chains upon the two rings in the sides of the breastplate, and the two chains which are upon the two sides thou shalt put upon the two sockets, and set on the shoulders of the ephod against its front. And thou shalt make two golden rings, and fix them upon the two sides of the breastplate, in the border of it which is on the edge of the ephod inwardly. And thou shalt make (likewise) two golden chains, and fix them upon the two shoulders of the ephod beneath, towards its front, towards the place of its conjoinment above the girdle of the ephod; and they shall unite the breastplate with its rings to the rings of the ephod, with twined ribbon, of hyacinth, to be joined upon the girdle of the ephod, that the breastplate may not be removed from the ephod. And Aharon shall bear the names of the sons of Israel upon his heart what time he entereth into the sanctuary for a good memorial before the Lord continually.

And thou shalt put upon the breastplate of judgment the Uraia, which illuminate their words, and manifest the hidden things of the house of Israel, and the Tumaia, which fulfil (or perfect) their work to the high priest, who seeketh instruction by them before the Lord; because in them is engraven and expressed the Great and Holy Name by which were created the three hundred and ten worlds, and which was engraven and expressed in the foundation stone wherewith the Lord of the world sealed up the mouth of the great deep at the beginning. Whosoever remembereth that holy name in the hour of necessity shall be delivered. And they shall be upon Aharon's heart in the time that he entereth before the Lord; and Aharon shall bear the judgment of the sons of Israel before the Lord continually.

And thou shalt make the mantle‑robe (mintar meila) of the ephod, of twined thread of hyacinth; and an orifice shall be in the middle of its upper part; a border shall be upon its opening round about its orifice, the work of the sewer; as the orifice of a coat of mail it shall be, that it may not be rent. [JERUSALEM. And an orifice shall be in the middle of its head; a border shall surround the orifice, the work of the sewer; like the opening of a coat of mail shall it be, that it be not torn.] And thou shalt make upon the hem of it pomegranates of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, upon its hem, round about, and bells of gold among them round about. A golden bell, and a pomegranate of hyacinth and crimson; a golden bell, and a pomegranate of hyacinth and crimson upon the border of the robe round about; their number, seventy and one. And it shall be a vestment upon Aharon to minister, and its voice shall be heard at the time that he hath entered the holy place before the Lord, and at the time that he cometh out, that he die not by the flaming fire.

And thou shalt make a plate (or crown) of pure gold, and engrave upon it with distinct engraving, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a twined ribbon of hyacinth, to make amends for boldness of face; and it shall be on the mitre above the tephillin of the head in front of the mitre shall it be. And it shall be in the front of Aharon's forehead, from time to time as it comes; and Aharon shall bear the iniquity of the consecrated things which the sons of Israel may consecrate; even of all their sacred gifts in which they have been insincere. And it shall be upon the front continually, for their reconciliation before the Lord. And thou shalt weave the tunic of fine linen to expiate for the shedding of innocent blood; and shalt make the tiara of fine linen to expiate for the pride of their thoughts; and the girdle shalt thou make of the work of the embroiderer. And for the sons of Aharon thou shalt make tunics, and girdles, and mitres, for glory and for praise. And with them thou shalt invest Aharon thy brother, and his sons with him, and anoint them, that they may offer their oblations; and sanctify them to minister before Me. And thou shalt make for them under‑garments of fine linen to cover the flesh of their shame; from the girt of the girdle of their loins unto their thighs they shall be. [JERUSALEM. Drawers of fine linen.] And they shall be upon Aharon and upon his sons at the time when they enter the tabernacle of testimony, or when they approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary, that they may not receive the punishment of flaming fire. This is an everlasting statute for him and for his sons after him.

XXIX. And this is the thing that thou shalt do to them to sanctify them, that they may serve before Me. Take one bullock, the young of a bullock, without spot; and two rams, unblemished (perfect); and unleavened bread, and unleavened cakes, mingled with olive oil; and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with olive oil, and with flour of wheat shalt thou make them. And thou shalt put them upon one basket, and offer them in the basket, and the bullock and the two rams they shall bring in a vehicle. And Aharon and his two sons thou shalt bring near to the door of the tabernacle of testimony, and wash them, in four measures of living water. And thou shalt take the vestments, and clothe Aharon with the tunic, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him (or ordain him) with the girdle of the ephod. And thou shalt set the mitre on his head, and put the diadem upon which is engraven the Name of Holiness upon the mitre. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head and anoint him. And thou shalt bring his sons near, and dress them in the tunics, and indue (ordain) them with the girdles, Aharon and his sons, and wrap on them the mitres; and the priesthood shall be theirs by an everlasting statute.

And thou shalt offer the oblation of Aharon, and the oblation of his sons. And thou shalt bring the bullock before the tabernacle of ordinance, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock, and thou shalt kill the bullock before the door of the tabernacle of ordinance; and take of the blood of the bullock, and put (it) on the horns of the altar with thy finger, and all the (remaining) blood thou shalt pour out at the foot of the altar. And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and what remaineth upon the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat which is upon them, and set them in order upon the altar. And the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, thou shalt burn with fire without the camp; it is a sin offering. And the one ram thou shalt take, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. And thou shalt kill the ram, and take his blood and sprinkle on the altar round about. And the ram shalt thou divide according to his members (dividings), and wash his inwards and his legs, and set them in order upon his members, and upon his head. [JERUSALEM. And the ram thou shalt divide according to his divisions, and shalt cleanse his inwards and his legs, and lay them upon his divided parts, upon his head.] And thou shalt offer the whole ram upon the altar, it is a holocaust before the Lord to be accepted with favour, an oblation it is before the Lord. And thou shalt take the second ram, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram. And thou shalt kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put upon the tip[2] of Aharon's right ear, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hands, and upon the toe of their right feet, and pour the rest of the blood upon the altar round about.

And thou shalt take of the blood which is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and drop it upon Aharon, and upon his vestments, and on his sons, and on his sons' vestments with him. And thou shalt take of the ram, the fat and the tail, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and which remaineth upon the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, for it is the ram of the oblation; and one round of bread, and one cake of bread mingled with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread which is before the Lord; and thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aharon and upon the hands of his sons, and shalt uplift them for an elevation before the Lord. And thou shalt take them from their hands, and set them in order upon the altar upon the burnt offering, to be received with acceptance before the Lord: it is an oblation before the Lord. And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aharon's oblation, and uplift it, an elevation before the Lord, and it shall be thy portion. [JERUSALEM. The breast.] And thou shalt consecrate the breast of the elevation and the shoulder of the separation, which have been uplifted and separated from the ram of the oblation from the hand of Aharon and from the hand of his sons. And it shall be for Aharon and for his sons by a perpetual statute for the sons of Israel; because it is a separation, and a separation it shall be from the sons of Israel from the offerings of their consecration, their separation before the Lord. And the holy vestments of Aharon shall be to his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and in them to offer their oblations. Seven days shall the priest wear them, who ariseth after him from his sons, but not from the Levites, at the time when he entereth into the tabernacle of ordinance to minister in the sanctuary.

And thou shalt take the ram of the oblation, and boil its flesh in the holy place; and Aharon and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance. And they shall eat those things by which atonemen, was made for them in offering their oblations to sanctify them to minister before Me: but the profane shall not eat; for they are holy. And if any of the flesh of the oblation and of the bread remain until the morning, thou shalt burn that which remaineth with fire; it shall not be eaten; for it is sacred. And thus thou shalt do to Aharon and to his sons according to all that I have prescribed to thee; seven days thou shalt offer their oblation. And a bullock for a sin offering thou shalt offer daily for atonement, and shalt anoint the altar in offering the atonement upon it; thou shalt anoint it, to consecrate it. Seven days make thou atonement upon the altar to consecrate it; and it shall be the altar of the Holy of Holies. Every one of the sons of Aharon who approacheth to the altar must be holy; to the rest of the people it is not lawful to approach, lest they be burned with the fiery flame which cometh from the holy place.

And this is the oblation which thou shalt perform upon the altar; two lambs of one year, daily, evermore. The one lamb thou shalt perform in the morning; and the second lamb thou shalt perform between the evenings. And the tenth of flour mingled with oil of olives beaten; (with) the fourth of a hina, and the libation of a fourth of a hina for the one lamb. And the second lamb thou shalt perform between the evenings: it shall be as the mincha of the morning, and as the libation thou shalt do it, to be received with acceptance, an oblation before the Lord; a perpetual holocaust for your generations at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance before the Lord; where I will appoint My Word to (meet) thee there, to speak with thee there. And there I will appoint My Word (to meet) with the sons of Israel, and I will be sanctified in their rulers for My glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of ordinance and the altar; and Aharon and his sons will I sanctify to minister before Me: and My Shekinah shall dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel, and I will be their God. And the sons of Israel shall know that I am their God, who led them out free from the land of Mizraim to make My Shekinah dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

XXX. And thou shalt make an altar on which to burn incense of perfumes: of sitta wood shalt thou make it. A cubit its length, and a cubit its breadth; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits its height: and its upright horns shall be of it. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, its top, and its wall round about, and its horns; and make for it a border of gold round about. And two golden rings make thou for it beneath its border at the two corners, thou shalt make upon its two sides, to be the place for the staves by which it may be carried. And thou shalt make the staves of sitta wood, and cover them with gold. And thou shalt place it before the veil which is over the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, where I will appoint My Word to be with thee. And Aharon shall burn sweet incense upon it from morning to morning: when he ordereth the lamps, be shall burn it. And when Aharon kindleth the lamps between the evenings, he shall burn sweet incense perpetually before the Lord in your generations. Thou shalt not offer thereon the sweet incense of strange peoples, nor offer upon it burnt offerings, or minchas, nor pour libations. And Aharon shall expiate upon its horns once in the year with the blood of the sin offering for an expiation: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it on the day of atonement in your generations: it shall be most holy before the Lord.