Lesson #14

The Priesthood
(Exodus 28: 1 31: 18)
In Lesson #13 God gave the blueprints for building the Tabernacle, a
physical structure that provides a sinful people access to an infinitely
holy God.

Beginning with the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies we
worked outward in concentric circles to the Holy Place, observing the
Altar of Incense, Table of Showbread and Menorah; from the Holy
Place we viewed the acacia-wood frames overlaid with pure gold, the
silver sockets, the linen curtains embroidered with violet, purple and
scarlet yarn and the 4-layer coverings of the tent; once in the
courtyard we saw the Bronze Altar, its utensils and the Wash Basin;
and finally, we viewed the acacia-wood posts, with their bronze
bottoms and silver tops supporting the linen curtains that provide the
perimeter of the courtyard.


















Most importantly, we
learned that the
Tabernacle is not simply
a tent erected in the
desert; it is a copy and
shadow of the genuine
Tabernacle which is in
heaven.

















The Tabernacle


















As the Tabernacle is a physical structure that enables a sinful people to gain
access to an infinitely holy God, so the priest is the mediator between a
sinful people and a holy God. A priest by definition stands between the
people and God, and he speaks to God on behalf of the people, ministering
at the altar on their behalf.
In Lesson #14 God appoints Moses brother Aaron as high priest and Aarons
sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar as priests.

In Israel priests are drawn solely from the tribe of Levi. In Judaism one
cannot feel called to be a priest, aspire to be a priest or study to be a
priest: one is born a priestor not. The Jewish priesthood is purely
hereditary.
As the earthly Tabernacle is a copy and shadow of the genuine Tabernacle
which is in heaven, so is the Levitical priesthood a copy and shadow of our
great High Priest, Christ, who is seated at the right hand of the Father,
speaking to him on our behalf and ministering at the genuine altar in heaven,
offering his own body and blood as sacrifice, once and for all.







Aaron, the High Priest
















Turban

Golden Plate (Sacred to the Lord)

Breastpiece

Embroidered Belt

Ephod

Linen Breeches (Undergarment)

Robe

Golden Bells & Pomegranates

Brocade Tunic


Aaron, the High Priest
















Onyx Stones

Breastpiece

Embroidered Belt



Ephod





























Get two onyx stones and engrave on them the
names of the sons of Israel . . . (28: 9).










Thus, Aaron shall bear their names on his shoulders as a
reminder before the Lord (28: 12).























The breastpiece of decision you shall also have made,
embroidered like the ephod . . . (28: 15).









Whenever Aaron enters the sanctuary, he will thus bear the names of the
sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart . . . (28: 29).
As Robert Alter observes, It is virtually impossible to determine precisely
what precious stones are referred to in this list of twelve terms. We can do
little more than revel in the gorgeousness of the words . . .. We encounter
another list of twelve stones in the book of Revelation, stones that decorate
the foundations of the city wall in the New Jerusalem.

Exodus 28: 17-20 Revelation 21: 19-20
Carnelian Jasper
Topaz Sapphire
Emerald Chalcedony
Garnet Emerald
Sapphire Sardonyx
Beryl Carnelian
Jacinth Chrysolite
Agate Beryl
Amethyst Topaz
Chrysolite Chrysoprase
Onyx Hyacinth
Jasper Amethyst


















In the book of Revelation the New Jerusalem has twelve gates, each
named after one of the twelve tribes of Israel; its foundation has twelve
courses of stone, each named after one of the twelve Apostles. And, of
course, the twelve foundation stones are decorated with the twelve
precious stones mentioned above. Each gate is made of a single pearl; the



















Kevin Berlin. La nouvelle Jerusalem (tapestry, based on
14
th
century original), 2006. Private Collection.
city gleamed with the
splendor of God, like
jasper, clear as
crystal; the streets are
gold; and the glory of
God illuminates the
city, giving it light.
Such lapidary splendor
recalls and magnifies
the Tabernacle and the
jewel-encrusted breast
of the High Priest.























In this breastpiece of decision you shall put the Urim and
Thummim that they may be over Aarons heart whenever he
enters the presence of the Lord (28: 30).









If the blame for this resides in me or my son Jonathan, Lord, God of Israel, respond with
Urim; but if the guilt is in your people Israel, respond with Thummim. Jonathan and Saul
were designated, and the people went free (1 Samuel 14: 41).
[Urim]
[Thummim]
Aaron, the High Priest




















Robe of the Ephod








Golden Bells & Pomegranates





























At the hem at the bottom you shall make pomegranates, woven in violet,
purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen twined, with golden bells between
them; a golden bell, a pomegranate, a golden bell, a pomegranate, all
around the hem of the robe (28: 15).































You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, as on a seal
engraving, Sacred to the Lord. This plate is to be tied over the turban with a
violet ribbon in such a way that it rests on the front of the turban (28: 36).









Aaron, the High Priest
















Turban






Embroidered Belt

Linen Breeches (Undergarment)






Brocaded Tunic


































Consecration of Aaron and His Sons, Holy Bible (illustrated).
Philadelphia: A.J. Holman & Company, 1890.
































Bezalel and Oholiab Making the Ark of the Covenant, Biblia Germanica (colored
woodcut). Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 1483.

1. God appoints Aaron and his sons as priests. What do
their jobs entail?
2. What do the two onyx stones on Aarons shoulders and
the twelve precious stones on his breastpiece signify?
3. During Aaron and his sons consecration they are to offer
three animal sacrifices. What are they and what do they
signify?
4. Everyone who is enrolled among the twelve tribes of
Israel, 20 years old and over, must pay God a ransom for
his life (30: 12). How much does a rich man pay? How
much does a poor man pay?
5. Who are the two men God appoints as chief craftsmen to
build the Tabernacle?




Copyright 2014 by William C. Creasy
All rights reserved. No part of this courseaudio, video,
photography, maps, timelines or other mediamay be
reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage or retrieval devices without permission in
writing or a licensing agreement from the copyright holder.

[All Tabernacle illustrations in these lectures are taken from:
Paul F. Kiene. The Tabernacle of God in the Wilderness of Sinai,
trans. by John S, Crandall. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1977. Used by permission.]