Ver. 1. Take thou unto thee.] Christ also was “taken from among men,” (Hebrews 5:1) to mediate and negotiate man’s cause with God: and this honour he assumed not to himself, but it was given him from above. (Hebrews 5:5)
Ver. 2. For glory and for beauty.] Prodit Aaron a capite ad calcem, os humerosque Deo similis. The high priest was gloriously apparelled, to strike a religious reverence into the eyes and hearts of the beholders, and to set forth the beauty and bravery of Christ and his Church.
Ver. 3. That they may make, &c] Vides, in sacerdotibus nil plebeium reperiri, nil populare, saith Ambrose. Nothing in the priests but what was above the ordinary. The very workmen are to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom, to make their attire.
Ver. 4. An ephod.] Not that which was common to all priests, (1 Samuel 2:18,22:18) but peculiar to the high priest. See Exodus 28:6.
Ver. 5. And they shall take gold, and blue, &c.] The cloak of Alcisthenes the Sybarite (sold for one hundred and twenty talents), that parliament robe of Demetrius, king of Macedonia (which no prince after him would put on propter invidiosam impendii magnificentiam, for its stately costliness), were but rags to Aaron’s raiment. Athenaeus.
Ver. 6. The ephod of gold.] This the high priest only might wear; neither might any imitate it; for that was the fall of Gideon’s house. (Judges 8:26,27)
Ver. 9. Two onyx stones.] These signified Christ’s perpetual love to his people, and how precious they be to him.
Ver. 12. And Aaron shall bear their names.] To set forth Christ’s incessant intercession for all God’s Israel, even when his back seems turned upon them.
Ver. 14. Fasten. the wreathen chains.] These chains wherewith the breastplate and shoulder were tied, signified, saith one, the perfect contexture of all heavenly virtues adorning Christ’s humanity; as also that true faith whereby we are girded to him. Moses Unveiled.
Ver. 15. The breastplate of judgment.] So called because the priest was to put it on when he was to inquire and give sentence as from God. (Numbers 27:21)
Ver. 17. Four rows of stones.] According to the number and order of the twelve tribes encamping about God’s tabernacle. In all which rows, a very reverend writer hath well observed eight things:—(1.) The shining of the stones; pointing to the purity of Christ and his Church: (2.) Their price; of great value and worth; signifying what a price Christ valued his Church at: (3.) Their place or situation; they are set in the heart, and Aaron must carry them on his heart, signifying that Christ hath as much care of his Church, as if it were enclosed in his heart, -lets out his blood to make room in his heart for them: (4.) Their number; twelve; noting, that with Christ is plentiful redemption: (5.) Their order; they stood in a comely quadrangle; Christ hath stablished a comely order in his Church; and we must keep our ranks: (6.) The figure; the four square; signifying the stability and firmness of the Church; Satan and all deceivers shall not pick one stone out of Christ’s heart: (7.) Their use; that Aaron must bear them on his heart; signifying Christ’s ardent affection to his, and constant intercession for them: (8.) The quantity; as all the names of Israel were gathered into a narrow compass, so Christ shall “gather together into one all the dispersed sons of God,” and present them before God as the most beautiful and precious parts of the world. (John 11:52) Dr Taylor.
Ver. 30. The Urim and the Thummim.] A distinct thing from the stones and chains; made it was not by the artificers, but given by God to Moses, as were the two tables, and by him put into the breastplate. The very names of Urim and Thummim, -lights and perfections, -lead us to Christ, in whom is all fulness. In imitation of this Urim and Thummim, the high priest among the Egyptians is reported by Aelian to have worn about his neck a sapphire stone, which was called αληθεια, truth. When he goeth in before the Lord,] sc., To consult with God, who answered the priest by “voice.” (Numbers 7:89) Var, Hist., lib. 14. s. 34.
Ver. 31. The robe of the ephod.] Which signified the royal robe of Christ’s righteousness, reaching down to the feet, large enough to cover all our imperfections.
Ver. 32. That it be not rent.] To show that there should be no rents or schisms in the Church. (1 Corinthians 1:10,13 1 Timothy 1:3)
Ver. 33. Pomegranates of blue.] These hanging intermixed with bells, signified the sweet and comfortable effects of Christ’s doctrine; by which we come to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness, and “from his fulness to receive even grace for grace.” (John 1:16) Mr Jackson.
Ver. 34. A golden bell and a pomegranate.] Shadowing out, (1.) The prophetic office of Christ here, and his perpetual intercession in heaven: (2) The duty of ministers; which is, Vivere concionibus, concionari moribus: to live sermons, to be fruitful as well as painful teachers: not like him of whom it was said, that when he was out of the pulpit, it was pity he should ever go into it: and when he was in the pulpit, it was pity he should ever come out of it.
Ver. 35. And his sound shall be heard.] Necesse erat ut Pontifex totus vocalis ingrederetur sanctuarium, ne forte non audito sonitu, morte lueret silentium. A “dumb dog” is a child of death. (Isaiah 56:10) Ministers must be both able and “apt to teach” upon all occasions.
Ver. 36. HOLINESS TO THE LORD.] Hence it was not lawful for the high priest, say the Jews, to put off his bonnet to whomsoever he met, were he never so great a man; lest the name and glory of God, whose person he sustained, should seem to submit to any man.
Ver. 37. Upon the mitre.] Which had a holy crown with it, (Exodus 29:6) signifying the deity and dignity of Christ.
Ver. 38. That Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things.] Get the people’s pardon. This Christ did indeed for all his. (1 John 2:1,2)
Ver. 39. Embroider the coat.] See Revelation 1:13. Christ is clothed with such a robe, as king and counsellor of his Church.
Ver. 40. Coats] (1.) Linen garments for innocency; (2.) Girdles for constancy and stability; (3.) Bonnets for safety from the rage of Satan and his instrumants; (4.) Breeches, for comely reverance in God’s service.
Ver. 43. That they bear not the iniquity, and die,] sc., For not hiding their nakedness. See on Exodus 20:26.