Priestly Garments (priests, Moses, Leviticus, exodus, purification)

[nutshell]

I saw a reference to Priestly Garments when reading an article about the Holy Temple. I was wondering if any Jewish brethren might expand on this and explain what these garments are. Thanks for your insight.

Oh, and for reference, here's a link to what I was reading: http://www.beingjewish.com/unchanged/rebuild.html

[nutshell]

Does anyone want to comment on this???

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by nutshell

Does anyone want to comment on this???

It was the sabbath yesterday, and sunday has barely started. Give 'em time, nutshell.

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by nutshell

Does anyone want to comment on this???

They're talking about the laws regarding the high priest's garments.

The ceremonial of consecration, extending through an entire week (Ex. xxviii.; Lev. viii.), included certain rites which all priests were required to undergo: purification; the sacrifices; the "filling" of the hands; the smearing with blood. But Aaron the high priest was anointed with sacred oil, hence the title of the "anointed priest"; other passages have it that all priests were anointed (Ex. xxviii. 41, xxx. 30; Lev. vii. 36, x. 7; Num. iii. 3). The high priest's vestments of office, which he wore, during his ministrations, above those prescribed for the common priests, were: the "me'il," a sleeveless, purple robe, the lower hem of which was fringed with small golden bells alternating with pomegranate tassels in violet, red, purple, and scarlet; the Ephod, with two onyx-stones on the shoulder-piece, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel; the breastplate ("koshen"), with twelve gems, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes; a pouch in which he probably carried the Urim and Thummim. His Head-Dress was the "miknefet," a tiara, or, perhaps, a peculiarly wound turban, with a peak, the front of which bore a gold plate with the inscription "Holy unto YHWH." His girdle seems to have been of more precious material than that of the common priests.
The first consecration was performed by Moses; the Bible does not state who consecrated subsequent high priests. Lev. xxi. 10 states emphatically that every new high priest shall be anointed; and Ex. xxix. 29 et seq. commands that the official garments worn by his predecessor shall be worn by the new incumbent while he is anointed and during the seven days of his consecration (comp. Num. xx. 28; Ps. cxxxiii. 2).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen#His_Costume

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by Binyamin

They're talking about the laws regarding the high priest's garments.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen#His_Costume

The requirements for everyone else are found in Exodus chapter 28 and 29 and Leviticus chapter 6.

Originally Posted by Exodus 28

1. And you bring near to yourself your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel to serve Me [as kohanim]: Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
2. You shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for honor and glory.

3. And you shall speak to all the wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, and they shall make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, [so] that he serve Me [as a kohen].

4. And these are the garments that they shall make: a choshen, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checker work, a cap, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons to serve Me [as kohanim].

5. They shall take the gold, the blue, purple, and crimson wool, and the linen,

6. and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen, the work of a master weaver.

7. It shall have two connected shoulder straps at both its ends, and it shall be entirely connected.

8. And its decorative band, which is above it, shall be of the same work, [emanating] from it: gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen.

9. And you shall take two shoham stones and engrave upon them the names of the sons of Israel.

10. Six of their names on one stone and the names of the remaining six on the second stone, according to their births.

11. [Similar to] the work of an engraver of gems, [similar to] the engravings of a seal, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel; you shall make them enclosed in gold settings.

12. And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder straps of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall carry their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance.

13. You shall make settings of gold,

14. and two chains of pure gold you will make them attached to the edges, after the manner of cables, and you will place the cable chains upon the settings.

15. You shall make a choshen of judgment, the work of a master weaver. You shall make it like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen shall you make it.

16. It shall be square [and] doubled; its length one span and its width one span.

17. And you shall fill into it stone fillings, four rows of stones. One row: odem, pitdah, and bareketh; thus shall the one row be.

18. The second row: nofech, sappir, and yahalom.

19. The third row: leshem, shevo, and achlamah.

20. And the fourth row: tarshish, shoham, and yashpheh; they shall be set in gold in their fillings.

21. And the stones shall be for the names of the sons of Israel twelve, corresponding to their names; [similar to] the engravings of a seal, every one according to his name shall they be, for the twelve tribes.

22. You shall make for the choshen chains at the edges, of cable work, of pure gold.

23. You shall make for the choshen two golden rings, and you shall place the two rings on the two ends of the choshen,

24. and you shall place the two golden cables on the two rings, at the ends of the choshen.

25. And the two ends of the two cables you shall place upon the two settings, and [these] you shall place upon the shoulder straps of the ephod, on its front part.

26. You shall make two golden rings, and you shall place them on the two ends of the choshen, on its edge that is toward the inner side of the ephod.

27. And you shall make two golden rings and place them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod, from below, toward its front, adjacent to its seam, above the band of the ephod.

28. And they shall fasten the choshen by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it may be upon the band of the ephod, and the choshen will not move off the ephod.

29. Thus shall Aaron carry the names of the sons of Israel in the choshen of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy, as a remembrance before the Lord at all times.

30. You shall place the Urim and the Tummim into the choshen of judgment so that they will be over Aaron's heart when he comes before the Lord, and Aaron will carry the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord at all times.

31. And you shall make the robe of the ephod completely of blue wool.

32. Its opening at the top shall be turned inward; its opening shall have a border around it, the work of a weaver. It shall have [an opening] like the opening of a coat of armor; it shall not be torn.

33. And on its bottom hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson wool, on its bottom hem all around, and golden bells in their midst all around.

34. A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, on the bottom hem of the robe, all around.

35. It shall be on Aaron when he performs the service, and its sound shall be heard when he enters the Holy before the Lord and when he leaves, so that he will not die.

36. And you shall make a showplate of pure gold, and you shall engrave upon it like the engraving of a seal: Holy to the Lord."

37. And you shall place it upon a cord of blue wool and it shall go over the cap, and it shall be opposite the front side of the cap.

38. It shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things that the children of Israel sanctify, for all their holy gifts. It shall be upon his forehead constantly to make them favorable before the Lord.

39. You shall make the linen tunic of checker work, and you shall make a linen cap; and you shall make a sash of embroidery work.

40. For Aaron's sons you shall make tunics and make them sashes, and you shall make them high hats for honor and glory.

41. With these you shall clothe Aaron, your brother, and his sons along with him, and you shall anoint them and invest them with full authority and sanctify them so that they may serve Me [as kohanim].

42. And make for them linen pants to cover the flesh of [their] nakedness; they shall reach from the waist down to the thighs.

43. They shall be worn by Aaron and by his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy, so they will not bear iniquity and die. It shall be a perpetual statute for him and for his descendants after him.

You can look up the other chapters.

[nutshell]

^^^^

Thanks for the reference. So, Priestly Garments are not currently worn by Jews because, currently, there is no temple? If there was a temple, however, this practice would continue?

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by nutshell

^^^^

Thanks for the reference. So, Priestly Garments are not currently worn by Jews because, currently, there is no temple? If there was a temple, however, this practice would continue?

Yes, although I heard that they still make the garments so the knowledge of the requirements of them doesn't disapear. Same with animal sacrifice. I've heard that people still practice how it is done, so the art isn't lost. Although I read somewhere that they have started making thousands of priestly garments since Moshiach is coming soon.

[Avi]

Originally Posted by Binyamin

Yes, although I heard that they still make the garments so the knowledge of the requirements of them doesn't disapear. Same with animal sacrifice. I've heard that people still practice how it is done, so the art isn't lost. Although I read somewhere that they have started making thousands of priestly garments since Moshiach is coming soon.

Where did you hear that the Meshiach is coming soon?

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by Avi

Where did you hear that the Meshiach is coming soon?

I'm assuming you have heard of Rabbi Schneersohn?