Exodus 28 -- Instructions for Priest

Exodus 28:1 “Have your brother Aaron, with his sons, come to you from the Israelites to serve Me as priest—Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and beauty. 3 You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve Me as priest. 4 These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests. 5 They should use gold; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; and fine linen.

We know that the Levites are the priests of the Israelites.  So, Aaron and his family, as well as Moses were Levites.  We know this from the first chapter of Exodus.  The priests were the ones who were allowed to come before God.  They could be in His presence.  The people had to bring their sacrifices to the priests of the temple and correctly perform the sacrifices.  They could not do the sacrifices themselves.  Today, Christ is our priest.  We go through Him to reach God.  We, as ourselves, cannot go before God because we are unholy and are sinners, but through Christ, the perfect, sinless son of God, we can come before God.  Once we are saved, God will look on us and see Christ.

Exodus 28:6 “They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7 It must have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges so that it can be joined together. 8 The artistically woven waistband that is on the ephod must be of one piece, according to the same workmanship of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. 9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons: 10 six of their names on the first stone and the remaining six names on the second stone, in the order of their birth. 11 Engrave the two stones with the names of Israel’s sons as a gem cutter engraves a seal. Mount them, surrounded with gold filigree settings. 12 Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the Lord as a reminder. 13 Fashion gold filigree settings 14 and two chains of pure gold; you will make them of braided cord work, and attach the cord chains to the settings.

The ephod was to be made with embroidery of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn.  These colors were often expensive and hard to come by.  People who wore such colors were often rich or powerful.  The priests were to be adorned with fine clothing when they were in the presence of the Lord.  Every piece of the ephod, from the shoulder pieces to the waistband, were to have this excellent craftsmanship. 

Exodus 28:15 “You are to make an embroidered breastpiece for making decisions. Make it with the same workmanship as the ephod; make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. 16 It must be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. 17 Place a setting of gemstones on it, four rows of stones:
The first row should be
a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald;
18 the second row,
a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19 the third row,
a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20 and the fourth row,
a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.
They should be adorned with gold filigree in their settings. 21 The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.

So each of the 12 tribes were to have their names inscribed into one of the stones.  I would guess that they would have been in birth order since they had been instructed to do the names of the stones in birth order on the previous stones for the shoulder pieces of the ephod.

Exodus 28:22 “You are to make braided chains of pure gold cord work for the breastpiece. 23 Fashion two gold rings for the breastpiece and attach them to its two corners. 24 Then attach the two gold cords to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece. 25 Attach the other ends of the two cords to the two filigree settings, and in this way attach them to the ephod’s shoulder pieces in the front. 26 Make two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. 27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam, and above the ephod’s woven waistband. 28 The craftsmen are to tie the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the ephod’s waistband and does not come loose from the ephod.

Can you imagine how heavy this garment must have been?  All that cloth and emproidery, not to mention the stones and gold settings.  I would imagine the gold was nearly pure, since that would be the highest quality.  Gold is heavy.  Lots of fabric and yarn is heavy.

Exodus 28:29 “Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord. 30 Place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece for decisions, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the Lord. Aaron will continually carry the means of decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. 31 “You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue yarn. 32 There should be an opening at its top in the center of it. Around the opening, there should be a woven collar with an opening like that of body armor so that it does not tear. 33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn on its lower hem and all around it. Put gold bells between them all the way around, 34 so that gold bells and pomegranates alternate around the lower hem of the robe. 35 The robe must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the Lord and when he exits, so that he does not die.

I would imagine that the blue would be a deep rich blue color.  Not pale or light.   Why pomegranates?  I know they can be a sign or symbol for fertility, but why on the robes for the priests? 

Exodus 28:36 “You are to make a pure gold medallion and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal:  HOLY TO THE LORD. 37 Fasten it to a cord of blue yarn so it can be placed on the turban; the medallion is to be on the front of the turban. 38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the guilt connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate as all their holy gifts. It is always to be on his forehead, so that they may find acceptance with the Lord. 39 “You are to weave the tunic from fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make an embroidered sash. 40 Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons to give them glory and beauty. 41 Put these on your brother Aaron and his sons; then anoint, ordain, and consecrate them, so that they may serve Me as priests. 42 Make them linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; they must extend from the waist to the thighs. 43 These must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary area, so that they do not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and for his future descendants.

Exodus 27 -- Instructions 3

Exodus 27:1 “You are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7½ feet long, and 7½ feet wide; it must be 4½ feet high. 2 Make horns for it on its four corners; the horns are to be of one piece. Overlay it with bronze. 3 Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; make all its utensils of bronze. 4 Construct a grate for it of bronze mesh, and make four bronze rings on the mesh at its four corners. 5 Set it below, under the altar’s ledge, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar. 6 Then make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. They are to make it just as it was shown to you on the mountain.

I noticed something while reading this.  In earlier chapters, the acacia wood is covered in gold, but here it is covered in bronze.  The items and structures located in the center of the temple, where God would keep his presence was adorned with more costly and precious materials, while the things and areas around the inner sanctuary were made of less expensive materials.  God deserves to be surrounded by what is pure and precious.  He is God.  We, as sinners, should not deserve the finer things, thus the less luxurious surroundings for the common areas where man would be.

Exodus 27:9 “You are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make the hangings on the south of the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet long on that side. 10 There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts must be silver. 11 Then make the hangings on the north side 150 feet long. There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts must be silver. 12 Make the hangings of the courtyard on the west side 75 feet long, including their 10 posts and 10 bases. 13 Make the hangings of the courtyard on the east side toward the sunrise 75 feet. 14 Make the hangings on one side of the gate 22½ feet, including their three posts and their three bases. 15 And make the hangings on the other side 22½ feet, including their three posts and their three bases. 16 The gate of the courtyard is to have a thirty-foot screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It is to have four posts including their four bases.  17 “All the posts around the courtyard are to be banded with silver and have silver hooks and bronze bases. 18 The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feet, the width 75 feet at each end, and the height 7½ feet, all of it made of finely spun linen. The bases of the posts must be bronze. 19 All the tools of the tabernacle for every use and all its tent pegs as well as all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze

Another thing I noticed was the order in which the parts of the temple were told to be built.  God starts with the inner temple and the items that would be in his presence.  He then moves to the areas for the priest then to the more common areas.

Exodus 27:20 “You are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning continually. 21 In the tent of meeting outside the veil that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites throughout their generations.

The priest were to attend to the lamps from evening until morning.  During the dark of the night, the lamps were to be kept burning.  Just like the lamps of the temple were to be kept lit during the darkness of the night, we, as Christians are to be the light that shines in the darkness of the world.  We are to be pure, like the oil, so we can shine forth the glory of Christ.  We are to live as Christ would.  We are to do what is good and right, especially when everything around us seems evil and bent towards destruction.

Exodus 26 -- Instruction 2

I'm still trying to get back into my daily readings.  I wish I would not get preoccupied with other, less important things.

Exodus 26:1 “You are to construct the tabernacle itself with 10 curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. 2 The length of each curtain should be 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; all the curtains are to have the same measurements. 3 Five of the curtains should be joined together, and the other five curtains joined together. 4 Make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the last curtain in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5 Make 50 loops on the one curtain and make 50 loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops line up together. 6 Also make 50 gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single unit.

The Lord is being very specific about the furnishings that are to be in the tabernacle.  I do not know the meanings behind most of the things in these chapters, so I have looked at some commentaries.  These curtains were inside the tabernacle and were made of rich and fine linen and have images of cherubim on them.

Exodus 26:7 “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make 11 of these curtains. 8 The length of each curtain should be 45 feet and the width of each curtain six feet. All 11 curtains are to have the same measurements. 9 Join five of the curtains by themselves, and the other six curtains by themselves. Then fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. 10 Make 50 loops on the edge of the one curtain, the outermost in the first set, and make 50 loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain of the second set. 11 Make 50 bronze clasps; put the clasps through the loops and join the tent together so that it is a single unit. 12 As for the flap that is left over from the tent curtains, the leftover half curtain is to hang down over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The half yard on one side and the half yard on the other of what is left over along the length of the tent curtains should be hanging down over the sides of the tabernacle on either side to cover it. 14 Make a covering for the tent from ram skins dyed red and a covering of manatee skins on top of that.

Here these curtains are made of common materials, like goats hair and skin.  I bet a lot of the common tents were made from these.  These seem to be (according to commentaries) surrounding the finer curtains mentioned above.  This tabernacle is here God would dwell with his people.  The inner curtains, surrounded with angels was made fit for the presence of God but having the fine materials and angelic patterns.  In the last chapter we learn that the mercy seat was to have cherubim covering it as well.  The cherubim not only surround God on the mercy seat, but also in the tabernacle itself.  The goats skin curtains were to protect the finer linens of the inside of the tabernacle for the elements so that the finer curtains would not be ruined.

Exodus 26:15 “You are to make upright planks of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 16 The length of each plank is to be 15 feet, and the width of each plank 27 inches. 17 Each plank must be connected together with two tenons. Do the same for all the planks of the tabernacle. 18 Make the planks for the tabernacle as follows: 20 planks for the south side, 19 and make 40 silver bases under the 20 planks, two bases under the first plank for its two tenons, and two bases under the next plank for its two tenons; 20 20 planks for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, 21 along with their 40 silver bases, two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank; 22 and make six planks for the west side of the tabernacle. 23 Make two additional planks for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They are to be paired at the bottom, and joined together at the top in a single ring. So it should be for both of them; they will serve as the two corners. 25 There are to be eight planks with their silver bases: 16 bases; two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank.

These planks served to hold up the tabernacle.  They were designed to be strong and carry the weight of the curtains.  The bases were made of silver so the planks would have a good and strong foundation.  

Exodus 26:26 “You are to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the planks on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five crossbars for the planks on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks of the back side of the tabernacle on the west. 28 The central crossbar is to run through the middle of the planks from one end to the other. 29 Then overlay the planks with gold, and make their rings of gold as the holders for the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold. 30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain.

Again we see acacia wood covered with gold.  The tree that represents life in so many cultures is covered with one of the most precious and costly metals.

Exodus 26:31 “You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it. 32 Hang it on four gold-plated posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. 33 Hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the veil, so the veil will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place. 34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 Place the table outside the veil and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table; put the table on the north side. 36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and overlay them with gold; their hooks are to be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

Here they are to make a veil.  This cloth is similar to the curtains before in color and pattern, but they are much finer.  They are to house the most holy of artifacts.  The Israelites were not to enter this most holy place, except for a very limited and strict time and then it was only one person.  That one priest could come close to God in a way other Israelites could not at that time.  Today, we know that Christ has torn that veil and we can now come to God through Christ.

The above is some of the instructions that Moses was given on the building of the  tabernacle.  Today, we do not need a tabernacle in which to worship.  We, ourselves, serve as the temple of God in which he can dwell.  Our outward appearance is marred with sin and the roughness of the world, but inwardly, since we are followers of Christ, our hearts will reflect beauty of the inner tabernacle in which God dwelt in the past.   I pray that my life and actions will reflect the inner beauty of the tabernacle of God so that I can better serve Him.

Bill Nye and Ken Ham Debate

First off, I really enjoyed watching the debate last night.  I am just going to go over some of my thoughts and response to both men in the debate.  I am not in any way an expert in knowledge of scientific understanding, so I may be wrong in some of my thoughts, though I will endeavor to research and accurately portray the science.

The main disagreement that I have with Bill Nye (despite the whole old Earth argument) is that he seems to believe that a person who believes in the Bible and a literal six day creation cannot be a scientist.  This is just not true, as Ken Ham demonstrated by showing many Creationist who were also scientist.  Ones personal beliefs does not change the constants of the universe, so a creationist and an evolutionist can study science just the same.  They both have the same things to look at and study, and each person can see the same things.  Where they differ is how that data is interpreted.

Ken Ham relied heavily on the "you weren't there so how do you know" argument.  While this is true, neither man was there.  Neither one knows for sure exactly what happened.  Ken Ham believes that the Bible tells the accurate portrayal of the creation while Bill Nye believes that the Big Bang was the beginning. 

One question I wish was explained was how could a tree date to be older than creation exist.  I do not that some species of trees will produce more than one ring per year if there is a period of drought during the normally wet period, but I would still like to see good answer for this question.

Bill Nye also made a foolish comment about reading the Bible.  The Bible is written in different writing forms, historical, apocalyptic, poetic, etc.  You have to read those types of writings differently.  Historical writings are literal.  Apocalyptic are largely metaphorical.  Poetry can be both.  You can't read all types of literature the same way.  You will not read Edgar Allen Poe the same way as you read an autobiography.

I remember Bill Nye making this comment, "Then, as far as Noah being an extraordinary shipwright, I'm extraordinarily skeptical."  He mentions how his family built ships in New England and how it took a lifetime to learn the trade.  Well, the Bible states that Noah was 500 years old when he was told to build the arc.  I'm sure he had plenty of time to learn how to build a ship properly, much more time than Bill Nye's ancestors.  Also with this same story, Bill Nye failed to acknowledge that all species were not put on the ark.  We need to remember that the sea creatures stayed in the sea.  Noah did not need to carry them on the ark.  Also, all the single celled organisms just hitched a ride on the wood, people and animals.  Those would not need extra room either. 

Another thing Bill Nye stated was that there isn't enough time for all the species to have been in 4000 years since the flood.  Well, just look at dog breeds.  How quickly did all the breeds of dogs we have today came into existence?

The main disagreement I have with evolution is that creatures are becoming more complex.  This is just not true.  If anything, they are loosing genetic information.  If you have a dog species where some have long hair and some have short hair and place them in a cold environment.  More than likely, through survival of the fittest, the long haired dog will live to reproduce and the other will not.  The population will loose the genetic ability to have short hair since only the long haired dogs reproduced.  You can only reintroduce the short hair by breeding in another short haired dog.  Likewise, long haired dogs would probably die off if placed in a warm environment while short haired ones would survive.

One thing that Bill Nye showed was a picture of many different skulls that he implied were many different human species, or all the ancestors that lead up to the human race today.  Well, what if they were all the same race of human?  Before the flood, there would have been a much wider variety of humans and facial features and head structures.  Since Noah and his family likely only represented a small portion of the total human genome at that time, it is safe to assume that there were other facial and cranial structures that existed in Noah's day that we will not see today since they all died in the flood.

Bill Nye also said multiple times that how can someone take Ken Ham's word that the Bible is true instead of what is seen and observed.  I think Bill Nye missed it there.  Ken Ham does not disagree with what is seen and observed.  He disagrees with how it go there.  Also, if Bill Nye is going to say that it is unreasonable to accept the Bible as a historical document based on one man's word, then how many other books, that are widely accepted as historical fact, have been taken on the word of men to be true.  The word of those men who were not there to witness the historical events.  All those ancient historical books, including the Bible, have been translated into "American English."

Why not teach creationism in schools?  It is just another "theory" when approached by science, just like evolution is a theory.  It is call the Theory of Evolution, not the Fact or Principle of Evolution.  It is still a theory.  The Bible and Christianity are not taught in schools because people do not want religion taught to their kids, but they are fine when they are taught about Islam and Buddhism and other world religions, but do not dare talk about Christianity. 

These are just some of my thoughts.  I do not have time to delve in more since I have to get going. If you have not listed to the debate, you can do so HERE.