Page 142 - Bible History

THE REVELATION OF GOD'S LAW ON MOUNT SINAI 115
3. THE PRIESTHOOD Is INSTITUTED
God told Moses that Aaron and his sons should be set aside for the worship of the Tabernacle. The rst­ born son was to be high priest, and the other sons were to be priests. They alone were permitted to o er sacri ce to God.
The high priest wore a long linen robe with sleeves : High and reaching to his feet. Over this, he wore a sleeve-
less robe of four colors, violet, purple, crimson and white, reaching a little below his knees. It was fringed
at the bottom with golden bells and embroidered pome­ granates. His outermost garment was called the Ephod. It was something like a cloak of two parts, which was fastened at the shoulders with two onyx stones, each one engraved with the names of six of the tribes of Israel. It was fastened at the waist by a girdle. Over this was worn a breastplate, called the Rational, which was a square of cloth matching the Ephod. On the Rational were set twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the Twelve Tribes. This was fastened by golden chains to · the shoulders and by a purple ribbon to the waist.
On his head the high priest wore a white linen miter, or crown-shaped cap, on which was fastened a gold plate engraved with the inscription: Holy to the Lord. The rest of the priests wore only embroidered linen robes with girdles, and the linen miter.
When the Tabernacle was nished, Moses brought ::i:ihe Aaron and his sons to its entrance and washed them lb