Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 28:35
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy [place] before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
35. to minister ] i.e. in order that he may minister.
that he die not ] for not putting it on, and so infringing one of the laws of the sanctuary: cf. v. 43, Exo 30:21, Lev 8:35; Lev 10:7.
Originally, it has been conjectured, the object of the bells was to protect the officiating priest from the spirits which were supposed to haunt the thresholds of sanctuaries. But here their object is that they might be heard when the high-priest entered, and left, the sanctuary, in order (Di.) that the worshippers outside might know how long to follow him with their devotions (cf. Luk 1:10; Luk 1:21), or (Riehm, HWB. 878, 2 646) to remind God (cf. Sir 45:9 ; ‘memorial,’ as above, vv. 12, 29) that he appeared before Him as the official representative of the people.
36 38 (cf. Exo 39:30-31). The gold plate on the front of the high priest’s turban. The high priest’s turban was of fine white linen ( v. 39); and there was to be a blue band tied round it, with a plate of gold attached to it in front, bearing the inscription, Holy to Yahweh.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 35. His sound shall be heard] The bells were doubtless intended to keep up the people’s attention to the very solemn and important office which the priest was then performing, that they might all have their hearts engaged in the work; and at the same time to keep Aaron himself in remembrance that he ministered before Jehovah, and should not come into his presence without due reverence.
That he die not.] This seems an allusion to certain ceremonies which still prevail in the eastern countries. Jehovah appeared among his people in the tabernacle as an emperor in his tent among his troops. At the doors of the tents or palaces of grandees was generally placed some sonorous body, either of metal or wood, which was struck to advertise those within that a person prayed for admittance to the presence of the king, &c. As the tabernacle had no door, but a veil, and consequently nothing to prevent any person from going in, Aaron was commanded to put the bells on his robe, that his sound might be heard when he went into the holy place before the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For his disobedience or carelessness. For though the matter might seem small in itself, yet it was an error in Gods worship, wherein God is more severe than in other things; and it was an error of the high priest, who had more knowledge of Gods mind herein, and was obliged to more care and diligence, not only for himself, but for the influences of his bad example upon the people.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister,…. That is, the robe before described shall be put upon him, that he might minister in the priest’s office, for without this, as well as the other garments, he might not:
and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out; by means of which the priests would have notice that they might depart, and he be alone in his ministrations; or rather, that the people might know his going out and coming in, and so give themselves up to prayer, while he was offering incense, see Lu 1:9 though the instance of Zacharias is not of an high priest, but of a common priest:
that he die not the Targum of Jonathan adds, with flaming fire. This is added, to make him, and all succeeding priests, careful that this robe, nor any other of the priestly garments, were wanting, when they ministered before the Lord; should any be wanting, it would be highly resented by the Lord: and such an one would be in danger of being cut off by death from the immediate hand of God, as Nadab and Abihu were for offering strange fire to the Lord; for, according to the Jewish writers e, a priest not rightly attired, either with more or fewer garments than he should have, his service was illegal, and he was as a stranger, and his service strange service, unacceptable to God, yea, provoking to him; and so Jarchi on the text says, if he wanted one of these garments, he was guilty of death by the hand of heaven, the immediate hand of God.
e Maimon. Cele Hamikdash, c. 10. sect. 4, 5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(35) And his sound shall be heard.Rather, that its sound may he heard. The great object of the bells was to make known to the people, by a sensible manifestation, every movement of their representative, every act that he performed on their behalf. The bells enabled them to follow in their thoughts the entire service that he was engaged in, to join their prayers and praises with his, and offer to God a common worship. So important was this union of priest and people in the worship of God regarded, that death was denounced on the high priest who should minister in the sanctuary without this essential garment.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy [place] before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
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. Isa 56:10 Ministers must be both able and “apt to teach” upon all occasions.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
goeth in: Lev 16:2, Heb 9:12
Reciprocal: Heb 8:2 – minister