Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 28:5
And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
5. the gold, &c.] mentioned above in Exo 25:3-4.
6 12 (cf. Exo 39:2-7). The ephod. The ‘ephod’ (which, to judge from Isa 30:22. Heb., will have signified a closely-fitting covering), according to the ordinary view (for another, see p. 312), was a kind of waistcoat, consisting of an oblong piece of richly variegated material, the ‘work of the designer,’ bound round the body under the arms, and reaching down as far, apparently, as the waist. It was supported by two ‘shoulder-pieces’ (Heb. shoulders), i.e. probably two broad flaps or straps passing, like braces, over the shoulders, and attached to the ephod in front and behind: on the top of each of these shoulder-straps was an onyx-stone, enclosed in a filigree setting of gold, and engraved with the names of six of the tribes of Israel. Round the body the ephod was further held in its place by a band woven in one piece with it, but perhaps of a different pattern, probably forming a border at its lower edge, and passing closely round the waist. The ephod was worn over a long blue ‘robe,’ described in vv. 31 5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And they shall take,…. The Targum of Jonathan adds, out of their substance; that is, those that were wise hearted, and had knowledge and skill in making such garments; these were to take, not out of their own personal substance, but they were to take or receive from Moses what the people freely offered for such service, Ex 36:3,
gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen; pieces of gold, which they beat into thin plates, and drew into wires, and which they worked into stuffs, woollen or linen, or both, of the colours here mentioned; all which were made use of in the ephod, girdle, breastplate, &c. see Ex 39:3 and had a mystical significance in them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) They shall take gold, and blue.Heb., the gold and the blue, &c.i.e., they (the wise-hearted men of Exo. 28:3) shall receive (from Moses) the (necessary) gold, blue, &c., for the construction of the vestments. It is to be noted that the materials are the same as those employed for the vail and curtains of the sanctuary (Exo. 26:1; Exo. 26:31; Exo. 26:36), but with the further addition of gold and precious stones (Exo. 28:9; Exo. 28:17-21).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The Ephod ( Exo 28:5-12 ).
The ephod was made of costly material worked with gold, bluey-violet, purpley-red and scarlet. It consisted of front and back pieces which reached from below the shoulders to the hips and was held in place by two shoulder bands, and was tied round the waist. Attached to it by gold fittings was the breastpouch of judgment (see below). It was put on over the priestly robe to be described in Exo 28:31-35.
Exo 28:5-8
“And they shall take the gold, and the bluey-violet, and the purpley-red, and the scarlet, and the fine linen, and they shall make the ephod of gold, of bluey-violet, and purpley-red, scarlet and fine twined linen, the work of the skilled workman. It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends. And the skilfully patterned, cunningly woven band which is on it, to gird it on withal, shall be like its work, and of the same piece, of gold, of bluey-violet, and purpley-red, and scarlet and fine twined linen.”
The ephod was to be made by a skilled workman of the multicoloured materials used for the curtains. The gold was probably gold thread interwoven after the remainder had been done. The colours might be woven in a variety of patterns. While the Egyptians preferred white with a little colour the Semites preferred brighter colours.
The looms used would be Egyptian hand looms, which were not large and easily transportable. The weaving skills had been brought from Egypt.
The two shoulder pieces joined the separate pieces of the ephod over the shoulder, (and possibly was interwoven with the ephod all the way down to the band – see Exo 28:27-28) while the skilfully-patterned woven band around the waist seems to have been attached to, or even woven into, the ephod and of a similar nature to the cloth.
Exo 28:9-12
“And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel, six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engraving of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones. You shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold. And you shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial.”
The actual type of stones has been much disputed with onyx, beryl, emerald and sardonyx all having been suggested. The onyx is black and white, the sardonyx black and white with a layer of red. A large sardonyx was very expensive. It was an excellent stone for engraving. Engraving was an art well known in Egypt. It is no argument against this to say that slaves would not have learned engraving and weaving. They were not always slaves in Egypt, and even when they were slaves those who were skilled in such things would have been treasured and encouraged in order to bring profit for their masters.
The stones were to be engraved with the names of the twelve sons of Jacob and placed in gold settings on the shoulder of the ephod so as to bring the names of the twelve tribes before Yahweh. When Aaron entered the Sanctuary the whole of Israel in effect went with him and were brought to Yahweh’s attention.
“ According to their birth” may indicate order of age, or it may refer to the six sons of Leah on one stone and the remainder on the other (compare Gen 37:2).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Ephod Exo 28:5-14 describes the making of the ephod as a piece of the priestly garment.
Exo 28:6 Word Study on “ephod” – Strong says the Hebrew word “ephod” ( ) (H646) means, “a girdle, specifically, the ephod or high priest’s shoulder piece.” Holladay says it means, “a metallic sacral robe, like a culrass (a piece protecting breast and back).”
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Exo 28:5. And they shall take gold, and blue, &c. For a full account of the manner in which these were used, see ch. 39:
REFLECTIONS.The altar being prepared, they who must minister to it are appointed with their robes.
1. Aaron and his sons. His descendants are preferred to Moses’s own children. God chooses his own servants. Note; It is bad to intrude into the ministry without a divine call. No man may take this office, but he who is called of God, as was Aaron.
2. Their garments must be glorious and beautiful, not only in the preciousness of the materials, but also in the exquisiteness of the work. These magnificent garments signify, (1.) the transcendent excellence and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2.) The beauty of holiness, which God puts on every believer when he is consecrated a priest unto him. (3.) The eminence of gifts and graces which every gospel-minister should possess.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
In the priests putting off their own clothes and putting on these robes of splendor, was it not meant to show how the Lord Jesus laid aside his glory, when he clothed himself in our nature; and when he who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him? 2Co 5:21 . And was it not meant to show also, how sinners by the Holy Ghost are stripped of that clothing which is theirs by nature, and are clothed in the garments of grace. Zec 3:3-4 ; Eph 4:22-24 ; Isa 61:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 28:5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
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. a
a Athenaeus.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
take gold Gold, Deity in manifestation; blue, heavenly; purple, royalty; scarlet, sacrifice; fine linen, personal righteousness, see margin ref., Exo 26:1.
(See Scofield “Exo 26:1”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
gold: Exo 25:3, Exo 25:4, Exo 39:2, Exo 39:3
Reciprocal: Exo 35:6 – blue Eze 16:10 – broidered Rev 15:6 – clothed