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Exodus 39

Making the Priestly Garments

1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.

2He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.

3They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.

4They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends.

5The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as the LORD commanded Moses.

6They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.

7He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.

8He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double.

10They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;

11and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;

12and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

13and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.

14The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes.

15They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.

16They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

17They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.

18The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front.

19They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.

20They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.

21They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as the LORD commanded Moses.

22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

23The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.

24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.

25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates;

26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses.

27They made the tunics of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons,

28the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands of fine linen, the linen trousers of fine twined linen,

29the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.

30They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet: “HOLY TO THE LORD”.

31They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Completion of the Tabernacle

32Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they did.

33They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,

34the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,

35the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,

36the table, all its vessels, the show bread,

37the pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,

38the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,

39the bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,

40the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,

41the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.

42According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.

43Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded. They had done so; and Moses blessed them.

Exodus 39 describes the meticulous crafting of the high priest's sacred garments, including the ephod with its onyx stones bearing the names of Israel's twelve tribes, and the jeweled breastplate for divine consultation. The chapter emphasizes the skilled workmanship and precious materials used, repeatedly noting that everything was made 'as the LORD commanded Moses.' This detailed account demonstrates Israel's faithful obedience to God's instructions and the completion of the tabernacle's furnishings, preparing for God's presence to dwell among his people.

Context

This chapter concludes the detailed construction account that began in chapter 35, setting the stage for the tabernacle's consecration and God's glory filling it in chapter 40.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1-7
    The Ephod and Memorial Stones Construction of the high priest's ephod with gold-set onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel's twelve tribes.
  • 8-21
    The Breastplate of Judgment Creation of the square breastplate with twelve precious stones representing the tribes and its attachment to the ephod.
  • 22-26
    The Robe and Pomegranates Making of the blue robe worn under the ephod, decorated with golden bells and colorful pomegranates.
  • 27-29
    Additional Priestly Garments Completion of the tunic, turban, sash, and undergarments for Aaron and his sons.
  • 30-31
    The Holy Crown Crafting of the golden plate inscribed 'Holy to the LORD' and its attachment to the turban.
  • 32-43
    Completion and Inspection Finishing of all tabernacle work and Moses' inspection and blessing of the completed project.

Making the Priestly Garments

39:1–39:31
narrative narration solemn

Creation of the elaborate priestly garments including the ephod and breastplate with precious stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These sacred vestments set apart Aaron and his sons for their holy service as mediators between God and the people.

person_contrast

Aaron transforms from Moses' spokesperson into God's high priest through garments that literally bear Israel's twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart, making him a walking embodiment of intercession.

Completion of the Tabernacle

39:32–39:43
narrative narration triumphant

The Israelites complete all the work of the tabernacle according to God's commands, bringing everything to Moses who inspects and blesses their faithful obedience.

person_contrast

Moses blesses the Israelites' completed tabernacle work—the only instance where he pronounces blessing rather than delivering law or judgment.

Insights

Insight Character Study

Aaron transforms from Moses' spokesperson into God's high priest through garments that literally bear Israel's twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart, making him a walking embodiment of intercession.

Insight Character Study

Moses blesses the Israelites' completed tabernacle work—the only instance where he pronounces blessing rather than delivering law or judgment.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Interlinear

Word-by-word original language

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