It is hard to imagine that the writer to the Hebrews was cold, indifferent, or “matter-of-fact”, when he describes the Lord Jesus Christ – it is with glowing worship he depicts the Eternal Son of God, who took human flesh to Himself, to put our guilt to death: He is the God-appointed, Spirit-anointed, never-dying, ever-living, always interposing-interceding, Great High Priest!

Isn’t he just beautiful? And Yahweh did it all FOR US? That comes pretty close, I imagine, to the sort of thing that Israelites must have said when they saw Aaron dressed for work. It showed they were clued-in to the message Moses intended:

1 Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests– Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood – Exodus 28:1-3

Glorious Garments

His garments were colourful, costly, bejewelled and dazzlingly bright: they set the Old Testament Church-High-Priest apart from everybody else – most-skilfully embroidered robes lovingly and artistically manufactured by those God specially gifted for the task. Finest white linen; blue, purple and scarlet cloth; all interwoven with eye-wateringly expensive gold thread.

Multi-Layered Splendor

The 1st layer was the white priestly undergarment.

The 2nd layer was the blue robe of the Ephod: it had a reinforced, tear-free, tight-knit, neck rim and lower hem arrangement of alternating bells and pomegranates – like the old shop door bell that let merchants know that a customer had entered the premises, this tinkling design kept Aaron alive when he intruded behind the veil into the Shekinah presence of God.

The 3rd layer was the Ephod in blue, purple and worm-of-scarlet woven cloth with additional golden needle work – all supplied, again, at great expense. Two shoulder pieces contained onyx stones, in which shimmering lampstand light refracted and represented Israel’s engraved names around the Tent.

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