Ephod אֵפוֹד

We are in chapter twenty-eight of Exodus with our word for today. אֵפוֹד ephod, priestly garment. It is used 49 times in the Old Testament, 12 times in our chapter. We find our word used to describe an object that David used to determine God’s will. 1 Samuel 23:6, 9-11 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an אֵפ֖וֹד ephod in his hand … David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring הָאֵפֽוֹד the ephod here.” Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account ... Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard?” ... And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Most of the uses are in our chapter and are in reference to special clothing. The ephod is a sleeveless garment of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, held together by a jeweled clasp on each shoulder as we see in our chapter for today which is the chapter where it is used the most in the Bible. Exodus 28:4, 6-14 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an וְאֵפוֹד֙ ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash … And they shall make הָאֵפֹ֑ד the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together. And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen ... And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance. You shall make settings of gold filigree, and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings. The breastpiece is to be made in the same style as the ephod and attaches to the ephod (Exodus 28:15, 25). We also see how elaborate the ephod is to be made with gold rings. Exodus 28:26-28 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to הָאֵפֹ֖ד the ephod. And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of הָאֵפ֤וֹד the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of הָאֵפֽוֹד the ephod. And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of הָאֵפֹד֙ the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of הָאֵפ֑וֹד the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from הָאֵפֽוֹד the ephod. Notice the color of the ephod. Exodus 28:31 You shall make the robe of הָאֵפ֖וֹד the ephod all of blue. Exodus 39:2 He made הָאֵפֹ֑ד the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. There is a lot to this special garment worn by the high priest very beautiful and unique for special service to God. This reminds me of a parable Jesus told about entrance into a banquet that required special clothes. Just as the high priest couldn’t just wear anything when he went into the holy place on the special time to do his work of connecting people to God. We as sinners just can’t connect with God on our terms. The good news is that God not only tells us how he also provides the way or the clothes that are needed. Matthew 22:11-14 But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”