Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 28 · Questions · Question 26
QUEST. XXVI. Whether the high Priest went into the most holy place in his glorious apparell.
Vers. 29. SO Aaron shall beare the names of the children of Israel, &c. when he goeth into the holy place for a remembrance before the Lord continually. 1. In that mention is made here of the holy place only, it seemeth that the high Priest did not put on all these garments, when he went once a yeere into the most holy place: and it is so expressed, Levit. 16.4. that he should then put on the linen coat, the linen breeches, a linen girdle, and a linen miter: the other precious priestly garments are not mentioned. 2. Iunius thinketh, that here by a Synecdoche, the rest of the priestly attire is understood; these are named for the rest, and so by certaine parts, all are to be conceived: so also Borrhaius: so also Osiander and Marbach. make the high Priest here a type of Christ, that as hee put off his costly robes, and went forth and sacrificed in his owne attire: so Christ was stripped of his purple rayment, and put on other clothes, when he went to be crucified. 3. But I preferre rather herein the opinion of Lyranus, following R. Salomon, Tostarus quaest. 11. and Pellican. That the high Priest at this time was only clad in linen: their reasons are these: 1. Because when the high Priest went in to pray for the people, and to make reconciliation for them, that was to be performed with all humility, and therefore the high Priest was to shew his lowlinesse in his outward apparell: but afterward when hee went out to sacrifice, that was a solemne act, and it was fit hee should there administer in his priestly robes, Lyranus. 2. The most holy place was Gods habitation, and there all was of gold: therefore it was not fit, that the high Priest should come in thither with his garments adorned with gold, R. Salomon. 3. But Pellican better explaineth this reason, that although the high Priest in his costly apparell seemed glorious in the eyes of the people, yet omniae illa ornamenta coram Deo feces erant, all those ornaments were but as drosse before the Lord: and therefore in his sight, he was not to appeare in them. 4. But an invincible argument may be taken from that place, Levit. 16.23. where the Priest is bid to put off the linen clothes, and leave them in the holy place, and then to put on his owne rayment, and so come out, and make his burnt offering: these were not his owne ordinary wearing clothes, for it is not to be imagined, that the Priest when hee sacrificed, did not minister in his priestly raiment: therefore by his owne clothes are meant, the rayment peculiar to the high Priest: whereas the other linen garments, which he had put on before, were common to the inferiour Priests, Lyranus. 5. By this it is evident, that the high Priest did come into the outward court in his priestly attire, to offer sacrifice at the brasen Altar; though he entred not into the most holy place with them: both because it was fit he should be seene and beheld of the people in his glorious apparell, for greater reverence. And seeing he was not to enter into the holy place, but in that apparell, it is like hee put them on at the doore of the Tabernacle, as hee did when hee was first consecrated, chap. 29.5. 6. But it will be objected, that the high Priest was to beare the names of the children of Israel continually before the Lord, when he went in, and therefore it is not like, but that he went into the most holy place in his glorious apparell, wherein the stones of remembrance were: the answer is, that this being but once in the yeere, when the high Priest went into the most holy place, and yet after he came out▪ hee put on his priestly robes, he might be said notwithstanding, continually to beare their names before the Lord.