Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 2 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. Ver. 1. Take thou unto thee]
CHriſt alſo was taken from amongſt men. Heb. 5.1. to mediate and negotiate man's cauſ with God: And this honor hee aſſumed not up to himſelf, but it was given him from above. Verſ. 5.
Ver. 2. For glorie and for beautie] Prodit Aäron à capite ad calcem, os humeróſque Deo ſimilis. The High-prieſt was gloriouſly apparelled, to ſtrike a religious reverence into the eies and hearts of the beholders; and to ſet forth the beautie and braverie of Chriſt and his Church.
Ver. 3. That they may make, &c.] Vides, in Sacerdotibus nîl plebeium reperiri, nîl populare, ſaith Ambroſe. Nothing in the Prieſts but what was above the ordinarie. The verie work-men are to bee filled with the Spirit of Wiſdom, to make their attire.
Ver. 5. And they ſhall take gold and blue, &c.] That cloke of Alciſthenes the Sybarite (ſold for 1 20. talents) that Parliament-robe of Demetrius King of Macedonie, Athenaeus.(which no Prince after him would put on propter invidioſam impendii magnificentiam, ſot it's ſtately coſtlineſs) were but rags to Aaron's raiment.
Ver. 6. The ephod of gold] This the High-prieſt onelyonly might wear, neither might anie imitate it; for that was the fall of Gideon's houſ. Judg. 8.26, 27.
Ver. 12. And Aaron ſhall bear their names] To ſet forth Chriſt's unceſſant interceſſion for all God's Iſraël, even when his back ſeem's turned upon them.
Ver. 14. Faſten the wreathen chains] Theſe chains wherewith the breaſt-plate and humeral were tied, Moſes unvail.ſignified (ſaith one) the perfect contexture of all heavenlie virtues, adorning Chriſt's humanitie: as alſo that true ſaith, whereby wee are girt unto him.
Ver. 15. The breast plate of judgment] So called, becauſ the Prieſt was to put it on, when hee was to enquire and give ſentence as from God. Num. 27.21.
Ver. 17. Four rows of ſtones] According to the number and order of the twelv Tribes encamping about God's Tabernacle. In all which rows, Dr. Tailor.a verie Reverend Writer hath well obſerved eight things: 1. The ſhining of the ſtones; pointing to the puritie of Chriſt and his Church. 2. Their price; of great value and worth: ſignifying what a price Chriſt valued his Church at. 3. Their place or ſituation; they are ſet in the pectoral, and Aaron muſt carrie them on his heart, ſignifying that Chriſt hath as much care of his Church, as if it were incloſed in his heart; let's out his blood to make room in his heart for them. 4. Their number; twelv; noting, that with Chriſt is plentiful redemption. 5. Their order; they ſtood in a comlie quadrangle. Chriſt hath ſtabliſhed a comlie order in his Church; and wee muſt keep our ranks. 6. The figure; the four-ſquare; ſignifying the ſtabilitie and firmneſs of the Church. Satan and all deceivers ſhall not pick one ſtone out of Chriſt's pectoral. Their uſe; that Aaron muſt bear them on his heart; ſignifying Chriſt's ardent affection to his, and conſtant interceſſion for them. 8. The quantitie: As all the names of Iſraël were gathered into a narrow compaſs; ſo Chriſt ſhall gather together into one all the diſperſed ſons of God, and preſent them before God as the moſt beautiful and pretious parts of the world. John 11.52.
Ver. 30. The Ʋrim and the Thummim] A diſtinct thing from the ſtones and chains; made it was not by the Artificers, but given by God to Moſes (as were the two Tables) and by him put into the breaſt-plate. The verie names of Ʋrim and Thummim, i. e. Lights and perfections lead us to Chriſt, in whom is all fulneſs. [When hee goeth in before the Lord] ſc. to conſult with God, who anſwered the Prieſt by voice. Num. 7.89.
Ver. 31. The robe of the ephod] Which ſignified the roial robe of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, reaching down to the feet, large enough to cover all our imperfections.
Ver. 32. That it bee not rent] To ſhew that there ſhould bee no rents or ſchiſms in the Church. 1 Cor. 1.10, 13.1 Tim. 1.3.
Ver. 34. A golden bell, and a pomegranate] Shadowing out 1. The Prophetical office of Chriſt here, and his perpetual interceſſion in heaven. 2. The dutie of Miniſters; which is, Vivere concionibus, concionari moribus: to live ſermons, to bee fruitful as well as painful teachers: Not like him of whom it was ſaid, that when hee was out of the pulpit, it was pitie hee ſhould ever go into it: and when hee was in the pulpit, it was pitie hee ſhould ever com out of it.
Ver. 35. And his ſound ſhall bee heard] Neceſſe erat ut Pontifex totus vocalis ingrederetur ſanctuarium, nè fortè non audito ſonitu, morte lueret ſilentium. A dumb dog is a childe of death. Iſa. 56.10. Miniſters muſt bee both able and apt to teach upon all occaſions.
Ver. 36. Holineſs to the Lord] Hence it was not lawful for the High-prieſt (ſaie the Jews) to put off his bonnet to whomſoever hee met, were hee never ſo great a man; leſt the Name and Glorie of God (whoſe perſon hee ſuſteined) ſhould ſeem to ſubmit to anie man.
Ver. 37. Ʋpon the mitre] Which had an holie crown with it. Chap. 29.6. ſignifying the Deïtie and Dignitie of Chriſt.
Ver. 38. The iniquitie of the holie things] Get the people's pardon. This Chriſt did indeed for all his. 1 John 2.1, 2.
Ver. 39. Embroider the coat] Rev. 1.13. Chriſt is clothed with ſuch a robe, as King and Counſellor of his Church.
Ver. 40. Coats] Linnen garments for innocencie. 2. Girdles for conſtancie and ſtabilitie. 3. Bonnets, for ſafetie from the rage of Satan and his inſtruments. 4. Breeches, for comlie reverence in God's ſervice.