In many families there is a garment kept for the most important day: a silk sari passed from grandmother to granddaughter, a wedding shawl, a school blazer worn with pride. Such clothes carry a whole story on them. Exodus 39 makes clothes like that for Aaron, the first high priest. Gold is beaten into thin sheets and cut into thread. Twelve stones, each engraved with a tribe's name, are set on his chest. Tiny bells ring at his hem. And on his forehead a gold plate reads, 'Holy to the LORD.'
Where it sits in the story: Act 3 reaches the end of the building work. With the tent and furniture complete, the people who will serve in it are clothed. The high priest carries the names of all Israel on his shoulders and heart whenever he goes before God. Then, in a scene many readers hear as an echo of Genesis 1, Moses inspects all the finished work and blesses it.
What this chapter is doing: To clothe the priesthood for its role of representing the people before God, and to close the building work with a formal inspection confirming it was done exactly as the LORD commanded.
- 39:1–7 — The craftsmen make the ephod, a richly woven vest of gold thread, blue, purple and scarlet yarn and linen. Two onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel's sons are set on its shoulder pieces as a memorial before the LORD.
- 39:8–21 — The square breastpiece is made with four rows of precious stones, twelve in all, each engraved with the name of a tribe. Gold chains and rings fasten it firmly to the ephod so it will not come loose.
- 39:22–31 — The robe is woven all of blue, with pomegranates of yarn and gold bells alternating around the hem. Linen tunics, a turban, caps, undergarments and an embroidered sash follow, and finally a gold plate engraved 'Holy to the LORD' tied to the turban.
- 39:32–43 — All the work is finished. The people bring every item to Moses: tent, furniture, altars, courtyard and garments. Moses looks it all over, sees that everything has been done just as the LORD commanded, and blesses them.
Key verse: Exodus 39:43 · So what: The high priest never goes before God alone; the names of the whole people go with him, on his shoulders and over his heart. That is a powerful picture of what it means to pray for others. The New Testament letter to the Hebrews takes up this image of a priest who carries his people into God's presence.