Produced by TheMediaDesk, ©2026
Posted on CCPC's website 2026
"And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side:
"
- Exodus 27: 9, American Standard Version, see link below.
Chapter 27
1 - 8 Summary and Discussion:
This section is the instructions of the building of the altar. And from the description, this thing was going to be huge. If a cubit was about eighteen inches, the altar was going to be a square, seven and a half feet (over 2 meters) on each side. And 54 inches (1.3 meters) tall. Then Moses is told to do it like he saw in the vision on the mountain.
As it was overlaid with "nechosheth" (bronze / brass), it would also be heavy. We'll come back to that metal in a moment.
The "qeren" (horns) of the altar were apparently exactly that, meaning they looked like the horns of a cow or ram, other such animal. They come up again throughout the rest of the Five Books of Moses, especially in Leviticus 8 and 9, and are then seen again in Revelation 9 : 13 and following, where they do something unusual for a piece of bronze ornamentation.
9 - 18 Summary:
Then it goes into the "chatser" (court / enclosure) for the tabernacle. Which, as usually depicted, is the 'fence' around the perimeter outside the tent of the tabernacle, where the altar and basin and other accessories were kept.
It specifies that on the south side there shall be "qela" (screen / hangings) of fine woven linen, "meah / meyah" (one hundred) "ammah" (cubits) long for one side. 100 cubits is about 150 feet (about 46 meters). With twenty pillars and twenty bronze hooks, and bands of silver. These same instructions are repeated for the north side.
The hangings on the west will be fifty cubits, with ten pillars, and sockets.
And on the east, two shorter ones, with a separate curtain as a gate that is the colored linen. With pillars and sockets and bands and hooks....
19 Summary:
All "keli" (vessel / utensil / tool / etc) of the "mishkan" (tabernacle) for all its "abodah" (service / work / worship), and all "yathed" (pin / stake), and all the "yathed" (pins / stakes) of the "chatser" (enclosure) of "nechosheth" (bronze / brass).
A Metallurgical Note:
Both Brass and Bronze start out with a base metal of Copper, which is soft. For brass, you add pure zinc at about one third of the weight of the base metal, then melt and cast or hammer it into what you want (both are a lot easier to 'hammer' when the metal is warm/hot!). To make bronze, you only add about twelve percent tin or nickle to the copper (some modern bronzes are made with aluminum, which was unknown in the ancient world having only been discovered in 1824).
Both alloys are somewhat gold in color, and have similar properties for corrosion resistance, although brass is slightly softer, and as such will not hold a cutting edge and will eventually deform under heavy load.
The melting point of brass as usually formulated is about 1,700 degrees F (920C), while bronze takes a bit more heat at1,800F (1000C), depending on the blend, which is in the range for the smelting of copper, for the bronze, as well as silver and just below that of gold. Which means that the Hebrews had to have some serious metal working facilities available as this isn't something you can do over a small campfire (650 - 800F (320 - 425C)). Whereas tin has one of the lowest melting points of any metal, 450F (230C), and zinc at 790F (420C). See link below for the melting points of an amazing list of materials.
End Note
20 - 21 Summary and Discussion:
The Sons of Israel are commanded to bring "shemen" (oil) 'of' "zayith" (olive) "zak" (pure / clear) "kathith" (beaten / pressed) for the "maor" (light / luminary) 'to burn' the "ner" (lamp / light) "tamid" (continually / perpetually).
In the "ohel" (tent / home) of the "moed" (meeting) outside the "paroketh" (veil / curtain) which is before the "eduth" (Witness / Testimony / Witness (the Ark and its contents)) shall "arak" (prepare / arrange) it "Aharon" (Aaron) and his sons from "ereb" (evening) until "boqer" (morning) before YHWH - a "chuqqah" (statute / regulation / ordinance) "olam" (eternity / everlasting / forever) to "dor" (generations / age) "eth" (among / before) the Sons of Israel.
The name "Tent of the Meeting", also later as "Tent of Meeting", isn't what we would think of as a meeting hall, such as where a local union or a fraternal organization goes to have their monthly meeting. This tent is dedicated for the High Priest to meet with GOD for the people.
This is an important point in the relationship between The Creator and His special creation (us). Early on, from the beginning of Genesis, so it was REALLY Early On, into the time of the Exodus, GOD had a personal relationship with one man, or a family. See the stories about Abram/Abraham who was even known to stand in the road in and have something of a debate with God. Or Jacob, who should be better known for doing everything BUT what one would expect a Biblical Patriarch should do.
Later on, GOD does have a personal relationship with people like Elijah, for a special purpose, or a limited time. But HIS relationship with Moses, "a man God knew face to face" (see Exodus 33: 11 and, especially, Deuteronomy 34:10), was the end of direct ONE on one communication as the way things were done. From now on, there is a formal, scripted way humans approach the Divine, and an equally scripted way for GOD to relate to people. Which is, the priests, and the Tabernacle / Temple, all the feasts, and Laws, and all that goes with those.... including the ability of humans to corrupt just about everything they touch.
Which, of course, sets the stage for the appearance of the Messiah, and a time when, once again, people could have a personal relationship with God.
According to the statement in our verse 21, service in the Tabernacle is to run 24 hours. With Aaron in the lead, and his four sons, stay tuned for chapter 28, being the night shift. Something that continued in the Temple, see 1 Chronicles 9 : 33 and Psalm 134 : 1 - 3.
end ch 27
"And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty."
- Exodus 28: 40, American Standard Version, see link below. Yes, the 1901 ASV says 'head-tires', we'll get to that.
Chapter 28
1 - 3 Summary and Discussion:
The verse specifies Moses' brother Aaron, and his sons, from among the sons of Israel, as "kahan" (work as priest / minister as.... / officiate as...) to Me (God). Aaron, ...
The sons of Aaron were first listed in chapter 6 verse 23, the two oldest went up the mountain in 24.
... And make "beged" (garment / clothing) "qodesh" (holy / sacred) for Arron your "ach" (brother) for "kabowd" (glory / honor / splendor) and "tipharah" (beauty (also: glory / honor / splendor)). So you shall speak to all who are "leb" (heart / mind (includes idea of skill and artistry)), whom I have "male / mala" (full / complete) "ruach" (spirit / breath) of "chokmah" (wisdom / skill), that they may make garments Aaron's to "qadash" (consecrate / set apart) as"kahan" (work as priest / minister as.... / officiate as...) to Me.
This is the first mention of anyone other than Melchizedek in Genesis 14 being a Priest of GOD, see 14: 18.
4 - 5
This section lists the various parts of the wardrobe then goes into detail in the following paragraphs.
... the "choshen" (breastplate), the "ephod" (the shoulder-piece / vest (some say apron) that holds the breastplate), and a "meil" (cloak / mantle (outer layer)), "kethoneth" (tunic / shirt (inner layer)) "tashbets" (embroidered (implies 'skillfully') and "mitsnepheth" (turban / headdress) that he may "kahan" (work as priest...) before Me. And they shall take the "zahab" (gold) and "tekeleth" (blue / violet) and "argaman" (purple), and "tola" (threads) "shani" (crimson / scarlet) and "shesh" (linen).
6 - 14 Discussion and Summary:
The ephod is to be made of gold, and colored yarns and threads worked with "chashab" (thinking / planning (implies artistic vision and skill)). The text then goes on to specify the design, with the straps, how it is joined, and a woven band of the same type of workmanship. And it states the colors of thread and material again. Then it calls for two "shoham" (onyx) stones which are large enough to engrave the names of the sons of Israel on, six on each, in birth order....
A Gemology Note:
Actual identification of exactly what type of gemstone is meant by the Hebrew word is still debated. There are several minerals that have been identified at one time or another as onyx (chalcedony quarta), including what is now called alabaster (calcite), marble, obsidian and a few others. The most likely candidate for what was used is probably alabaster or marble, which are reasonably soft and easy to do intricate carving in, and can be found throughout the area in large enough chunks to do the job. While obsidian can be carved, although it is brittle, the volcanic glass is often dark, sometimes even black. The text does not specify the color of the two stones with the names on them, but you would expect them to be easily readable. Although, while interesting, the exact type of gem isn't really that important for those two stones.
In our study of Revelation chapter 4, beginning with verse 2, see link below, we have a tangent about the Rocks of Revelation, which includes a note about a stone, which in John's Apocalypse is described as white with a name on it, as well as the twelve from the Breastplate, with their various names and who they stand for. Which we'll revisit in a moment.
end note
.... in a gold setting, on the shoulders of the ephod as "eben" (stones) "zikkaron" (memorial / record) for the sons of Israel, so shall Aaron "nasa" (carry / bear) the names before YHWH on his shoulders, in settings of gold, two "sharsherah" (chains) "zahab" (gold) "tahor" (clean / pure) "migbaloth" (twisted / braided) and fasten the cord work to the settings.
15 - 21 Discussion:
The full name is "choshen mishpat" (Breastplate of Judgment).
The breastplate is to be 'woven with planning / skill'. Similar to the ephod, with the colors gold, blue, purple, and scarlet/crimson, linen 'fine woven'.
In a square "kaphal" (doubled (folded over)) - a "zereth" (span (about half a cubit / nine inches (the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when spread as far as possible (a 'palm' is the equivalent of a modern 'hand')))) length and width.
There shall be settings in it with these stones:
NOTE: Some of these are a 'best guess' by those who do this sort of guessing, based on the Septuagint (the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek in about 250 BC), and somewhat on the description by Josephus (written about 100 AD in Greek) which is different than what is in Exodus, see link below. And almost every one of them has a different opinion on what a few of the stones were, and which way the 'rows' ran. We're picking the best guess and going with it (subject to change without notice).
First Row of Stones- "odem" (ruby / sardius (red)), "pitdah" (?topaz (yellow/orange)?), "bareqeth" (emerald (green))
Second Row- "nophek" (turquoise or garnet), "sappir" (sapphire / lapis lazuli (blue)), "yahalom" (diamond (it is possible that they did have diamonds which came in on the trade routes from as far east as India. South African diamonds were not mined in any quantity until Colonial times. Diamonds were not, and are not, found in Egypt or the Middle East while mines for other gemstones were, and are, still being worked at the Wadi el-Hudi and Wadi Sikait and elsewhere in the area. And if it were diamond, doing what comes in a moment might well be impossible given the tools of the time.))
Third Row- "lashem" (?jacinth 'reddish zircon'?), "shebo" (?agate?), "achlamah" (amethyst)
Fourth Row- "tarshish" (?topaz? (the KJV and others say 'beryl' which is the type of mineral crystal, beryllium aluminum silicate) which, depending on color, is called an emerald, aquamarine, and so on)), "shoham" (?onyx?), "yashepheh" (jasper (reddish-orange)).
Each stone shall have engraved on it the name (or symbol) of one of the twelve tribes. The assignment of which stone goes with which tribe is based solely and completely on Jewish Tradition.
22 - 28 Discussion:
They were to make braided gold cords to hold the breastplate, with two golden rings on the ends of the breastplate to attach it to the shoulder straps of the ephod.
There are those that say that cords of woven gold thread and rings of pure gold would not hold the breastplate, one of those being Josephus himself. The body of the object was made of linen, and the whole thing was nine inches square, which means the stones had to be small, and it wouldn't take a lot of metal to hold the stones in place. While pure gold is soft and does not like to be put under load, the fact that the cords were made of braided threads would add some strength, and the breastplate just had to hang there, the priest didn't do a lot of calisthenics while wearing it.... and there is one other detail in the text....
Verse 28 specifies that they are supposed to use a 'blue cord' above the woven band, so that it 'does not come loose'.
29 Summary
.... "nasa" (bear / carry) Aaron the "shem" (names) of the sons of Israel on the "choshen mishpat" (Breastplate of Judgment) over his "leb" (heart) when he goes into the "qodesh" (Holy Place) as a "zikkaron" (memorial / remembrance) before YHWH "tamid" (perpetually).
30 Summary and Discussion:
... "nathan" (put / apply) "choshen mishpat" (Breastplate of Judgment) the "Urim" (Urim (means: light / illumination)) and the "Thummim" (Thummim (means: perfection)) - and they shall be over "leb" (heart) of Aaron when he goes before YHWH - and so "nasa" (bear / carry) Aaron the "mishpat" (judgment / decision) of the sons of Israel over his heart before YHWH "tamid" (perpetually).
Remember where it said the woven fabric of the breastplate was supposed to be 'doubled / folded' over? That was to create a place for these two items. Exactly what they were, gemstones, metal medallions, pieces of parchment (leather) or papyrus (flax paper) with something written on them.... we don't know. Nobody knows. Even that enormous morass of Jewish Tradition has no idea. They had to be small, and somewhat flat, but other than that, they could have been anything.
And the repetition that these items are always to be with Aaron before GOD is for emphasis.
31 - 35 Discussion:
This section describes the blue robe worn over all of the above. And in the process it describes its opening like that in a "tachra" (coat of mail (armor)), so it won't tear. Then it describes the hem with pomegranates, in the colors above, and bells of gold, and so on.
The bells around the hem are so that he will be heard while he goes into and comes out of the Holy Place to do his work.... and "lo" (not) "muth" (die).
36 - 39 Discussion:
This section deals with the accessories of the priest's outfit.
The first is a solid gold plate that is engraved "QODESH YHWH" (HOLY TO YHWH) with that emphasis in the text. But the size of the medallion isn't mentioned, although it has to be small enough to fit on the front of the turban, held with a blue cord.
It is to be on Aaron that he may carry the "avon" (guilt / iniquity (sin)) of the holy things which consecrate the sons of Israel in their gifts - and it will always be on his forehead....
The tunic is to be finely woven of linen, and the turban, and the sash woven work.
40 - 4 Discussion:
This part is about what the sons of Aaron will wear. And was our opening verse for this chapter.... with the head tires.
Tunics and sashes and hats are to be made for "kabowd" (splendor / honor / glory) and "tipharah" (beauty / glory / splendor). Again, the repetition by the two words that mean basically the same thing is for emphasis. Evidently the translators of the ASV had never heard of a turban.
The Aaron and his sons are to be "mashach" (anointed / consecrated) "male / mala" (complete / accomplish) and "qadash" (sanctify / set apart / make holy) that they may "kahan" (minister as priest / work as priest).
And then Moses is to go into the "miknas" (breeches / trousers) business for them. Made of linen to cover their "ervah" ('undefended parts' / nakedness) from the "mothen" (waist / hips) to the "yarek" (thighs). And they shall be on them when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or near the altar, that they do not die. Forever.
End Chapter 28
Selected Resources:
All links will open in a new tab/window, all were working as of original date of posting:
Interlinear English / Hebrew: Chapter 27 https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/27.htm
American Standard Version https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2019&version=ASV
Melting Point of Common Metals, Alloys, & Other Materials https://www.americanelements.com/meltingpoint.html
Several Translations Compared https://www.biblestudytools.com/compare-translations/exodus/28/
The Septuagint, with English https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=2&page=28
His description of the breastplate's gems is in Book III, chapter 7, paragraph 5. Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2848/2848-h/2848-h.htm
The book as a downloadable PDF: https://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/0037-0103,_Flavius_Josephus,_The_Antiquities_Of_The_Jews,_EN.pdf
The CPCC Revelation chapter study with the Revelation Rocks Tangent http://centralparkchurchofchrist.org/revstudy/rev4.htm
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
http://centralparkchurchofchrist.org
With the assistance and cooperation of The Media Desk.