Simultaneously with the construction of the Tabernacle and its vessels,
were fashioned the priestly robes for Aaron and his sons. It was at
this time that God made known Aaron's appointment to the office of high
priest, saying: "Go and appoint a high priest." Moses: "Out of which
tribe?" God: "Of the tribe of Levi." Moses was most happy upon hearing
that the high priest was to be chosen out of his tribe, and his joy was
increased when God added: "Appoint thy brother Aaron as high priest."
This choice of Aaron was, of course, also a disappointment to Moses,
who had hoped God would appoint him as His high priest, but God had
designed this dignity for Aaron to reward him for his pious deeds when
Israel worshipped the Golden Calf. For when Moses returned from Sinai
and saw the Calf fashioned by Aaron, he thought his brother was no
better than the rest of the people, and had, like them, devoted himself
to idolatry. But God knew that Aaron's participation in the
construction of the Calf was merely due to the pious motive of delaying
the people until Moses should return, hence He even then said to Aaron:
"I am fully aware of they motive, and, as truly as thou livest, I shall
appoint thee as warden over the sacrifices that My children offer Me."
In consideration of Moses' feelings, God gave into his hands the
appointment of Aaron, saying to him: "I might have installed thy
brother as high priest without having informed thee of it, but I
relinquish his appointment to thee, that thou mayest have an
opportunity of showing the people thy humility, in that thou dost not
seek this high office for thyself." [351] At God's bidding, Aaron and
his two sons were now chosen as priest, and, moreover, not for a
limited period, but Aaron and his house were invested with the
priesthood for all eternity. As soon as these were installed as
priests, Moses set to work to instruct them thoroughly in the priestly
laws. [352]
God ordered the following eight garments as Aaron's garb: coat,
breeches, mitre, girdle, breastplate, ephod, robe, and golden plate;
but his sons needed only the first four garments. All these garments
had expiatory virtues, and each expiated a definite sin. The coat
atoned for murder, the breeches for unchastity, the mitre for pride,
the girdle for theft, the breastplate for partial verdicts, the ephod
for idolatry, the bells on the robe for slander, and the golden plate
for effrontery. [353]
The breastplate and the ephod were set with precious stones, which were
the gifts of the noble to the sanctuary, though, to be exact, they were
in reality a gift from God. For precious stones and pearls had rained
down with the manna, which the noble among Israel had gathered up and
laid away until the Tabernacle was erected, when they offered them as
gifts. [354]
The ephod had only two precious stones, one on each shoulder, and on
each of these stones were engraved the names of the six tribes in the
following order: Reuben, Levi, Issachar, Naphtali, Gad, Jehoseph, on
the right shoulder-piece; Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Dan, Asher, Benjamin,
on the left shoulder. The name Joseph was spelled Jehoseph, a device by
which the two stones had exactly the same number of letters engraved
upon them. [355] On the breast plate were twelve precious stones, on
which the names of the three Patriarchs preceded those of the twelve
tribes, and at the end were engraved the words, "All these are the
twelve tribes of Israel." [356]