Read Exodus 27:20-30:10 at Bible Gateway.
(Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions and chiastic structures. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic. The paragraph divisions reveal the chiastic structures: narratives which zero in on the main point of the narrative at its center, like a bull’s eye at the center of a target. The main point is revealed, because the narrative elements before the main point (or central axis) are repeated after the central axis, in reverse order, while the central axis itself is not repeated.)
The Hebrew paragraph divisions are:
Exo 27:20-21 {s} Oil for the lampstand + continual tending of the lampstand’s light
Exo 28:1-5 {p} Aaron and his sons as priests + their holy garments
Exo 28:6-12 {s} The pattern for the ephod
Exo 28:13-14 {s} The pattern for the chain and settings of gold
Exo 28:15-30 {s} The pattern for the breastplate
Exo 28:31-35 {s} The pattern for the robe of blue
Exo 28:36-43 {s} The pattern for the crown, turban, tunic, sash, tunics + hats for Aaron’s sons + consecrate them + linen trousers
Exo 29:1-37 {s} Instructions for the service of consecration
Exo 29:38-46 {p} Continual burnt offerings for the altar
Exo 30:1-10 {p} The pattern for the altar of incense
This parashah forms a chiastic structure:
1a) Exo 27:20-21 s, Continual oil for the lampstand + continual tending of the light;
1b) Exo 28:1, Take Aaron and sons from among the children of Israel that they may minister as priests;
1c) Exo 28:2-4, You shall make holy garments;
central axis) Exo 28:5 p, And they shall take the gold + blue + purple + scarlet + fine linen;
2c) Exo 28:6-43 sx5, The pattern for the holy garments;
2b) Exo 29:1-37 s, The service of consecration for Aaron and his sons as priests;
2a) Exo 29:38-30:10 p+p, Continual burnt offerings for the altar + continual incense for the altar of incense.
The previous parashah focused on the Tabernacle and its furnishings. This parashah focuses on the priesthood and their “furnishings,” their holy garments. Just as each area of the tabernacle and its furniture has its purpose, each piece of the holy garments have their purpose. As far as what the purpose of the holy garments is, I do not understand that all yet. The Lord is revealing these things in stages for me (but I am sure that Eph 6:13-18 holds the key).
Also look at the unusual central axis! The blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, figure throughout the pattern for the tabernacle, and the garments for the priesthood. Blue represents God; red represents man. The purple is always between them. Blue and red combined create purple. Purple represents the Messiah, God and man together. And after all, that is the reason for the tabernacle, and the priesthood – that the separation between God and man is ended, and it is ended, in Him who is our Priest forever.
“So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Exo 29:44-46
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