The ephod was an important garment worn by the high priest in ancient Israel. It is described primarily in Exodus 28, Exodus 39, and Leviticus 8. The ephod was made of fine linen and consisted of two pieces – a front and a back section – joined together at the shoulders and fastened around the waist by a skillfully woven band. On each shoulder was an onyx stone engraved with the names of six of the tribes of Israel. Attached to the ephod was the breastpiece, which contained the Urim and Thummim. The ephod was colorful and intricately embroidered.
The ephod served several important functions:
1. The ephod was a symbol of the priestly office
The ephod set the high priest apart and gave him a unique status before God and the people. Only the high priest could wear such a garment, which distinguished him and the importance of his office (Exodus 28:4). The magnificent appearance of the ephod, with its gold and colorful embroidered linen, displayed the glory and beauty of the priestly service.
2. The ephod facilitated access to God
One of the high priest’s primary duties was representing the people before God. As Exodus 28:30 states, “so Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.” The stones on his shoulders symbolized the priest bearing the weight of the people while the breastpiece and the Urim and Thummim allowed him to discern God’s will for them.
3. The ephod was used for divine consultation
The most important function of the ephod was seeking God’s guidance for the nation. As 1 Samuel 23:9-12 and 30:7-8 describe, David inquired of the Lord by having the priest bring the ephod and consult the Urim and Thummim to determine God’s instructions in various military situations. This process allowed the high priest to convey divine oracles and gave authority to his messages. The ephod was a vital conduit of divine revelation.
Other key passages on the use of the ephod for inquiry include Numbers 27:21 and Judges 20:27-28. Though the exact mechanism is unknown, the ephod was clearly a tool through which the high priest could interact with God and communicate His words.
4. The ephod was used in worship rituals
In some contexts, wearing the ephod implies engaging in formal worship of God. In 1 Samuel 2:28, Samuel as a boy is described as “wearing a linen ephod” as he served the Lord. Similarly, David danced in an ephod to celebrate the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6:14. The ephod was ceremonial garb for priestly service and worship.
5. The ephod reminded people of God’s covenant
The ephod bore the names of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing that the high priest represented the entire nation before God. This served as a reminder of God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 28:12). The high priest thus carried the covenant obligations upon his shoulders as he stood in God’s presence in the tabernacle or temple.
6. The ephod was used for unorthodox worship
Sadly, at times the ephod was misused in idolatrous worship, as in the cases of Gideon and Micah described in Judges 8:27 and 17:5. Apparently, these men were creating their own local shrines and unauthorized priests, attempting to worship the true God but in disobedience to His commands. Even if well intended, using the ephod outside its divinely mandated context led to problems.
In summary, the ephod played a vital symbolic and functional role for the high priest and for worship in Israel. It represented the priestly office, facilitated access to God, conveyed divine guidance, was worn for worship ceremonies, reminded the people of the covenant, but was also sometimes misused in idolatrous worship. When used properly according to God’s instructions, the ephod filled an important place in Israel’s religious life.
Now that we have covered a high-level overview of the significance of the ephod, let’s look at some more specific details from key Bible passages:
Exodus 28 – Instructions for the Ephod’s Design
Exodus 28 contains God’s detailed instructions to Moses regarding the garments for Aaron and his sons to wear as priests. Verses 6-14 focus specifically on the ephod:
– It was to be made of fine linen and gold, with skillfully woven threads and gold filigree (v.6)
– It had two shoulder pieces joined at the edges (v.7)
– It was to be securely fastened with a woven band around the waist (v.8)
– Two engraved onyx stones were to be attached to the shoulder pieces, each engraved with six names of Israel’s tribes (vv.9-12)
– It was to have two gold filigree settings and two gold chains attached to the shoulder pieces for holding the stones in place (vv. 13-14)
This passage emphasizes the priest’s role of representing the 12 tribes before God, with the weight of their names borne on his shoulders. The ephod was to be strong, secure, and gloriously beautiful, befitting the priest’s sacred duties.
Exodus 39 – The Ephod is Made According to Specifications
After God gave the instructions for the priestly garments, Exodus 39 records how they actually constructed them. Verses 2-7 report specifically on the ephod:
– Bezalel took fine linen yarn and gold thread to skillfully weave the ephod as commanded (v.2)
– He hammered out gold sheets into thin plates from which he cut threads to work into the weaving (v.3)
– The ephod had two shoulder pieces attached at the edges (v.4)
– The waistband was woven with the same materials as the ephod, just as God had instructed Moses (vv. 5-7)
This passage emphasizes how meticulously the craftsmen followed each detail of God’s instructions, ensuring the ephod was constructed in the way He desired.
Leviticus 8 – The Ephod is Placed on Aaron at His Ordination
Leviticus 8 describes the process for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. As part of this ceremony, Moses places the newly made priestly garments on them. Verses 7-9 focus on clothing Aaron with the ephod:
– Moses put the tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around him (v.7)
– He placed the breastpiece on Aaron and put the Urim and Thummim within it (v.8)
– Next he set the turban on Aaron’s head and attached the gold plate to the front of it (v.9)
Thus the ephod was officially inaugurated as part of the high priest’s ceremonial costume when Aaron was set apart for the priesthood. This constituted the ephod’s initiation into regular priestly use.
1 Samuel 23 – David Inquires of the Lord with the Ephod
1 Samuel 23 provides an example of the ephod being used to seek guidance from God. When David learns that the Philistines are attacking Keilah and robbing their threshing floors, he asks Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod so he can inquire of the Lord:
“Then David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah'” (1 Samuel 23:2).
Again when David learns that Saul is seeking him in Keilah, he has Abiathar bring the ephod to ask if the people will surrender him, and the Lord indicates they will (1 Samuel 23:11-12). So David departs to protect himself.
This passage demonstrates the portability and accessibility of the ephod for urgent divine guidance, and how David relied on it in vulnerable military situations.
1 Samuel 30 – David Inquires Again with the Ephod
In 1 Samuel 30, David pursues a band of Amalekites who had raided Ziklag and taken captive his family and the families of his men. Verse 7 states that David calls for Abiathar to bring him the ephod so he can inquire of the Lord whether he should pursue the band. The Lord indicates he will overtake them and succeed in recovering all who were taken.
Once again, we see David pairing his own military strategy with seeking God’s instructions through the ephod. The ephod provided divine confirmation and direction to guide David’s next moves on the battlefield.
Hosea 3 – Lack of Ephod a Sign of Spiritual Ruin
The final passages mentioning the ephod focus on its loss as a symbol of spiritual ruins:
“For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods” (Hosea 3:4).
“My God will cast them far from his presence…the days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred. The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God; yet a fowler’s snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins” (Hosea 9:7-9).
Without righteous leadership, true worship, or access to divine revelation, Israel had entered a deep state of apostasy and judgment. The loss of the ephod represented this spiritual desolation.
Now that we have surveyed some key passages, let’s explore the significance of the ephod in more detail:
Materials of the Ephod
The ephod was made of linen and gold (Exodus 28:6). The linen was likely white, suggesting purity. It was also skillfully woven, implying complexity, beauty, and effort. Gold wire and plates were hammered out and cut into threads, then interwoven into the fabric. The workmanship was exquisite.
These luxurious materials fittingly represented the glory, beauty, and importance of the high priest’s office. They depicted the spiritual riches invested in the priest as God’s chosen intermediary. Yet they were not gaudy or overstated. The ephod had grandeur but also dignity and elegance befitting sacred duties.
Shoulder Pieces and Stones
The key feature of the ephod was the pair of onyx stones attached to the shoulders, engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. Each stone likely had six names, one for each of the six major tribes from the sons of Leah and Rachel respectively. The high priest thus figuratively bore the tribes’ names on his shoulders as he ministered before God.
The shoulder pieces also held the breastpiece in place, which contained the Urim and Thummim – objects used for discerning God’s will. So the ephod shoulders supported this means of divine guidance.
Carrying the 12 tribes symbolically on the priest’s shoulders displayed his unique role as their representative to God. And extending from those shoulders was the breastpiece with the Urim and Thummim, emphasizing the ephod’s link to divine revelation.
Waistband
The ephod waistband fastened the garment securely in place on the priest’s upper body. This band was beautifully woven with the same materials as the ephod (Exodus 29:5). It bound the shoulder pieces together skillfully so the ephod remained intact.
This integration reflected the priest’s duty to bear the tribes together before God as one nation. The waistband unified the shoulders and the stones carrying their names. He brought all Israel – unified, intact – into God’s presence through wearing the ephod.
Role of High Priest
As seen in key passages, a primary role of the high priest was seeking God’s guidance for the people, often during crises like war and battles. Leaders like David consulted God through the high priest and ephod to make critical decisions. The ephod provided a divinely sanctioned means for the priest to access God’s wisdom and convey it authoritatively.
The priest also represented the people to God through intercession and sacrifice. Wearing the engraved stones showed how the priest bore the tribes spiritually into God’s presence. What a privilege to have divinely appointed mediation before the Lord Most High!
Loss of the Ephod
The absence of the ephod eventually signified Israel’s spiritual demise. When prophecy ceased and paganism increased, they no longer had priestly access to God’s revelation. Without the ephod, the high priest could not consult God on their behalf.
But originally, God designed the ephod as part of a wise system of worship and guidance. Through this unique garment, the priest could corporately represent the people to God and convey God’s word back to them. The ephod was a vital tool for righteous leadership.
Foreshadowing Christ
Like other aspects of the priestly system, the ephod foreshadowed Christ’s greater priestly ministry. Jesus perfectly represents believers before God as the great High Priest. He bore our sin once for all on His cross. And through His Spirit, Christ makes God’s will known to us today. The ephod symbolized these realities which find their fulfillment in Christ.
In conclusion, the ephod served as a significant garment for the high priest within God’s religious system for Israel. Its materials and craftsmanship reflected the sanctity of the priestly office. Bearing the tribes’ names upon his shoulders displayed the priest’s intercessory role. The integration of its parts modeled solidarity. And the golden breastpiece facilitated divine guidance. Losing the ephod later signified deep apostasy. While the ephod itself faded, its truths still instruct us about Christ’s priesthood. Through His sacrifice and present work, Jesus fulfills all that the ephod symbolized.
