This sheet on Exodus 28 was written by Marc Bregman for 929 and can also be found here
Imagine Aaron, the first High Priest, in his priestly garments, as described in Exodus 28:31-35 (see also Exodus 39:22-25).
“You shall make the robe of the ephod of pure blue. The opening for the head shall be in the middle of it; the opening shall have a binding of woven work round about—it shall be like the opening of a coat of mail—so that it does not tear. On its hem make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the hem, with bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. Aaron shall wear it while officiating, so that the sound of it is heard when he comes into the sanctuary before the Lord and when he goes out—that he may not die.”
The sages of the Talmud (Zevahim 88b) followed by later Jewish authorities (and even some Christian commentators) discussed the details of what became a priestly dress code in the period of the First, the Second (and even according to some, the future Third) Temples in Jerusalem.
“Our Rabbis taught: The robe [me'il] was entirely of blue [tekheket] wool, as it is said, ‘And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.’ (Exodus 39:22). How were its hems [fashioned]? Blue and purple wool and crimson thread twisted together were brought and formed into the shape of pomegranates whose ‘mouths’ [i.e. calyx, crown] were not yet opened and in the shape of the cones on top of the wicker helmets for roughhousing children. Seventy-two bells containing seventy-two clappers were brought and hung within them, thirty-six on each side [front and back]. Rabbi Dosa said on the authority of Rabbi Judah: There were thirty-six, eighteen on each side…The robe atones for lashon ha-ra [“evil speech”]. Rabbi Hanina’ said: ‘Let that which emits sound [the golden bells] come and atone for a voice that emitted evil speech’”.
Golden bells, like those described in our sources, have been discovered in archaeological sites in Israel and are depicted on priestly garments in ancient Near Eastern art. In 2011, one such golden bell was reported as having been discovered in the excavations in the City of David. This bell seems to have fallen off the garment of some high official -- if not a High Priest himself -- as he walked on the main street to or from the sacrificial service in the Sanctuary in Second Temple Times. This golden bell, the size of a finger-tip, is completely closed, but x-ray examination revealed that inside is a small suspended clapper. When shaken, the tiny bell produced a pure tone (measurable in scientific musical notation as B3 240Hz). So now we can imagine, not only the sight, but also the sound of the High Priest officiating in the Temple in Jerusalem.
“You shall make the robe of the ephod of pure blue. The opening for the head shall be in the middle of it; the opening shall have a binding of woven work round about—it shall be like the opening of a coat of mail—so that it does not tear. On its hem make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the hem, with bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. Aaron shall wear it while officiating, so that the sound of it is heard when he comes into the sanctuary before the Lord and when he goes out—that he may not die.”
The sages of the Talmud (Zevahim 88b) followed by later Jewish authorities (and even some Christian commentators) discussed the details of what became a priestly dress code in the period of the First, the Second (and even according to some, the future Third) Temples in Jerusalem.
“Our Rabbis taught: The robe [me'il] was entirely of blue [tekheket] wool, as it is said, ‘And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.’ (Exodus 39:22). How were its hems [fashioned]? Blue and purple wool and crimson thread twisted together were brought and formed into the shape of pomegranates whose ‘mouths’ [i.e. calyx, crown] were not yet opened and in the shape of the cones on top of the wicker helmets for roughhousing children. Seventy-two bells containing seventy-two clappers were brought and hung within them, thirty-six on each side [front and back]. Rabbi Dosa said on the authority of Rabbi Judah: There were thirty-six, eighteen on each side…The robe atones for lashon ha-ra [“evil speech”]. Rabbi Hanina’ said: ‘Let that which emits sound [the golden bells] come and atone for a voice that emitted evil speech’”.
Golden bells, like those described in our sources, have been discovered in archaeological sites in Israel and are depicted on priestly garments in ancient Near Eastern art. In 2011, one such golden bell was reported as having been discovered in the excavations in the City of David. This bell seems to have fallen off the garment of some high official -- if not a High Priest himself -- as he walked on the main street to or from the sacrificial service in the Sanctuary in Second Temple Times. This golden bell, the size of a finger-tip, is completely closed, but x-ray examination revealed that inside is a small suspended clapper. When shaken, the tiny bell produced a pure tone (measurable in scientific musical notation as B3 240Hz). So now we can imagine, not only the sight, but also the sound of the High Priest officiating in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
