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Atomic Bible
Exodus 39:1-7·~1 min

The Ephod

The garments for sanctuary ministry are made from blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, and gold, with the ephod and its waistband woven as one skilled piece. The repeated note of command keeps the workmanship tied to obedience.

F1rom the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 2Bezalel made the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 3They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen — the work of a skilled craftsman. 4They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 5And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship — with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel’s sons are set on the ephod’s shoulders as memorial stones. The garment carries the tribes before the LORD in the form he commanded.

6They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. 7Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Section summaryThe ephod is made with costly materials, skilled work, and engraved stones bearing Israel’s names. The section lingers over its craft so the garment appears not as ornament alone, but as a commanded sign carried before the LORD.
Role in the chapterThis opening section continues the account of tabernacle completion by turning to the priestly garments. It shows that the same careful obedience shaping the sanctuary also shapes the one who will minister within it.