Parashat Tetzaveh– you shall command

Parashat Tetzaveh– you shall command                                                by Shelley Wood Gauld                                    Ex 27:20 – 30:10, Ez 43:10 – 27, Heb 13:10 – 17

“You are to make for your brother Aaron garments set apart for serving God, expressing dignity and splendour….. so that he can serve me in the office of cohen”

HaShem decreed that Aaron, his high priest, be distinguished from the rest of the Israelites not only by means of specific duties and conduct, but by means of his glorious attire. The garments and accessories of the Cohen Gadol (high priest) would serve to express the ‘otherness’ of His role as mediator between HaElyon (the Almighty) and this nation. Royal, splendid and costly was his clothing ~ eminently appropriate for the earthly representative of ‘Adon Olam’ ~ Lord of the World.

The barefooted cohen gadol of Israel wore a ketonet (a full length white tunic made of ‘shaatnez’, a mixture of wool and linen, that was reserved specifically for this purpose) a michnasayim (short pants), an ‘avnet’ (long sash wound above the waist), a me’il (a blue woollen coat with golden bells and pomegranates attached to the hem, an efod (an apron-like garment made of blue, purple and red wool, and linen and gold thread), and an ornate ‘choshen mishpat’ (breastplate of judgement). The sound of the tinkling bells emanating from the Holy place served as a reminder for Israel to pray for him as he went about his duties. A migba’at (white and blue linen turban) to which was attached a ‘tzitz (a golden headband) bearing the inscription ‘Holy to the Lord’ crowned his head. The high priest of Israel was set apart from those on whose behalf he served.

The choshen (breastplate) of the cohen hagadolim (high priests) was glorious. Twelve stones, arranged in four rows of three stones, featured the names of the tribes – in birth order. This sumptuous array of gemstones, symbolizing the Children of Israel, was ‘worn across his heart’ daily as he served HaShem. They were attached to the front face of a pouch which contained two more gemstones – Urim V’tummin (‘lights’ and ‘perfections’). These two stones were used in the deciphering of the will of HaShem. In Targum Jonathan we read that when a matter was brought to the high priest for resolution, he would sometimes hold the Urim before the menorah and it would illuminate certain letters on the gemstones to reveal the answer… The breastplate is therefore also called ‘the breastplate of judgement’ or ‘breastplate of decision’.

In the Book of Hebrews Yeshua, of the tribe of Judah (not Levi), is described as our eternal ‘High Priest’ ~ after the order of Mekhi-Tzedek. This ‘Anointed One’ (Mashiach) was also ‘Holy to the Lord’, but His clothing was very different to that of the Levitical high priests… What were the garments that set Yeshua apart to serve God? Were they garments of dignity and splendour? At His birth in the ‘sukkah’ of Bet-Lekhem, He was wrapped in ‘swaddling clothes’ (clean rags). During His ministry, as commanded in Numbers 15:37-39, He, as with all Jewish men, would have worn a talit every day. At that time a talit was not a prayer shawl. It was a four cornered robe bearing tzitziyot (ritual fringes). Traditionally, each tzitzit (fringe) consisted of four long white strands and one blue strand (symbolising purity and heaven). These were passed through the holes at the corners of the garment and then knotted five times (representing the Five Books of Moses). The tzitziyot, linked to the commandments, were considered to be holy.

While performing His most sublime duty, Yeshua was draped in a purple robe (a symbol of royalty) ~ while being struck in the face, spat upon and having his beard hairs plucked out. At ‘The Place of the Skull’ (‘Gulgolta’), He was stripped naked, thus revealing the mark of circumcision on His flesh. The five items of clothing He had been wearing were removed and divided among four Roman executioners ~ for the fifth, a seamless under-robe woven in one piece from top to bottom, they cast lots. One of these garments must have been Yeshua’s talit, which was ‘Holy to the Lord’.

His headdress was a crown of sharp thorns shoved down onto His head ~ piercing his scalp and causing rivulets of blood to mingle with sweat and tears.  Yeshua suffered not only excruciating pain, but crushing humiliation and shame... He died naked, in agony, utterly demeaned and alone… He had set Himself apart to serve HaShem in the office of Cohen Gadol, by removing all evidence of His mantle of divinity and by clothing Himself with the filthy rags of the world’s sicknesses of soul… But the derisive crudely written sign, “Yeshua from Natzeret ~ The King of the Jews”, that was nailed to the cross above His head, revealed a great truth. He was indeed a Jew, a ‘Son of the Commandment’. He was also a King ~ and ‘across his heart’ were those He would seek and save… Who can fathom the depths of His unyielding love… 

Baruch haba beshem Adonai ~ Blessed is He who comes in the name of Adonai…