The Levites; Garments of the Priests
By Mrs. S. N. Haskell
ONE entire tribe of Israel was set apart for the service of the sanctuary. When we remember the last words spoken to Levi by his father Jacob, as he lay on his death-bed, we might wonder that the tribe of Levi was chosen for that sacred work. When Jacob remembered the sins of Levi, he pronounced almost a curse instead of a blessing upon his son, and closed it with these words: "I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." Gen. 49:5-7. Wondrous is the love of our God, that can change a curse into a blessing. Neh. 13:2. Only a mighty God can change scarlet sins, and make them white as snow. Isa. 1:18. The impulsive nature that under the control of Satan drives a man to commit desperate crimes, is not removed when he is converted. It is the same impetuosity, consecrated under the control of Christ, that makes the same man a valiant warrior for the Lord. Saul, the desperate persecutor, when converted was Paul, the leading apostle. The fearless character that when controlled by Satan led Levi to murder the Shechemites, when controlled by the grace of God enabled the Levites to take their stand boldly on the Lord's side when the mass of Israel went over into idolatry. Ex. 32:26-29. God then turned the curse into a blessing; He said because they had observed His law and kept His covenant, they should teach Jacob His judgments and Israel His law. Deut. 33:8-11. In order that their influence for good might be more widely felt throughout Israel, the Lord, instead of giving them one portion of the land for their inheritance, as He had given the other tribes, appointed as the portion of the Levites forty-eight cities scattered among all the tribes. Num. 18:20; 35:1-8. Truly they were divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel; but the curse was turned into a blessing. Our God is the same "yesterday, and to-day, and forever." When He pronounces evil against a nation or individual because of their wickedness, if they turn from their evil, God says He "will repent of the evil" He "thought to do unto them," and as in the case of Levi, a blessing will come instead of the curse. Jer. 18:7-10. The term "Levite" was applied to all the priesthood, but only the descendants of Aaron were to hold the office of priest. The remainder of the tribe were to do the service of the sanctuary under the direction of the priests. The Levites were not allowed to officiate as priests at the altar of burnt offering, nor to do any of the priest's work within the veil. The Levites were to serve or minister to the priests; but the priests were to minister for the people before the Lord. Num. 18:1-8. The Levites were consecrated to the work of the sanctuary by the whole assembly of Israel laying their hands on the heads of the Levites before the Lord, and then Aaron offered "the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel." Sacrifices were also slain to complete the consecration. Num. 8:9-14. The Levites were taken by the Lord instead of5the first-born of Israel. Num. 8:17, 18. While journeying in the wilderness, they carried all that pertained to the tabernacle; but altho they carried the sacred furniture of the sanctuary, they were never permitted even to look upon it. Neither could they offer sacrifices or burn incense. Num. 4:20. After the temple was built, the work of waiting on the priests in the sanctuary service was given to the Levites. They prepared the showbread, often led the singing, collected the tithe, and did a large amount of work in connection with the service of the Lord. 1 Chron. 23:24-32. In the time of David, they began the service of the sanctuary at the age of twenty. At fifty years of age they were "to return from the warfare of the service." Num. 8:25, 26, margin. They were not discharged; they still had charge of the work, but were not expected to perform arduous duties. The work of the Levites was largely confined to the court, and thus typified the work of the gospel ministry of the present day. The garments worn by the ordinary priests were of white linen, a fit emblem of the "Spotless One" of whom their ministry was a type. The white robe was woven in one piece, and extended nearly to the feet, confined at the waist with a white linen girdle, embroidered in blue, purple, and red. A white linen turban or bonnet covered the head. These articles, with the linen breeches which were worn by all officiating priests, completed the costume of the common priests. These garments of white linen were made for "glory and for beauty." Ex. 28:40-42. Only the family of Aaron could wear the beautiful garments of the priest; but there are robes of "fine linen, clean and white," in store for every overcomer. Rev. 19:8. Even in this life, Christ clothes His faithful ones with "the garments of salvation" and "the robe of righteousness." Isa. 61:10. The pure white garments were worn by the high priest on ordinary occasions; but when he entered the most holy place to make atonement for the people, he was clad in gorgeous robes which fitly represented our High Priest as He confesses the names of His people before the judgment-seat of the Judge of the whole earth. The high priest always wore the long, white linen robe of the common priest. Over this was a robe of blue woven in one piece, beautifully ornamented around the skirt with golden bells and pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet. The ephod, a beautiful embroidered sleeveless garment of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white, was worn over the blue robe. This was shorter than the other garments, and confined at the waist by a beautifully embroidered girdle of the same color. On the gold-embroidered shoulders of the ephod were two onyx stones. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were engraved on these stones, six names on each shoulder, thus typifying the Mighty One who bears the perplexities and burdens of His people upon His shoulder. Isa. 9:6. While the robe of blue, with its golden bells and the handsomely embroidered ephod, was beautiful, yet the crowning feature in all the gorgeous robe of the high priest was the breastplate worn over his heart as he officiated in the holy of holies before the Lord. The breastplate was of the same material as the ephod. It was in the form of a square, and measured a span. There were twelve precious stones, arranged three in a row, and set in gold. On each stone was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The stones of the breastplate were the same as those forming the foundation of the New Jerusalem. In the breastplate were two brilliant stones, called the Urim and Thummim. By means of these stones, the mind of the Lord could be ascertained through the high priest. When questions were asked, if light encircled the precious stone at the right, the answer was in the affirmative; but if light encircled the stone at the left, the answer was negative. The breastplate was attached to the ephod, and that is why we read of David calling for the priest to bring the ephod when he was undecided as to what course to pursue, that he might know the mind of the Lord. There was one other article belonging to the high priest's garments,—the miter. It was a gold plate bearing the inscription "Holiness to Jehovah." This was fastened by a blue lace to the white linen bonnet or turban worn by the priests. No priest was allowed to wear the priestly garments, except when officiating in the work of the sanctuary. Eze. 44:19. There was a beautiful significance to the high priest's wearing the names of all Israel on his shoulders and over his heart as he performed the work which typified the judgment when the cases of every one will come up in review before God. The breastplate was called the breastplate of judgment. Ex. 28:15. These names engraved on the stones were a beautiful type of the names of the overcomers which Christ will confess before the Father and the angels. Stone is an enduring substance; but far more enduring is the Book of Life, where the confessed names are written to remain forever. Rev. 3:5. Ex. 28:32. The high priest's garment was woven all of one piece.
Ex. 28:15-21. The breastplate of judgment contained the names of the twelve tribes, and was worn over the heart of the high priest as he performed the work which typified the judgment work. John 19:23. Christ's earthly garment was woven in one piece.
Rev. 3:5. As each individual name comes up in review before God in the judgment, Christ will confess the names of the overcomers, and their names will remain in the Book of Life.