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1. Tunic: Made of pure white linen in a box-stitch (similar to the setting of a ring). It
extended from the neck to the toes and wrists, modestly covering the entire body.
2. Cloak: Worn
over the tunic, the cloak was a four cornered garment made entirely of blue wool dyed from the "Chilazon" (type of snail). The
cloak went over the head with a hole in the middle, stitched with a double stitch so it wouldn't tear. On its hem hung
golden bells, as well as red, blue, and purple ornaments in the shapes of pomegranates. When the High Priest walked,
you could hear the bells ringing.
3. Apron: Worn over the cloak, it was woven from a multi-stranded thread of white
linen, and red, blue, and purple wool. In addition, a sheet of gold was beaten very thin, and narrow thread-like strands
were cut from it to be added to the other colors.
The apron covered the bottom part of the body, and the straps went
up and over the shoulders. On the two shoulders rested two precious stones, each engraved with the names of 6 tribes.
(Although the Torah prohibits wearing wool and linen in the same garment, this is one example of a positive commandment overriding
a negative one.)
4. Breastplate: Worn over the apron, it was woven from linen and 3 colors of wool,
with settings for 12 precious stones arranged in 4 rows of 3. The stones were engraved with each of the names of the Twelve
Tribes, and also had the Patriarchs' names and the words "Tribes of the Yahveh" - in order to contain all the letters of the
Aleph Bet.
The breastplate was connected to the belt of the apron, and fastened with blue straps and gold chains. The
inner fold contained a parchment inscribed with Yahveh's name, called the "Urim V'tumim". When the king had a question
concerning the nation (such as "Should we go to war?"), the High Priest would face the Holy of Holies and inquire. The
letters of the breastplate would light up in a specific arrangement, giving the answer from Heaven.
5. Belt: Worn over the tunic. It was very long and made of the above mentioned 4 colors. It
was wrapped many times around the body, near the heart.
6. Turban: Made of white linen, wrapped
around the head many times. The turban of the regular priest came to a point, while the High Priest's turban was flat
on top.
7. Gold Plate: Over the turban, but with enough space for the Tefillin, was a gold plate
that rested on the forehead of the High Priest. It was fastened to the turban and tied to the back of the head with blue
straps. It was engraved with the words "Holy to Yahveh."
8. Pants: Made of pure white linen, reaching from the waist to the knees. The
pants were not mentioned in the list of garments called "honor and glory" because their purpose was for "common decency."
The regular priests wore 4 garments:
(1) Tunic
(2) Turban
(3) Belt
(4) Pants
On Yom Kippur, before entering the Holy of Holies, the High Priest changed into an all-white linen tunic,
turban, belt and pants. The reason he wore no gold was because gold was a reminder of the sin of the Golden Calf, a display
of idolatry which is inappropriate to "mention" in the Holy of Holies.
Rabbinic Interpretation Of The Garments
1. Gold symbolizes purity of the heart. Linen represents the physical aspect of man. Red
wool corresponds to the blood of the Lamb. Blue wool conveys the Heavenly - spirituality. Purple wool is a combination
of blue and red, symbolizing that man is both physical and spiritual.
2. The regular priest represents man striving to reach Yahveh. The tunic has box stitches like the
setting of a ring to imply his readiness to reach the final goal. The belt's function was girding oneself in preparation
(as at the Exodus when the Jews ate the Passover sacrifice with their belts on, ready to travel.) The turbans came to
a point, as if to proclaim: "I'm on my way up!"
3. The High Priest represents humanity's highest spiritual level. His turban is flat and
means "I reached the top". (This is only symbolic and doesn't mean the High Priests were 'infallible') In the First Temple
the priests were great men, however in the Second Temple there was a period when the position was sold by the Roman governor
to the highest bidder. When these unscrupulous men entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, they died on the spot
and had to be dragged out by a rope tied around their waists. In spite of this, they still vied for the honor and privilege
of being in Yahveh's presence.
4. White linen represents perfection - Be ye perfect, says Yahveh to His people. The pants
'atoned' for sexual transgressions. The turban atoned for conceited thoughts. And the tunic covered the entire body
and atoned for murder. This corresponds to the outer courtyard of the Tabernacle that was surrounded with curtains of white
linen.
5. The belt and apron also contained red wool, purple wool and blue wool - corresponding to the covering
of the Tabernacle which contained all these colors. In addition, it also contained a strip of gold to stress the purity
of heart required to serve the Almighty. The belt atoned for immoral thoughts, and the apron for idolatrous intentions.
6. The totally blue cloak - signifies totally immersed in spirituality - that's what it's all about! However
this doesn't mean giving up all worldly pleasures and signing it all away to some tel-evangelist! On the contrary, there were
pomegranates on the bottom of the cloak, teaching that we eat the 'fruits' of our efforts in this world (besides the
principle which remains for the World to Come). Also on the bottom of the cloak were gold (purity) bells, as we proclaim
our beliefs for all to hear. The Rabbis say that the cloak atoned for evil gossip, which is why its collar was double-stitched,
hinting of the two barriers that protect the tongue (teeth and lips). Also, the bells made noise, hinting to the atonement
of sins done by speech.
7. Now that we've established our relationship with Yahveh, we come to the breastplate and the Jewish
people. We unite with all the various tribes of Israel. Every tribe is represented by a precious stone and contributes
to the nation as a whole. The straps that fasten the breastplate are blue (heavenly), and the chains that hold it are
gold (purity). The breastplate atoned for misjudgments of the courts.
8. Finally we arrive at the gold plate on the High Priest's forehead, representing the Holy of Holies
in the Temple. It is secured over the turban with blue straps (heavenly), is made of solid gold (purity), and is inscribed
"Holy to Yahveh." This is the essence of the highest spiritual level.
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