The Lord called Moses up to the mountaintop for 40 days and nights where He directed him and the people of Israel, how they were to construct the Tabernacle. Beginning with the center Holy of holies and Ark of the covenant, God’s direction worked outward to the outer court. Before the Lord will conclude His detailed instructions, we come to a two chapter pause that dwells on those who will minister within the Tabernacle, the Priests of the Lord. This is the longest section within the section describing the construction of the Tabernacle.
Aaron, Moses’ brother, has already played a prominent role in the book of Exodus, but here in our text, Aaron is called to be a priest unto the Lord. Exodus 28:1-2 begins: “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. The Lord calls and sets apart particular Israelites, namely Aaron and his sons, for His service. The Lord not only called those who would serve Him, but He also adorned them in holy garments; so, Aaron and his sons would be set apart spiritually for the priesthood visibly by what they would wear. In verse 4, the Lord commanded them to make a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. The colors and material for the garments was to be the same that were used to make the Tabernacle: “gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen” (28:5).
