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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Exodus 28:31:
Exodus 28:31-35
Excerpted from: The Priesthood of God (Part 7)The coat and the girdle were worn by the ordinary priest as well as the high priest. Symbolically, God is signaling that all priests must be righteous—that is the minimum requirement. The robe is the first item mentioned that is exclusively worn by the high priest.
There are two other interesting aspects of the blue robe. The first is that like Christ's robe, it was seamless, having only a hole for the head to pass through. (We read of this in the book of Exodus.) That hole God specifically pointed out was bound by a neck band. That neck band is what is so interesting. It even mentions there in the scriptures that it was woven to the strength of a habergeon.
One final curious item is that at the bottom of the hem of the robe, it was adorned with small bells that tinkled as the priest walked. In between each bell was a cloth pomegranate separating each bell to keep them from striking each other. Men assume that when the priest walked, there was a melodic sound. It was not jangled—that is why the pomegranate was there—because each bell made a nice clear melodic sound as he walked. So that it was not unpleasant. It was not jangling at all.
Now what God says directly is that when the high priest went in to the holy place, you could hear him walking around in there. In other words, the bells were there so that people would know that he was still alive, because they were not in there with him.
Anytime he went in there, he was alone communing with God. In a way, it was a reminder to the high priest, "Remember Nadab and Abihu!" They took their job lightly; and they were dead in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye when lighting came out from God and struck them dead as they were going about their duties around the tabernacle.
In a way, anybody who was serious about his relationship with God in the centuries that followed would be reminded about what happened to Nadab and Abihu. So the high priest had those bells on the robe that those outside would know that their high priest was at least faithfully following through and God accepted what he was doing inside.
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