My Thoughts:
Forming a picture of what the Tabernacle and priestly garments would look like is often difficult. Many people have done research on this and I came upon a really great video today. Check it out: Priestly Garments. The most interesting item in the garment selection is the ephod. A sort of breast plate worn over the high priest's chest -- with the names of the twelve tribes engraved each on a special stone. And in addition a stone on each shoulder with the names of the tribes. Why was this important? The obvious answer is that Hashem carries us all on His shoulders and places our names over His heart. Just as the priests would carry the tribes, I believe so does Hashem. Think about it today. It is a wonderful feeling to know you are cared about so much by the Holy One of Israel!
Challenge:
Once again, every detail is given to the priests and the Tabernacle. Our Elohim is perfect and cares about everything -- even the smallest things. If He is so detailed about creating things -- so shouldn't we be? Sometimes I get in a hurry and overlook the small details of a project. But, after reading today's portion it makes me think we should be more careful. Maybe you are working on something today. Slow down and take time to carefully consider the smallest tasks. Whether you are creating or performing -- pay attention to it all. Make all you do as perfect as possible. Give it your best. Amen.
Reading #2 - Exodus 39:2-21
2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. 4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends. 5 The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as Hashem commanded Moses.
6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. 7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Hashem commanded Moses.
8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double. 10 They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; 11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. 14 The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes. 15 They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. 16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front. 19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. 20 They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Hashem commanded Moses.
