I wonder how some would juxtapose the two following texts?
These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use
gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. "Make the ephod of
gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with
gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen. "Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in
gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. Make
gold filigree settings and two braided chains of
pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings. "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of
gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a
ruby, a
topaz and a
beryl; in the second row a
turquoise, a
sapphire and an
emerald; in the third row a
jacinth, an
agate and an
amethyst; in the fourth row a
chrysolite, an
onyx and a
jasper. Mount them in
gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes. "For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. Make two
gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. Make two
gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more
gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod. "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD. "Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with
gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die. "Make a plate of
pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal:
HOLY TO THE LORD.
(
Exo 28:4-36)
And then the following text used to ban all "flashy stuff" and "baubles".
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair,
and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
(1Pe 3:3)
If it's unholy to wear gold, and it always has been, as contended by the hard right, why was the high priest ordered to wear it, along with a whole boatload of other jewelry, into the Holy of Holies?
I got to thinking that Aaron and company would be denied fellowship by many of our good brethren unless we were able to convince them to replace God's traditions for their man made ones.
It makes a man ponder..........