Exod. xxviii. 39.

bout the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about.

Whether the Girdle of the Ephod (for fo we must call the whole Robe) which was to be curious, and of the fame rich Materials with the reft, were connected with it, to bind it close to the Body; or were a separate Thing, to be fuperinduc'd upon and encircle the midst of it, is fomewhat uncertain. Though it is probable it was the latter; because there is a distinct Precept for the making of it, given, after that, concerning the Plate of Gold, which was to be upon the Mitre; and the under Coat or Caffock, of fine Linnen embroidered: And thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

*It is the peculiar Name for the upper Garment which the Priest wore, when he officiated, or was confulted; as well in private Houfes, as in the Tabernacle or Temple. (Judges viii. 27. xvii. 5.) And a Garment, call'd by that Name, was worn fometimes by those who, ftrictly speaking, were not Priefts: as by Samuel, when he was a Child; (1 Sam. ii. 18.) and by David when he danc'd before the Ark (2 Sam. vi. 14.) But, as both these were holy Occafions, it it is probable the Ephod was properly an holy Robe; and never worn by any, but those who ferv'd in fome holy Employment.

Upon

xxviii.

36, &c..

Upon the Mitre, which was to be made of fine Linnen, was to be put a * Plate of Gold, with these Words engraven upon it, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Thou Exod. Shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be; And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Ifrael shall hallow in all their holy gifts: and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

40.

In Conclufion, it is faid; And for Exod. Aaron's fons thou shalt make coats, and thou xxviii. fhalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt· thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his fons with him; and shalt · anoint them, and confecrate them, and fanEtify them, that they may minifter unto me, in the priest's office. And thou shalt make them linnen breeches to cover their nakednefs: from the loins even unto the thighs, they fhall reach. And they shall be upon Aaron,

* This, is afterwards (29. 6.) call'd the Holy Crown.

and

xxix. 29,

&c.

and upon his fons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar, to minifter in the holy place.

Exod. And lastly, it is written, that The holy garments of Aaron fhall be his fons after bim, to be anointed therein, and to be confecrated in them. And that fon, that is prieft in his fead, fhall put them on, Seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minifter in the holy place.

Exod. xxxix.

Lev. viii.

Exod.

xxix.

So far, the Precepts relating to the Vestments of the High-Prieft. That they were made accordingly may be seen in another Place; and, in a third, that Mofes put them upon Aaron at the Time of his being confecrated to the High-Prief's Office. Of which we are to speak next.

Confecration of the High-Prieft.

This Ceremony which was to last seven Days, began with the Preparation of the Sacrifices; the Particulars of which may better be seen at large in the Book of the Law, than tranfcrib'd here. Then, follows;

Aaron

xxix. 4.

Aaron and his fons, thou shalt bring unto Exod. the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. And thou shalt take the garments and put upon Aaron,&c,These we have already describ'd. But when the Mitre and holy Crown are Exod. put on, it is order'd; Then shalt thou take xxix. 10. the anointing oyl, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. Which was a Ceremony peculiar to the High-Prieft alone.

Next, it is faid; And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation; and Aaron and bis fons, Shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock. And thou shalt kill the bullock, and take of his blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, with thy finger, and pour all the blood befide the bottom of the altar, &c. as before, in the Sin-Offering. Then, in like manner a Ram, for a Burnt-Offering. Then, to be kill'd as the former, another Ram, for a Confecration-Offering; of the Blood of which Mofes is commanded to take, and to put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and of his fons, thumb of their right hand,

and upon the

and upon the

great toe of their right foot, and thou shalt

take

take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oyl, and sprinkle it upon Aaron and his fons, and upon their garments, and he shall be hallowed,&c. Then follows the Peace-Offering of Confecration; of which we have spoken before. And in Conclufion, it is faid; Thus fhalt thou do unto Aaron and to his fons; feven days fhalt thou confecrate them; and offer, every day, a bullock for a fin-offering. All which we Lev. viii. find accordingly to have been punctually done by Mofes, at the Time of the Confecration of Aaron and his Sons.

SECT. V.

Qualifications of the High-Prieft.

The Conditions neceffary to qualify those who should be admitted to the Order of an High-Priest, were of two forts: first, fuch as were to be previous to his being Confecrated; Secondly, fuch as it was incumbent upon him to obferve, after it.

As to the first of thefe, he was, in general, to be free from all manner of Blemish, either natural or acquir'd, in the Make and Figure of his Body; the Particulars of which may be better feen in the

Law,