Thomas Goodwin - Moses and Aaron

Furthermore, Saul and Jehu were anointed ‎‏בפך‏‎ Bepac , with a cruse of Oyl, to shew the short continuance of their Kingdoms. David and Solomon were anointed ‎‏בקרן‏‎ Bekeren , with an horn of Oyl; that is, in a plentiful measure , to shew the long continuance of their Kingdoms.

As Kings were distinguisht from the People by many Ensigns of Honour, by their Crown, their Scepter, their Throne, &c. so likewise were they distinguished by their Apparel; that was the reason that Ahab entring into battel, changed his apparel, 1 Kings 22. 30. Though purple and white colours were not appropriated unto Kings , 42 42 Valer. Max. lib. 1. cap. 6. yet these colours were in chief esteem, and principally used by them, 43 43 Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 1. cap. 20. yea Purple above others was affected by the Emperours and Nobility of Rome ; and white by the Nobility of the Jews: whence the Hebrews term their Noble men, and such as were of best rank ‎‏חורים‏‎ Chorim , Albatos , men clad in white ; and on the contrary, men of meaner rank, ‎‏חשוכים‏‎ Chaschucim , Sordidatos , men clad with a foul garment . Hence is that of Saint James ; If there come a man with a gold ring, and in goody apparel ἐν ἐσθήτι λαμπρᾷ, in a white garment , and there come also a poor man, ἐν ῥυπαρᾷ ἐσθῆτι, in a vile or foul raiment , James 2. 2. This may be the reason, why, when the Jews accused Christ of treason, Pilate his Souldiers clad him in purple, atth. 27. 28. and Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee put on him a white garment , Luke 23. 11. both therein applying themselves to the customs of their own Country, and in derision clothing him as a King .

There were three ranks and degrees of Ministers about the Temple; Priests , Levites , and Nethinims ; they may be paralleld with Ministers , Deacons , and Sub-Deacons , in the Primitive Church: Over all these, the High-priest was chief.

In Aaron and his posterity was continued the succession of the Priests ; the High-Priesthood was tied to the line of his first-born; all the rest of his posterity were Priests , simply so called, or called Priests of the second Order , 2 Kings 23. 4.

Except Aaron , and those that issued from his loines, (in whom the series of Priests was continued) all the rest of Levi his posterity were called Levites .

Both in the High-priest , and the second or Inferiour Priests , there are two things considerable. First, their Consecration . Secondly, their Office . In both these, somewhat they differed , in somewhat they agreed .

In their Consecration they differed. First, 44 44 Hinc Sacerdos summus in fonte legitur Sacerdos unctus, Levit. 4. 5. Jonathan habet, Sacerdos magnus vel summus. Desertè Aben Esra, Sacerdos magnus ipse est Sacerdos unctus. Lyranus adhuc clarius Sacerdos unctus est Sacerdos magnus, quia inferiores Sacerdotes non ungebantur, &c. The High-priest was anointed : the materials of this Chrism or oyntment are prescribed, Exod. 30. 23. It was poured upon Aarons head, Levit. 8. 12. It ran down to his beard, and to the border of his garments, Psalm. 133. 2. The Second Priests were only sprinkled with this oyle, mixed with the blood of the Sacrifice, Levit. 8. 30. In this was typed out the unction of our Saviour , who was anointed with the oyl of Gladness above his Fellows, Psal. 45. 8. He was anointed above his Fellows, Extensive , and Intensive , Extensive , for though Aaron was anointed Priest , Saul anointed King , Elisha anointed Prophet , Melchisedeck King and Priest , Moses Priest and Prophet , David King and Prophet ; yet none save only Christ , King , Priest , and Prophet . Intensive , he was anointed , we sprinkled . He was full of grace and truth, John 1. 14. And from his fulness we received grace for grace, ver. 16. And all Christians, especially Ministers, are unto God the sweet savour of Christ , 2 Cor. 2. 5.

Secondly, they differed in their Garments, which were a necessary adjunct to their Consecration . The High-Priest wore at the time of his ordinary ministration in the Sanctuary , eight Garments, Exodus 28. First, Breeches of linnen , put next upon his flesh. Secondly, A Coat of fine linnen put over the breeches. Thirdly, A girdle embroidered, of fine linnen, blew purple, & scarlet , wherewith the coat was girded. Fourthly, A Robe all of Blew , with seventy two bells of Gold, and as many Pomegranates of blew purple, and scarlet, upon the skirts thereof; this was put over the coat and girdle. Fifthly, An Ephod of gold and of blew purple, scarlet, and fine linnen curiously wrought ; on the shoulders thereof were two fair Beryl Stones, engraven with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel . This Ephod was put over the Robe, and girded thereto with a curious girdle made of the same. Sixthly, A Breast-plate wrought of gold, blew, purple, scarlet, and fine linnen , which being a span square, was fastened by gold chains and rings, upon the Ephod : herein were set twelve several Stones, on which the names of the twelve Tribes were engraven: Moreover, in this Breast-plate were the Urim and the Thummim placed. Seventhly, A Miter of fine linnen, sixteen cubits long, wrapped about his head . Eighthly, A plate of purple gold, or holy Crown two fingers broad , whereon was engraven Holiness to the Lord : this was tyed with a blew lace upon the fore-front of the Miter .

These eight Garments the High-Priest used in his ordinary ministration, and they are termed by the Rabbies , ‎‏בגדי זהב‏‎, Bigde Zahab , Vestimenta aurea , Golden Vestments , because of their richness in comparison of other extraordinary Garments, which he wore onely once a year, when he entred into the Holy of Holies , upon the Propitiation day, Lev. 15. 4. 23. These latter are called ‎‏בגדי לבן‏‎ Bigde Laban , Vestimenta alba , White Garments ; there were in number four. 1. A linnen breeches. 2. A linnen coat. 3. A linnen girdle. 4. A linnen Miter , Levit. 16. 4.

In the time of the Second Temple , 45 45 Cunæus lib. 2. de rep. Heb. cap. 7. pag. 222. because the Chrism or holy Oyl could not be found, therefore, as formerly in respect of his unction , the High-Priest was called by the Talmudists , ‎‏מתרבה משחה‏‎ Mithrabe Mischa , Auctus unctione , The anointed ; so when the Oyl was lost in regard of his Garments , he was termed, ‎‏מתרבה בגדים‏‎ Mithrabe Begadim , Auctus Vestibus , The cloathed . Those forementioned Garments 46 46 Moses Kotsensis. præcept. affir. 173. f. 212. col. 3. the High-Priest might not wear abroad in the City, unless some urgent occasion compelled him, as Simeon the just did, when he went forth to meet Alexander the Great.