THE LITURGICAL VESTMENTS OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES

THE VESTMENTS OF THE LEVITES:

The Levitical priests wore four garments throughout the year. These liturgical garments were the same as the garments worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement [Exodus 28:40-42]. The fabric of the garments had to be made of flax and the linen garments must be created from threads consisting of six individual strands and the tunic was woven in a checkerboard pattern.

1. seamless white linen tunic woven in a checkerboard pattern

2. linen underpants

3. head covering

4. belt

THE VESTMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST:

The High Priest wore eight garments throughout the year according to Exodus 28:4, 36, and 42 with the exception of the Feast of Atonement. These garments when worn during the service in the Temple elevated the priests to a level of sanctity as the High Priest presented himself as an example of redeemed man in the presence of God.

1. the breastplate

2. the ephod

3. a blue robe

4. a seamless white linen tunic woven in a checkerboard pattern

5. linen underpants

6. a mitre (turban)

7. a golden crown or band which has inscribed "consecrated (holy) to Yahweh" was placed on the forehead over the mitre and secured with blue ribbons

8. a belt

The priestly vestments were not sewn like other ordinary garments. Each piece of clothing had to be woven, seamless and of one piece. At the Last Supper Jesus wore a garment woven all of one piece. It was so valuable that the Roman soldiers cast lots for it at the Crucifixion [John 19:23-24].

The blue robe of the Priests was a seamlessly woven garment trimmed on the bottom hem with alternating bells and pomegranate tassels of sky-blue, dark-red and crimson wool. The robe slipped on over the head and was worn over the tunic with the tunic longer than the robe by one handbreadth so that the tunic was visible under the bottom of the robe. Scholars do not agree if the robe was sleeved or was open on the sides. In any event the arrangement of the colored robe over the tunic is like the Catholic priest's causable which is worn over his white tunic.