Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EPHOD

(Heb. ʾēpōḏ)

An ornate, sleeveless outer garment worn by the Israelite high priest. Exod. 28:6-10 describes the ephod as a garment made of fine, twisted linen decorated with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material. Two shoulder pieces and a woven belt made of the same materials complete the outfit. Affixed to the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones inscribed with the names of the sons of Israel. A breastplate made of the same materials and decorated with 12 precious stones, symbolizing the 12 tribes, was attached by golden rings to the front of the ephod (Exod. 28:15-28). A pocket in the breastplate stored the Urim and Thummim, the lots of divination.

The ephod also could be a common garment. David wears a linen ephod while dancing wildly in celebrating the arrival of the ark of the covenant at Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:14). The boy Samuel wears an ephod around the temple as an everyday garment (1 Sam. 2:18).

Several passages describe an idolatrous ephod. Gideon makes an ephod with the captured gold of the Ishmaelites and places it in the city of Ophrah. It becomes a stumbling block to Gideon and his family along with all of Israel (Judg. 8:27). Gideon’s ephod is not described, but it may be either a noniconic vestment employed in obtaining oracles or a garment covering an idol, such as those associated with Mesopotamian or Egyptian cultic statues (cf. Isa. 30:22). Along with teraphim, a molten image, a graven image, and a Levite priest, Micah set up an ephod in a house shrine (Judg. 17–18). Goliath’s sword is wrapped in a cloth and kept behind the ephod in the sanctuary at Nob (1 Sam. 21:9). This ephod, however, may be a priestly garment hanging in front of the sword instead of an idol.

1 Samuel refers to the ephod as a tangible object of worship. Ahijah, Saul’s priest, carries an ephod at the battle of Michmash (1 Sam. 14:3). By Saul’s command, Doeg killed the 85 priests of the temple at Nob who carry the ephod (22:18). David is described as seeking the ephod for guidance from Yahweh (23:6, 9; 30:7). Some scholars argue that this ephod is the garment with a pocket carrying the oracular lot, the same ephod as described in Exod. 28, 39.

Terry W. Eddinger

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EPHOD

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)