Ephod

EPHOD (Heb. אֵרֶד). - Among the sacred vestments of Aaron there appear (Ex. 28:4) the ῥόξειν ("breastpiece," Vulg. rationale), and the e. (Vulg. superhumerale). "They shall make the e. of gold, of violet, of purple, of scarlet and of twisted fine linen: work of embroidery" (Ex. 28:6).

Neither the etymology of the word nor the form and position of the e. are certain. According to some it consisted of two flaps, one at the back, the other at the front, supported by shoulder-pieces, two strips hanging from the shoulders, front and back, and meeting under the armpits, where they join with the e. There are those who think of a kind of apron (cf. 1 Sam. 2:28). The bōten called "of judgment," because "the high priest drew the oracle from it to decide questions or cases of greater moment or difficulty" (Vaccari), was made, like the e., of gold (gold threads), of violet, etc., and in it were set four rows of precious stones (Ex. 28:15-21); these stones were 12 "engraved in the manner of a seal, each with its own name, for the 12 tribes." "The breastpiece shall be fastened by its rings to the rings of the e. with a violet cord, so that the breastpiece rests on the band of the e. in such a way as not to be detached from it." In the breastpiece, over his heart, Aaron carries the names of the children of Israel when he enters the holy place, as a continual remembrance before the Lord. Within the breastpiece were placed the 'ūrim and tummim, "lights" and "integrity" or "lights" and "truth" (Vulg. doctrina et veritas), perhaps two stones, of various color or shape, from which the divine response was drawn. Ex. 28:31 ff. further speaks of the "robe" of the e. provided with golden bells: "Aaron shall wear it for ministering, so that its sound may be heard when he enters the holy place in the presence of the Lord, and when he comes out; and so he shall not die." One must imagine that this kind of garment lay above the tunic and beneath the e., in the manner of a camice (but without sleeves), being put on through an opening made in the upper part (A. Vaccari, La Sacra Bibbia tradotta... a cura del Pont. Ist. Bibl., I, Florence 1943, p. 243 ff.).

Some identify the bōten with the e. (cf. Ex. 28:9 ff. with 28:17 ff.). Samuel and David wore an e. of linen (e. badh), and so too (according to the Masoretic text) the priests of Nob (1 Sam. 22:19). For the e. connected with sacred images cf. Judg. 18:14; Hos. 3:4. For 'ūrim in 1 Sam. 14:41, cf. the Septuagint and the Vulgate. For the use of the 'ūrim and tummim in a later period: Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65.

Eugenio Zelli