Exodus 28:1 - Exposition

Take thou unto thee . Literally, "Make to draw near to thee." Moses had hitherto been of all the people the one nearest to God, the medium of communication. He was now to abdicate a portion of his functions, transferring them to his brother and his brother's sons. By this act he would draw them nearer to him than they were before. It is worthy of remark that he makes no remonstrance or opposition, but carries out God's will in this matter as readily and willingly as in all others. (See Le Exodus 8:4-30 .) From among the children of Israel . The LXX . react "And from among the children of Israel," as if others besides the family of Aaron had been admitted to the priesthood. But this is contrary to the entire tenor of the later narrative. The existing Hebrew text is correct. Nadab and Abihu , and again, Eleazar and Ithamar , are always coupled together in the Pentateuch ( Exodus 24:1 ; Le Exodus 10:1 , Exodus 10:12 ; etc.), while a marked division is made between the two pairs of brothers. It is probably the sin and early death of the two elder (Le Exodus 10:1-2 ) that causes the separation. Of Ithamar after the death of his brothers, nothing is known. Eleazar became high priest ( Numbers 34:17 ; Joshua 4:1 ; Joshua 16:4 ; etc.).