Ephod – What Was It and What Was Its Use? A Question About the Potential Way Forward in the Development of Its Role in the Old Testament Texts
Abstract
In biblical texts, ephod appears most often as part of priestly garb. In the statements of nonpriestly authors (before the Babylonian Exile), the linen ephod symbolizes priestly ministry in general. Sometimes, it is also regarded as an object of illicit worship (a practice condemned by the Deuteronomist) or an instrument necessary for divination practices (a symbol of priestly ministry). In these cases, the verb used indicates not so much a garment as an object. For the post-exile priestly authors, the richly woven and decorated ephod is henceforth exclusively part of the high priestly garb. This change in the role of the ephod represents the only discernible path of “evolution” in the use of ephod in the Hebrew Bible. One can only speculate about its possible earlier uses, such as garment put on statues of deities, based on the suggested (Akkadian, Ugaritic; cf. Isa 30:22) etymology of the word.
Keywords:
ephod, priestly garb, high priest, divination practices, illicit worshipReferences
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University of Szczecin
Ks. Janusz Lemański, prezbiter diecezji koszalińsko-kołobrzeskiej, profesor nauk teologicznych, kierownik Katedry Egzegezy i Teologii Biblijnej na Wydziale Teologicznym Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego, autor wielu artykułów i monografii z zakresu Starego Testamentu. Specjalizuje się w zagadnieniach dotyczących Pięcioksięgu i eschatologii biblijnej. Napisał m.in.: Pięcioksiąg dzisiaj (Studia Biblica 4; Kielce: Verbum 2002); Księga Wyjścia (NKB.ST 2; Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2009); „Niech przyjdzie do mnie, a dowie się, że jest prorok w Izraelu” (2 Krl 5,8b). Wprowadzenie do profetyzmu starotestamentalnego. I. Profetyzm przedklasyczny. Prorocy więksi (Studia i Rozprawy 28; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Naukowe US 2011); „Szukajcie dobra, a nie zła, abyście żyli” (Am 5,14a). Wprowadzenie do profetyzmu starotestamentalnego. II. Dwunastu proroków mniejszych. Księga Barucha. List Jeremiasza (Studia i Rozprawy 31; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Naukowe US 2012); Księga Rodzaju (NKB.ST 1/1-3; Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2013-2015); Prawo Pana doskonałe – krzepi życie (Ps 19,8a). Kilka refleksji na temat istoty prawa i sprawiedliwości w Starym Testamencie (Studia i Rozprawy 54; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo US 2019).
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1512-997X
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