Yahweh Likes it Fancy

In Exodus 25 we learn that Yahweh has some opulent tastes.  He'll come (down from the mountain) to live among the Israelites, but they have to build him a super-fancy, portable, gold-plated house to store the legal tablets. They will also have to make gem-encrusted breast-plates for his priests.  Yahweh keeps saying that all these elaborate, detailed plans were previously revealed on the mountain. 

There are some confusing issues here with the chronology of when the law was given (again), and with graven images.  Yahweh gives the specs for the ark of the covenant in anticipation of giving the law.  I guess this means future books.  He also specifies that "cherubim" with wings are to be molded in gold on the ark's cover.  How is that not a graven image?

Ex. 20:
⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

Ex. 25:

¹⁸ And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. ²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. 

Ex. 28 has some especially florid depictions of pomegranates and bells that must adorn the high priest, lest he perish.

³³ Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. ³⁴ The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. ³⁵ Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

Furthermore, in Ex.28:31-36 Yahweh is explicit about the almond flower style which should be used for the golden menorah and ceremonial cups.  Buds, leaves and flowers are all detailed.  In Ex. 26:1&31Yahweh says that the curtains of the tabernacle should have (the images of) cherubim woven into them.

The design for the altar requires bronze rather than gold, presumably because the altar is going to deal with burning animals and gold would melt.  It's clear from the description of the utensils that the animals were meant to be roasted whole (hence the need to deal with ashes) and eaten (hence the meat forks). The sprinkling bowls must be for the sprinkling of animal blood on the atoners as per the earlier description of the blood fest.  Ex.27

³ Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

No mention has yet been made (that I can recall) of draining the blood from the animal before cooking it.  One has to wonder whether the blood for the sprinkling was still taken from slaughtered animals and whether the blood sprinkling persisted up to or beyond the destruction of the second temple.

An eternal flame is to be kept burning all night in the form of oil being burned in the giant menorah outside the ark of the covenant.   I wonder whether this had any influence on Zoroastrianism, or vice-versa.

And yes, there are sacred underwear:  Ex. 28: ⁴² “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. ⁴³ Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.


Here is video which seeks to explain this week's parsha on the priestly vestments.  What I'm getting from it, is that Jews are supposed to get over it and just keep trying to make the world a better place so that they can dress any way the like.  Huh?

http://www.g-dcast.com/tetzaveh