Priestly tunic
The priestly tunic (Hebrew: כֻּתֹּנֶת kutonet) was as an undergarment or shirt worn by the High Priest and priests when they served in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem.[1]
| Part of a series of articles on |
| Priesthood in Judaism |
|---|
 |
|
Kohen · Recognition of priestly descent Priestly covenant |
|
High Priests Aaron · Eleazar · Phinehas · Eli · Ahimelech · Abiathar (First Temple) · Zadok · Shallum · Hilkiah · Jehoiada (Second Temple) Joshua the High Priest Simeon the Just Yishmael Ben Elisha Yehoshua ben Gamla Pinchus Ben Shmuel |
|
Twenty-four kohanic gifts The ten gifts given in the Temple 1. Sin offering · 2. Guilt offering 3. Communal peace offering 4. Fowl sin offering · 5. Leftovers from the suspensive guilt offering 6. Oil from the offering for the leper 7. Bread from First Fruits · 8. Showbread 9. Leftovers of the meal offering 10. Leftovers of the First Sheaf.
15. Heave offering 16. Heave offering of the Levite's tithe 17. Dough offering 18. First shearing of the sheep 19. Shoulder, cheeks and maw 20. Coins for redemption of the first born son · 21. Redemption of a donkey · 22. Dedication of property to a priest · 23. Field not redeemed in a Jubilee year · 24. The property of the foreigner with no heir. |
|
Priestly Garments |
|
Miscellaneous topics The Mitzvah of sanctifying the Kohen Kohanic disqualifications Holy anointing oil Kahen Aaron's rod Bat-Kohen (daughter of a kohen) Sons of Zadok Contact by a kohen with a dead body 13 Kohanic cities |
Etymology
The Hebrew noun ketonet (כֻּתֹּנֶת) is the generic term for a tunic in Hebrew. The first use is the "coats" of skins made for Adam and Eve in Eden, the best known use would be the coat of many colours of Joseph. It is related to, and may be the source of, the Greek noun kiton "tunic."
Instructions for making the tunic
It was made of pure linen, covering the entire body from the neck to the feet, with sleeves reaching to the wrists. That of the High Priest was embroidered (Exodus 28:39); those of the priests were plain (Exodus 28:40).
On the Day of Atonement, the High priest would change into a special tunic made of fine linen that was not embroidered when he would enter the Holy of Holies. This tunic could only be used once, with a new set made for each year.
According to the Talmud, the wearing of the tunic and the rest of the priestly garments atoned for the sin of bloodshed on the part of the Children of Israel (B.Zevachim 88b).
References
- Theological Dictionary of Rabbinic Judaism: Part Three Page 53 Jacob Neusner - 2005 "C. "This is in accord with the following teaching, which we have learned in the Mishnah [M. Yoma 7:5]: "The high priest serves in eight garments, and an ordinary priest in four: tunic, underpants, head-covering, and girdle."