Priestly turban
The priestly mitre or turban (Hebrew: מִצְנֶפֶת mitznefet) was the head covering worn by the High Priest of Israel when he served in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem.[1][2]
| 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 word mitznefet (מִצְנֶפֶת) has been translated as "mitre" (KJV) or "headdress". It was most likely a "turban", as the word comes from the root "to wrap".
Hebrew Bible
The turban worn by the High Priest was much larger than the head coverings of the priests and was wound so that it formed a broad, flat-topped turban, resembling the blossom of a flower. The head covering of the priests was different, being wound so that it formed a cone-shaped turban, called a migbahat. It was to be made of fine linen,[3] and like all the holy garments, it was to be made by 'gifted artisans ... filled with the spirit of wisdom'.[4] Rashi writes that the High Priests's turban was identical to the turbans of the other priests.[5]
The priestly crown (Hebrew tzitz צִיץ "blossom" "flower") was attached to the turban by means of two sets of blue cords: one going over the top of the head and the other around the sides of the head at the level of the ears (Exodus 39:31).
Talmud
According to the Talmud, the wearing of the turban atoned for the sin of haughtiness on the part of the Children of Israel (B. Zevachim 88b).
References
- Jacob Neusner Yoma Page 16 "And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban ... Then Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.
- Chaim Miller The Gutnick Edition Chumash Book of Exodus: With Rashi's Commentary 2005 Page 285 "(It was thus ready) for service (in the Tabernacle) as God had commanded Moshe. 27 They made the checkered Tunic from linen through a professional weaver, for Aharon and for his sons, 28 the linen Turban (for Aharon),..."
- Exodus 28:39
- Exodus 28:3
- "Rashi on Exodus 28:41".