Ephod – Appearance Exegetical Approaches
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review Apron The Ephod was similar to an apron, extending from the priest's hips to his ankles, covering only the back. A band at the top of the Ephod served as a belt (Cheshev haEphod) and two shoulder straps reached from the back, over the priests's shoulders, connecting to the Choshen in front.
Vest or Tunic The Ephod covered only the upper body of the priest, resembling a vest or corsette, or perhaps a tunic.
Sources: Josephus, R. Saadia, commentary attributed to Rashi, perhaps
Rambam ,
3 perhaps R. Avraham b. HaRambam, opinion brought by
Chizkuni , Meiri, perhaps
Ralbag ,
4 perhaps Abarbanel,
5 R. S.R. Hirsch Skirt and Top The Ephod wrapped around the priest's waist like a skirt while the "ketefot" covered his entire back.
Cape Sources: perhaps Rambam, perhaps
Ralbag ,
6 R. Meyuchas
1 See R. HIrsch who understands Rambam in this manner. Rambam's words, though, are ambiguous and can be understood in multiple ways. This depends largely on how one understands two key terms used in his description of the length of the Ephod, "מִכְּנֶגֶד אַצִּילֵי הַיָּדַיִם" and "עַד הָרַגְלַיִם". The former might refer to either the armpit or the elbow and the latter might refer to either the top or bottom of the legs. As such, Rambam might be envisioning a garment that extends from the armpits to the hips, from the elbow (or hip area), to the ankles, or from the armpits all the way to the ankles. Rambam's description of חשב האפוד is similarly ambiguous. He writes, "וְיֵשׁ לוֹ כְּמוֹ שְׁתֵּי יָדוֹת יוֹצְאוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ בָּאָרִיג לְכָאן וּלְכָאן", but it is not clear if he thinks these "ידות" are like straps or wider pieces of cloth.2 Seforno's description is very brief, and shares only that the Ephod was a garment that went form a person's hips and down. He does not say explicitly that it was worn only in the back, so it is also possible that he viewed it as skirt-like rather than an apron.3 See R"Y Ariel, "האפוד - סינר או מעיל?", Ma'alin BaKodesh (2003): 11-42, who understands Rambam in this manner, and see the image from Machon HaMikdash who fashioned an Ephod according to this understanding.4 As with Rambam's description, Ralbag's words are ambiguous: "והיה לאחוריו מתחת השחי עד הרגלים ". Though it is explicit that the garment covered the preist's back from the armpits, it is ot clear how far down it extended. Do the words "עד הרגלים" refer to the top or bottom of the legs (ie. to the hip or ankles)?5 Abarbanel says that the Ephod hung on the priest's back, from under the shoulders, near the armpits, but he does not say until where it extended, making it unclear whether he envisioned it as a short vest-like garment or a long cloak.6 As with Rambam's description, Ralbag's words are ambiguous: "והיה לאחוריו מתחת השחי עד הרגלים ". Though it is explicit that the garment covered the preist's back from the armpits, it is ot clear how far down it extended. Do the words "עד הרגלים" refer to the top or bottom of the legs (ie. to the hip or ankles)? 