RE: [Worship] Re: Priest and "bells" concept?

["Phil McCarthy" <jamjubilee@tiscali.co.uk>]

Mind you, thinking about this.
If the high priest did die in the LORDS presence, there would have to be a
way of getting him out without anyone else going into the holy of holies.
The only logical solution since only the high priest could enter (and that
only once a year) would be to tie rope somewhere onto him before he enters.

Blessings.
             Phil.

http://www.geocities.com/jamjubilee


-----Original Message-----
From: worship-admin@praise.net [mailto:worship-admin@praise.net]On
Behalf Of Bruce Johnson
Sent: 08 May 2003 18:24
To: Worship List
Subject: [Worship] Re: Priest and "bells" concept?


Fred,

There IS a Scriptural reference to bells, but no reference in
Scripture nor any other ancient source to the "rope" practice.

The bells are mentioned in the directions for the high priest's
garments (not priests in general) laid out in Exodus 28.  See verses
33-35:

	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.

In this passage the reason for the bells is not connected to the
people outside (whether for them to be able to tell that he was OK,
or any other reason), but "so that he will NOT die".

Though the reason is not explained in detail, it seems to be
something like this.  The bells were a means of formally announcing
to GOD that he was coming.   The point is not that God himself needed
a warning, but that one was not to dishonor God by simply waltzing in
on his own terms, unannounced and unauthorized (contrast Aaron's sons
in Leviticus 10:1ff).   You would not treat a superior that way, much
less the great King over all.  (This is in keeping with the O.T.
Law's general attitude about approaching God, and specific
regulations about how the high priest was to do so.)


On the other hand, the claims about the rope are, so far as we can
tell, a legend that grew up in the Middle Ages.   You will hear some
folks say that such a practice is mentioned in Scripture, many others
say it is 'somewhere' in ancient Jewish writings (the O.T. Apocrypha,
Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, Mishnah, Talmud).  But no specific
passage is cited.   Perhaps because there IS none!

(for a bit more, see
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/anklerope.html )

Bruce Johnson
www.worshipmap.com




Fred F. McKinnon <fmckinnon@highestpraise.com> asks:

>I'm trying to find the Scriptural reference (if there is any) to the
>concept that I've heard taught over the years ... that says the
>priest
>would enter into the holy place, and they would have a rope tied to
>him, and if they didn't hear the "bells" bustling on his clothing,
>that they could pull him out (assuming he'd died  in the presence of
>God because of sin, etc) ...
>
>Kinda radical sounding, but I've definitely heard that teaching (or
>something similar) before ... does anyone have the details, and more
>importantly, a Scriptural reference (or lack thereof!) ...



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