I know you weren’t planning to launch into a religious debate centered on inconsistencies in the Text about garment construction in the Old Law, but today is your lucky day. We’re about to get into it.
The first half of Deuteronomy 22 is known as “sundry laws,” which means miscellaneous laws that don’t really have any kind of inherent organization. That applies doubly to verses 9-11, which talk about not mixing two kinds of seed, yoking a donkey and an ox together, and wool and linen.
Originally, this blog was about what happens when you yoke two things of different strength together, but then I remembered we already covered that in Leviticus 19.
Fortunately, there was a small note in my commentary about Deuteronomy 22:11 that read as follows: “Josephus’ conjecture [concerning Deuteronomy 22:11] is probably correct: the prohibition applies to the laity, because the priests, when they officiate, do wear garments made of such mixtures.”
That led me down a rabbit hole of questions. Did the priests wear a garment made of wool and linen? If so, did I just miss it? Why would God prohibit the everyday person from wearing something He clearly outlined in the priestly garments? And should I be outraged by this?
No doubt, some people are. Because of this “discrepancy,” they call into question the very justice of God, which seems like a bit of an overreaction.
The verse in question is Exodus 28:6, which talks about an “ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen.” “Material” is italicized in my Bible, which means it’s a substituted word. The original was “yarn,” which, as any ancient Israelite seamstress will tell you, is made of wool.
So, there you have it. The High Priest’s ephod is made of wool and linen, while Deuteronomy 22:11 specifically forbids mixing these two materials. Contradiction confirmed. Bible declared void.
Or is it? The materials that were used by the priesthood were inherently sacred and, because of that, often off-limits to the average Jew. Anointing oil, for instance, was only used by priests; no “ordinary person” could use it for everyday use (Exodus 30:32).
Put this a different way. The Law clearly states that no car can use flashing red and blue lights on their car. It’s as clear as day in section 547.305 of the Texas Department of Public Safety Transportation Code.
Of course, we know the one exception to that rule—emergency vehicles. Does the law contradict itself, or does it simply provide a universal rule with a clearly stated exemption for emphasis purposes?
It seems to me that before we start running around declaring the Bible as full of very obvious holes, we should wonder whether or not there’s a simple reason, first. It would certainly save a lot of headaches.