EPHOD, commonly believed to have been a species of vestment woven of gold, blue, pur le, scarlet, and fine twined linen, worn by the Jewish high-priest. According to Exodus xxviii, 6 ff. and xxxix, 2 ff. it consisted of two main pieces, one covering the back, the other the breast and upper part of the body, fastened together on the shoulders by shoulder straps. On each shoulder was an onyx stone set in gold, on which were engraved the names of six tribes according to their order. A girdle or band, of one piece with the ephod, fastened it to the body. Just above the girdle in the mid dle of the ephod, and joined to it by little gold chains, rested the square breastplate or pouch with the Urim and Thummim. The ephod was originally intended to be worn by the h.gh priest exclusively, but a similar vestment made of linen was worn in later times by priests of lower rank. In more recent times considerable discussion has been carried on in regard to the true nature and appearance of the ephod. Some
investigators claim that it was a shrine, some that it was just a pouch somewhat on the order of a loin cloth, and still others that it was an instrument of divination. However, inasmuch as all the evidence on which these investigations are based is more or less circumstantial and indefinite the question is still unanswered and is likely to remain so. Consult Elhorst, H. J., 'Das Ephod' (in Zeitschrift fir die alt-testa mentliche Wissenschaft, Vol. XXX, p. 259, Giessen 1910) ; Foote, T. C., 'The Ephod' (in Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. XXI, p. 1, Boston 1902) ; Macldenburg, A., 'tiler den Ephod in Israel' (in Zeitschrift Wissent schaftliche Theologie, Vol. XLIX, n. F. Vol. XIV, p. 433, Leipzig 1906).