Ekphrasis for Epiphany

The description of the high priest’s garments inhabits the narrative of the construction of the divine dwelling. The garments are evocatively brought to life in the rhetorical technique of ekphrasis with language that fashions them as an extension of the sacred tent where YHWH’s glory dwells. The high priest is styled as a counterpart to the tabernacle, bringing it to human scale for a personal and intimate encounter with YHWH. Invested in “holy garments… for a display of glory through adornment” (Exod 28:2), he manifests an epiphany of the divine glory that is materialized in textile and ornamentation. A divinely-sanctioned image of God is literarily presenced in the sacred tent through the sacred text. The world of the text continues to invite readers to see and experience the divine presence as it becomes the enduring place of encounter and engagement.