We have previously seen that Ezekiel
reiterates the Torah law forbidding the mixing of wool and linen (Shatnez),
especially in regards to the Kohanim.
The Pharisees falsely claimed that the Kohanim had a special
dispensation to wear mixed wool and linen garments.
The prohibition is clearly
stated in Ezekiel Ch 44.
יז וְהָיָה, בְּבוֹאָם אֶל-שַׁעֲרֵי הֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִית, בִּגְדֵי פִשְׁתִּים, יִלְבָּשׁוּ; וְלֹא-יַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם, צֶמֶר, בְּשָׁרְתָם בְּשַׁעֲרֵי הֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִית, וָבָיְתָה.
17
And it shall be that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they
shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while
they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
יח פַּאֲרֵי פִשְׁתִּים, יִהְיוּ עַל-רֹאשָׁם, וּמִכְנְסֵי פִשְׁתִּים, יִהְיוּ עַל-מָתְנֵיהֶם: לֹא יַחְגְּרוּ, בַּיָּזַע.
18
They shall have linen tires upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches
upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth
sweat.
יט וּבְצֵאתָם אֶל-הֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה אֶל-הֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה, אֶל-הָעָם, יִפְשְׁטוּ אֶת-בִּגְדֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר-הֵמָּה מְשָׁרְתִם בָּם, וְהִנִּיחוּ אוֹתָם בְּלִשְׁכֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ; וְלָבְשׁוּ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים, וְלֹא-יְקַדְּשׁוּ אֶת-הָעָם בְּבִגְדֵיהֶם.
19
And when they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the
people, they shall put off their garments wherein they minister, and lay them
in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments, that they sanctify
not the people with their garments.
Seeing the difficulty of this
Law in Ezekiel, the Pharisees tried to
claim that this was only relevant to the Yom Kippur service. This is based on
the instruction for the Priests to remove their garments and change them before
they leave the inner chambers. However, this
is false, because there is no specification that this refers to Yom Hakippurim,
and it is addressing all the priests, not just the High Priest.
Interestingly, in Ch 42 the
same instruction is given, for them to remove their holy garments and change
for others, before they leave the inner chamber. But we see they are engaged in
eating, which is further proof that it is not restated to Yom Kippur:
Ez.
42:
13
Then said he unto me: 'The north chambers and the south chambers, which are
before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that
are near unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things; there shall they lay the
most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the
guilt-offering; for the place is holy.
14
When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into
the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister,
for they are holy; and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to
that which pertaineth to the people.'
It is quite clear that the
Pharisees had total disregard for the Torah, and rewrote the Law in order to defile
the Priests and the
