9. The Undergarments
BOOK THREE
often deprives some people of chastity of the heart, because the slower they are to devote themselves to good works, the less do they perceive that the keeping of chastity has no value unless it is augmented by other good things; nevertheless, when joined with good deeds it will procure great glory for the one who possesses it. Accordingly, chastity of the flesh profited nothmg to the foolish virgins who were without the light of inner purity when the bridegroom came.'
But let the sons of Aaron be girded with linen tunics, so that they may have chastity of the flesh Let the priests be girded with sashes, lest chastity itself should become slack and careless, opening the way for the wind of self-exaltation to blow upon the soul, and causing charity to grow cold because of an increase of iniquity.2 For [chastity] must not be allowed to impede the progress of good works by boasting in its presumption, nor to become soiled with earthly concupiscence and cheapened so that it obstructs the path of virtue and ultimately compels its own maker to stumble by being haughty. And when they have been girded [with sashes] let the priests also receive turbans on their heads, so that after the vigilant and circumspect keeping of corporeal chastity, they may also maintain the keeping and care of their vision, heanng, taste, and smell in a manner that is acceptable to God.
28:41 And with all these things you shall vest Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, and you shall consecrate all their hands, and sanctify them, so that they may exercise the office of priesthood before me. Aaron and his sons were to be vested with all these things, with the distinction, however, that he himself was to make use of them all, but his sons only of the last three. These were specifically ascribed to them by name when it was written, For Aaron 's sons you shall then prepare linen tunics and sashes and turbans, for gloty and for beau&.
THE UNDERGARMENTS
There follows:
28:42-3 You shall also make linen undergarments to cover the nakedness of their flesh, from the loins to the thighs. And Aaron and his sons shall use them when they shall go into the tabernacle of the testimony, or when they come near the altar to minister in the sanctuary, or they will be guilty of iniquity and die. This pertains to both of (121j 1 Matt. 25:l-12 2 Matt. 24: 12
3 Exod. 28:40
BEDE: ON THE TABERNACLE
them at once (that is, to Aaron and to his sons as well), as the words themselves clearly indicate. And thus it happens that Aaron himself is clothed with all eight of the vestments that are mentioned (namely, the linen undergarments, the linen tunic, the blue tunic, the superhumelale, the rational, the sash, the tuhan, and the plate of gold), but his sons make use of only four of them (that is, the undergarments, the closefitting linen garment, the sash, and the turban). Since we have discussed the others above, it is appropriate [to say that] these undergarments, which are commanded to be made to cover the indecency of the flesh, designate that part of chastity which holds one back from desiring the bond of mamage.
Without it, no one can assume the priesthood or be consecrated for the ministry of the altar, that is, unless he will either remain a virgin or dissolve the covenant of union that he has contracted with his wife. Clearly, God's law does not enjoin tlus kind of virtue upon anyone as a necessary obligation, but it is rather to be offered voluntarily to the Lord with devotion For he himself says of it, 'Not everyone receives this word; ' nevertheless, soon afterwards he invites to it those who are able, saying with kindly exhortation, 'Let anyone who is able to receive it, receive it. And a little later on, he promises those who will leave wives or other kinsfolk and the entanglements of this world for his sake4 that they will receive a hundredfold reward in tlus life, and in the world to come life everlasting.'
Therefore, it is right to acknowledge a distinction: Moses is not ordered to vest Aaron and his sons with this garment, as he did with the previous ones. Concerning them, it says, And with all these things you shall vest
Aaron your brother, and his sons with him; but [here] it says, You shall make linen undergarments to cover the nakedness of their flesh. 'They themselves', it says, 'should cover the nakedness of their flesh. You shall make linen undergarments for the high priest and his sons; you shall teach them the rule of chastity; you shall tell those who are to serve in the priesthood that they must abstain from the embrace of a wife. However, you shall not impose the yoke of this sort of continence upon any of them by force, but if any wish to be priests and to serve at the ministry of the altar, let them of their own free will cease to be servants of wives.' Once they have reached a conclusion and agree that they will be ministers of the 1 On Lkde's teaching regarding clerical celibacy, see Carroll (1946), 241-2. For the history of the celibacy requirement in the early church, see Gryson (1970), Frazee (1972), and Conchini (1990).
2 Matt. 19:11
3 Matt. 19:12
4 Matt. 19129
5 Mark 10:30