"You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear. On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.
Exodus 28:31-35
There are two points to note particularly in this account of the priest's robe. First of all, as to the robe itself: this, it would seem, was seamless, made of one piece of material, with the opening at the top bound round the neck by woven work like a habergeon, or suit of mail. It can hardly be coincidence that such emphasis is made in the gospels on the seamless robe of Christ (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23,24), nor can we doubt the association of ideas here, in a section of Scripture which speaks so much of Christ. If the seamless robe has one special significance, it is that it speaks of the 'unbrokenness' of Christ's life, and of Him Whose 'goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting' (Micah 5:2). The Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of 'the power of an endless life' (7:16) in relation to Christ's eternal priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, and we are thus reminded that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (7:25). The second point concerns the ornaments on the robe, the bells and pomegranates. The pomegranates not only added to the beauty of the robe, but also, being a sweet and fragrant fruit, denote the sweet savour of the gospel, as a savour of life unto life (so Matthew Henry). The bells on the border of the priestly garment would sound out as he went about his office in the holy place, in such a way that the waiting people outside would hear them, signifying to them that all was well with him, that he was not consumed by the holiness of the divine majesty, and that his offering on their behalf had been accepted. In this sense, we may well apply the words of Psalm 89:15, 'Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound'. Gospel bells they were indeed, speaking of His entering within the veil for us!