Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 16:4/אבן עזרא על ויקרא ט״ז:ד׳

אכתנת בד קדש. ולא הזכיר האפוד והחשן ומעיל האפוד כי כבר הזכיר ונשמע קולו בבואו אל הקדש ומזה הכתוב למדו אנשי בית שני ששמשו בלא אורים ותומים גם נביאים היו שם:

1THE HOLY LINEN TUNIC. Scripture does not mention the ephod,¹⁸ the breastplate,¹⁹ and the robe of the ephod,²⁰ for it earlier mentioned, and the sound thereof²¹. shall be heard when he²². goeth in unto the holy place (Ex. 28:35).²³ must wear the robe when he enters the Holy of Holies. Now, the ephod and the breastplate were attached to the robe. Hence there was no need for Scripture to repeat once again that Aaron shall wear these garments when he enters the Holy of Holies. Rashbam on Ex. 28:35 explains similarly. It should be noted that this interpretation is contrary to the accepted halakhic opinion which rules that the kohen gadol does not enter the Holy of Holies wearing the ephod, its band, the breastplate, and the robe. See Rosh Ha-Shanah 26a. Also see Rashi, “This teaches us that he must not officiate in the interior (the Holy of Holies) robed in the eight garments which were the insignia of the High Priest…in which he performed the service outside…but in the four garments…like an ordinary priest” (Rosenbaum and Silbermann). The men of the second temple who served without the Urim and the Thummim²⁴ learned from this verse [that their practice was proper].²⁵ and the Thummim in our verse, it appears that the wearing of the Urim and the Thummim is not essential for the service to be valid. There were also prophets there.²⁶ may officiate without the Urim and the Thumim if the latter are not available.