| We are told that for forty years in the wilderness | | | | shalt make holy garments"...And these are the |
| the shoes and clothes of the Israelites miraculously | | | | garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an |
| never wore out. The verses used to substantiate this | | | | ephod, a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre and a |
| teaching are, "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, | | | | girdle...fine twined linen." (Ex. 28:15) They could even |
| neither did thy foot swell these forty years". (Deut. | | | | make britches of linen. (Ex. 28:42) They had all the |
| 8:4) | | | | supplies and craftsmanship to make new clothes. |
| "And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. | | | | The Lord gave them guidelines forbidding the mixture |
| Your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy | | | | of various materials such as wool and linen together. |
| shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot." (Deut. 29:5) | | | | (Deut. 22:11) Why would the Lord instruct them on |
| "Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the | | | | how to make their clothes if they were not making |
| wilderness; so that they "lacked nothing"; their | | | | their clothes? |
| clothes waxed not old and their feet swelled not." | | | | Of course there were no J.C. Penny or K-mart stores |
| (Neh. 9:21) | | | | to purchase new clothes at the time so most people |
| Were their clothes and shoes supernaturally | | | | had to rely on their own craftsmanship. We cannot |
| preserved? Or is this just one more account of the | | | | rule out the possibility of trade with the Moabites and |
| Lord supplying all their needs, no matter what the | | | | other nomadic tribes either. They even had spoils of |
| need? | | | | war. (Deut. 2:34-36) |
| Guess what else I found out about their supplies in | | | | What about the children who were born and grew to |
| the wilderness?We find that the Israelites had plenty | | | | adulthood during the forty year journey? Were |
| of clothes and changes of garments when they left | | | | infants born with clothing and shoes? Did the outfits |
| Egypt. (Ex. 12:34, 35) They had their own clothes | | | | that fit the infants magically expand as the child |
| upon their shoulders and even borrowed raiment | | | | matured? Did the shoes also miraculously stretch as |
| from the Egyptians. | | | | the feet grew? Or were there always enough |
| We know that the sheep, goats, oxen and cattle | | | | supplies to make replacements? |
| would provide a constant supply of materials for the | | | | We must also think of damage to the clothing like an |
| making of shoes and clothes. | | | | accidental rip or tear. Was the material wear proof? |
| We also know that they had craftsmen skilled in all | | | | Didn't anybody wear a hole in the elbow or knee |
| manner of workmanship. They were able to fashion | | | | area of their garment for forty years? Did every |
| the gold, silver, brass and wood items that made up | | | | sandal hold up and never break a strap? |
| the temple. They made the veil in the temple. They | | | | Nehemiah states that for the forty years in the |
| were rather accomplished brick makers and | | | | wilderness, they lack nothing. (Neh. 9:21) It seems |
| bricklayers at their last employment in Egypt. There | | | | quite obvious that the Lord God of Israel never let |
| were engravers in stone who made the priests' | | | | their garments grow old upon them. Nor did He let |
| breastplate. They were living in tents so there had to | | | | their feet become swollen and bruised from worn out |
| be tentmakers. | | | | shoes. He provided for all their needs by supplying all |
| Their weaving and clothes making skills were | | | | the necessary materials in abundance. It says for |
| apparent when they were commanded by the Lord | | | | forty years they lacked nothing! (Deut. |
| to make the priests' garments. (Ex. 28:1-8) "And thou | | | | |