Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: The Hem of His Garment

In "Touching the Rabbi's Fringe" (Chapter 11) of Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, authors Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg explored a concept I've never heard of before.

The authors are talking about the tradition of Jewish men wearing tzitziyot, or tassels, on the hem of their garments. They explain, "In ancient times, these garments people wore indicated their status in society. The hem was particularly important because it symbolized the owner's identity and authority. Legal contracts written on clay tablets were 'signed' by pressing the corner of one's hem into the clay" (page 159).

This is interesting to me, because to me, a hem, especially of a longer, outer garment worn in ancient times would be the dirtiest part of the garment (in my imagination). It could possibly skim the ground, drag in puddles, and swirl in the dust. For it to be the most important part of the garment never crossed my mind.

So then, they use 2 examples. The first is the story in 1 Samuel 24:4-5 of when David sneaked up behind Saul in a cave and cut off a piece of his hem in En Gedi. (Remember these caves where this happened?) The authors point out, "Afterward, David is overwhelmed with remorse for what He has done. But why? Hasn't He just spared the live of a power-mad king intent on killing him? However, by cutting the corner of Saul's robe, David was symbolically assaulting the king's authority to reign. His action was tantamount to knocking the crown off Saul's head, a job David believed belonged only to the Almighty" (page 159). 

Wow, did you know that? I didn't! I always stopped at what I inferred was almost a mocking of Saul—proof that David could have killed him but didn't. Like he was shaming Saul. But this understanding makes it go so much deeper than that!

Here's another reference to a hem, this time it's Jesus' hem when the woman with the issue of blood touches it. "The hem would have signified Jesus' identity and authority. What's more, the place where the tassels were attached would have been considered the holiest part of his garment. So it seems likely that the woman knew exactly what she was reaching for. Jesus' purity was so great that instead of becoming defiled by her touch, it healed her impurity. What a beautiful picture of the power of Christ's holiness to heal and to bless" (page 163).

This is a story talked about often in churches, and I always saw the woman reaching for the hem to be a sign of her utter humility and even shame—that she was reaching for the lowest, dirtiest part. I saw the crush of the crowd maybe even forcing her to the ground as she gathered her courage to just touch a piece of Jesus' clothes. I never imagined she knew she was reaching for what was seen as the holiest and most authoritative part! 

While I was writing this blog, another reference struck me, this one from Isaiah 6:1: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the Temple."

I wonder if we can use the teaching on the importance of the hem in reading this? The train would definitely have a hem. Could it be that the train filling the Temple is also a symbol of God's ultimate power, authority, and holiness?

(Edit added July 29, 2019: for a further exploration on this theme and the stories above, check out this post).