The Priestly Robe Was Woven Whole With Bells and Pomegranates

Our Rabbis taught: the priestly garments are not made by the work of a needle but by the work of a weaver, as it is said, "the work of a weaver" (Exodus 28:32). If they became soiled, one does not launder them with natron nor with bohl-soap. Does this imply that with water one may launder them? Abaye said: this is what it means: if they were soiled with water, one launders them; with natron and bohl-soap, if they were soiled with natron and bohl-soap, even with water one may not launder them. And some say: one does not launder them at all, for there is no poverty in a place of wealth. Our Rabbis taught: the robe was entirely of blue, as it is said, "entirely of blue" (Exodus 28:31). Its hem, how was it made? One brings blue and purple and scarlet twisted, and makes them like pomegranates that have not opened their mouths and like the cones of helmets that are on children's heads, and hangs it on the robe. And one brings seventy-two bells with seventy-two clappers in them and hangs them on it, thirty-six on this side and thirty-six on that side. Rabbi Dosa says in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: there were thirty-six, eighteen on this side and eighteen on that side. Rabbi Anani bar Sason said: as the dispute is here, so is the dispute regarding the appearances of plagues, for we learned: the appearances of plagues, Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas says there were thirty-six, Akavya ben Mahalalel says there were seventy-two.