What's wrong with wool? Ezekiel 44:17
15 “‘But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, will approach me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 They will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to minister to me; they will keep my charge. 17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen garments; they must not have any wool on them when they minister in the inner gates of the court and in the temple. 18 Linen turbans will be on their heads and linen undergarments will be around their waists; they must not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat.
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Asked October 15 2022
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
As indicated in verse 18 of the passage cited in the question, the use of wool for the purpose given was not permitted because wool was a heavy fabric that would induce perspiration (especially in the warm climate of the area), causing the garments of the priests to become cermonially defiled and unclean.
Jack Gutknecht
I believe Tim is right. Sweat was and is still offensive: it stinks! Priests were to be blameless in their ministry, even outwardly as far as their dress was concerned. The ministry was not to be blamed. Thus linen was to be preferred over wool. Even my wife often says to me, "Don't wear clothes that make you sweat!” "The clean white linen, on the other hand, was designed both for hygienic reasons and as an emblem of purity (comp. Revelation 19:8, 14)." --Pulpit Commentary
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