“And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet , they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Vestments. Hebrew distinguishes, “the clothes of service” destined to fold up the tabernacle and vessels, from “the holy garments of Aaron.”
“And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet , and in the fine linen, with cunning work.”
Threads. Hebrew, “wires to work it in the blue….with cunning work.” The ancients had the art of beating gold into thin plates, with which they adorned the horns of their victims, &c. (Virgil, Æneid iv.) See Numbers xvi. 58. (Calmet)
“And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward.”
Fastened to the girdle. This is not specified in the Hebrew. The Vulgate has abridged some verses, in these chapters, to avoid repetitions.
“And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and twined linen.”
Pomegranate, alternately, chap. xxviii. Clement of Alexandria observes, that the 366 bells denote the leap year, in which Christ began to preach. (Tirinus)
“And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,”
Of fine linen, or cotton, and of common linen, as Pollux describes it. The Samaritan copy adds, “Breeches of linen, of byssus, of violet, of scarlet, of purple, of embroidery work, according to the command of the Lord.”
“And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet , of needlework ; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Veneration, of which it was deserving. Hebrew, “the crown of holiness.” It reminded the high priest of his consecration to the Lord, and of the sanctity with which he ought to appear before him.
“And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.”
Finished, exactly according to God’s prescriptions. — Blessed them, the people, who had contributed so liberally; and the workmen, who had performed their task so much to his satisfaction. (Calmet) — He also blessed the sacred vessels, as they were destined for the worship of God. (Haydock)