“opere polymitario : inciditque bracteas aureas, et extenuavit in fila, ut possent torqueri cum priorum colorum subtegmine,”
“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.”
“They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman.”
“They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.”
“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, the work of the skilful workman.”
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)
Verses 1-31 The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, ( Revelation 19:8 ) .