Commentaire sur L’Exode 39:27

AND THEY MADE THE TUNICS OF FINE LINEN OF WOVEN WORK FOR AARON, AND FOR HIS SONS. It appears from here that the tunics were identical for father [Aaron] and sons. For even though in the case of the tunic made for Aaron it says, And thou shalt make the tunic of chequer-work from fine linen,²²Above, 28:39. and in speaking of those made for his sons it just says, thou shalt make tunics²³Ibid., Verse 40. [without specifying that they should be of chequer-work], the intention is: “thou shalt make tunics similar to the one mentioned.” And thus it is written, a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a tunic of chequer-work, a mitre, and a belt; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that they may minister unto Me,²⁴Ibid., Verse 4. for the expression for Aaron… and his sons refers back to the tunic of chequer-work, the mitre and the belt, which were alike for all of them. Similarly, that which Scripture says here, and the mitre of fine linen, and the beautiful head-tires, refers to those of both Aaron and his sons, since the mitznepheth (mitre) and the migba’ath (the head-tire) were made in the same way, except that Aaron wound it [around his head, fold upon fold], and his sons set them upon their heads tightly, as I have explained.²⁵Ibid., Verse 31 (towards the end) and Verse 37.

ויעשו את הכתנות שש מעשה אורג.לאהרן ולבניו, “they made the tunics of the fine linen of weaver’s work, for Aaron and his sons.” This means that these tunics and the headdresses as well as the sash for Aaron and his sons were made of the same material. The Torah, describes the sash, and the trousers as being made of שש משזר, linen woven of twisted (multiple) threads as well as blue wool, red and purple wool, something that had not been mentioned in the instructions. We must assume therefore that the difference between the two kinds of headgear מצנפת and מגבעת respectively, was not in the materials used, but in the manner in which they were worn. Moreover, when three kinds of thread, i.e. תכלת, ארגמן תולעת שני, are used, the method of combining them is known as מעשה רוקם, embroiderer’s work.