Musar sur Les Nombres 16:3

The legislative details of the commandment of ציצית allude to the metaphysical symbol of "One," אחד, the letter ח representing the eight threads, the letter ד the four fringes, and the letter א referring to the upper knot which is a scriptural requirement according to הלכה; it also alludes to חדוש העולם, creatio ex nihilo. The four directions of the earth are represented by the four fringes which are suspended on the outer garment, a reference to Psalms 93,1, that "G–d is robed in grandeur;" all the directions are directly dependent on Him and emanate from Him. The total of thirty-two threads on the fringes are reminiscent of the thirty two times the name אלוקים occurs in the Torah's report of the creation. It also teaches that the Torah is of Divine origin, since the numerical value of the word ציצית plus the eight threads and 5 knots combine to make a total of 613, i.e. the number of commandments in the Torah. The commandment also alludes to the system of reward and punishment, as explained by scholars of the Kabbalah since תכלת, azure blue, is an allusion to the attribute of Justice, whereas לבן, white, refers to the attribute of Mercy. This is the true meaning of his statement in 16,3, ובתוכם ה', meaning "G–d is among them," i.e. "one of many," his denial of G–d's supremacy.

The two hundred and fifty men died because of their craving for personal honor. Theirs had been a well-intentioned craving for the kind of honor only scholars inherit at the end of their lives. They had meant to adorn themselves in phylacteries, the symbol of the Jewish people's glory. It is said of the תפילין של ראש, the phylacteries worn on the head, וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך "and all the nations of the earth will see that the name of the Lord is proclaimed over you" (Deut. 28,10). This is what they had in mind when they said that "the whole community is holy." They had erred, however. They violated the principle not to aspire to what was to remained concealed from them, i.e. "מופלא ממך אל תדרוש, ובמכוסה ממך אל תחקור." This is why they died during their quest.