Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Isaias 62:3

AND THOU SHALT MAKE HOLY GARMENTS FOR AARON THY BROTHER FOR SPLENDOR AND BEAUTY — this means that he be distinguished and glorified with garments of distinction and beauty, just as Scripture says, as a bridegroom putteth on a priestly diadem.²⁷Isaiah 61:10. For these garments [of the High Priest] correspond in their forms to garments of royalty, which monarchs wore at the time when the Torah was given. Thus we find with reference to the tunic, and he made him a tunic of ‘pasim’²⁸Genesis 37:3. — meaning, a cloth woven of variegated colors, this being the tunic of chequer work [mentioned here], just as [Ibn Ezra] explained, which clothed him as a son of ancient kings.²⁹Isaiah 19:11. The same applies to the robe and the tunic, as it is written, Now she [Tamar] had a garment of many colors upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled,³⁰II Samuel 13:18. which means that a garment of many colors was seen clearly upon her, for such was the custom that the virgin daughters of the king wore robes with which they wrapped themselves; thus the coat of many colors was upon her as an upper garment. It is for this reason that it says there, and she rent her garment of many colors that was on her.³¹Ibid., Verse 19. The mitre [mentioned here] is to this day known among kings and distinguished lords. Therefore Scripture says with reference to the fall of the kingdom [of Judah], The mitre shall be removed, and the crown taken off.³²Ezekiel 21:31. Similarly it is written, and a royal diadem.³³Isaiah 62:3. Scripture also calls them the ornamented high caps,³⁴Further, 39:28. and it is further written, They shall have linen ornamented [caps] upon their heads,³⁵Ezekiel 44:18. which are for the beauty and glory of those that are adorned with them. The ephod and the breastplate are also royal garments, just as it is written, and thou shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck.³⁶Daniel 5:16. The plate [around the forehead, which the High Priest wore], is like a king’s crown. Thus it is written, ‘yatzitz nizro’ (his crown will shine).³⁷Psalms 132:18. — Ramban thus associates the word tzitz (plate) with the expression yatzitz nizro (his crown will shine), thus suggesting that the tzitz of the High Priest is a sort of royal crown. Furthermore, [the High Priest’s garments] are made of gold, blue-purple, and red-purple³⁸Further, Verse 5. [which are all symbolic of royalty]. Thus it is written, All glorious is the king’s daughter within the palace; her raiment is of chequer work inwrought with gold,³⁹Psalms 45:14. and it is further written, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck.³⁶Daniel 5:16. As for the blue-purple, even to this day no man will lift up his hand⁴⁰Genesis 41:44. to wear it except a king of nations,⁴¹See Isaiah 14:9. and it is written, And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a ‘tachrich’ (robe) of fine linen and purple⁴²Esther 8:15. — the tachrich being a robe in which the wearer wraps himself.
By way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala,] majesty is to kavod (glory) and to tiphereth (splendor),⁴³Cabalistic terms for certain Emanations. the verse thus stating that they should make holy garments for Aaron to minister in them to the Glory of G-d Who dwells in their midst, and to the Splendor of their strength, as it is written, For Thou art the Glory of their strength,⁴⁴Psalms 89:18. and it is further stated, Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee,⁴⁵Isaiah 64:10. meaning [“the house of] our Holy One” which is the Glory, and “of our Splendor” which is the Splendor of Israel. And it is further stated, Strength and beauty are in His Sanctuary,⁴⁶Psalms 96:6. and similarly, To beautify the place of My Sanctuary, and I will make the place of My feet glorious⁴⁷Isaiah 60:13. — meaning, that the place of the Sanctuary will be glorified by the Splendor, and the place of His feet, which is the place of the Sanctuary, will be honored by the presence of the Glory of G-d. And in Israel will He glorify Himself⁴⁸Ibid., 44:23. also means that in Israel He will show and designate His Splendor. Likewise He says further with respect to the garments of all of Aaron’s sons, that they are for splendor and for beauty.⁴⁹Further, Verse 40. Of the sacrifices He also says, they will come up with ‘ratzon’ (‘will’ — acceptance) on Mine altar, and I will glorify My glorious house.⁵⁰Isaiah 60:7. Thus the altar is His Will and the house of His Glory is the Splendor.
The [priestly] garments had to be made with the intention to be used for that purpose. It is possible that in making them, intent of heart [for what they symbolize] was also needed on the part of their makers. It is for this reason that He said, And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom⁵¹Verse 3. — who will understand what they will do. And the Rabbis have already said [of Alexander the Great, that when asked by his generals why he descended from his chariot to bow before the High Priest Simon the Just, he answered]:⁵²Yoma 69a. The story told there is that when Alexander the Great conquered the Land of Israel the Samaritans petitioned him to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem. Thereupon a procession of notables went out from Jerusalem headed by Simon the Just, the High Priest, who was attired in the high priestly garments. They walked a whole night with torches in their hand until dawn. In the morning as soon as Alexander saw Simon the Just, he descended from his chariot and bowed down to him. When the Samaritans said to him, “Such a great king as thou art dost thou bow thyself to that Jew?” He replied, “His image etc.” “His image glistened before me whenever I had a victory.”

מצנפת, a kind of hat, cap, worn on the head. We encounter the word describing Royal headgear in Isaiah 62,3 וצניף מלוכה, “a royal diadem.”

VV. 18 u. 19. וד׳ האמירך וגו׳: Und Gott hat vor aller Welt von Israel ausgesprochen, להיות לו וגו׳: daß Israel Ihm ausschließlich angehören, keine andere Macht Gewalt über Israel haben, ולשמר כל מצותיו: und Israel wie der Cherub am Wege zum Baume des Lebens, wie die Cherubim über der Bundeslade, der Wächter des göttlichen Sittengesetzes auf Erden sein solle. ולתתך עליון על כל הגוים וגו׳, hat Israel, sobald es sich als gewissenhaften Hüter seines Gesetzes bewährt, eine weltgeschichtliche Stellung verheißen, die es hoch über alle anderen von Gott gestalteten Völker hinaus heben soll, so daß die Tatsache seiner völkergeschichtlichen Erscheinung Gott auf Erden לתהלה לשם ולתפארת gereiche. Israels völkergeschichtliche Erscheinung soll תהלה werden: eine Offenbarung der Gotteswaltung inmitten der Menschheit, ja eigentlich eine "Ausstrahlung" in geschichtlichen Erscheinungen, die auf Gott, als deren Ausgang zurückführen und sein Dasein und Walten konstatieren; und mehr als dies, soll לשם werden: soll nicht nur eine unbestimmte Ahnung von einem einzigen Meister der Gänge der Natur und Geschichte, soll שם, soll, indem es mit dem Buche seiner Lehr- und Gesetzoffenbarung in der Hand, dem einzigen Quell seines Geistes- und Tatenlebens und seiner Wundererhaltung, in Mitte der Völker wandelt, eine ganz bestimmte, klar umschriebene Erkenntnis von dieses einzigen Gottes Sein und Wollen vermitteln, und — wenn es von diesem Gotte und seinem treu erfüllten Gesetze getragen, das Menschen- und Volkesglück erreicht, das Gott ihm in seinem Gesetze verbrieft, – so wird dies לתפארת, wird eine alles andere so weithin überstrahlende Verherrlichung Gottes und seines Gesetzes werden, daß "Völker zu diesem Lichte wandeln werden" und Israel ein "Kranz der Verherrlichung in Gottes Hand, ein Königsdiadem seinem Gotte wird" והיית עטרת תפארת ביד ד׳ וצניף מלוכה בכף אלקיך (Jes. 62, 3). ולהיותך עם קדוש וגו׳, und während Gott es vor aller Welt ausgesprochen, daß Israel als das Volk des Gottesgesetzes ein Werkzeug der Völkererleuchtung und Völkergesittung werden solle, so hat er eben damit האמירך: zum Bewusstsein aller Menschen die Bestimmung und Erwartung von Israel ausgesprochen, daß es in allen zu ihm Zählenden ein עם קדוש, eine "heilige", nur dem sittlich Guten und Gott Wohlgefälligen zugewandte Nation sein solle, also – daß, wenn je es seiner heiligen Bestimmung untreu werden sollte, der kleinste Bube aus der übrigen Menschheit es an seine Bestimmung und seine Verpflichtung mahnen könne.