ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף זכריה 13:4

Another explanation of “Send for yourself men.” Specifically, you should envision with divine inspiration whether these men are suitable for this mission, because most people are misled by flatterers who present themselves as virtuous and wear garments of hair [worn by leaders] in order to deceive (Zechariah 13:4). Therefore it says for yourself men — specifically those who in your eyes are important men, not those who are considered important men in the eyes of others, because it is possible that their inside does not match their outside appearance. Another explanation: for yourself men — to you they appear to be important men because you have physical eyes to see only what is revealed in the present moment, as they were indeed virtuous at that time. But in My eyes, they are not virtuous men, because I see two visions — both the present and the future — as they would eventually adopt an evil counsel.

In reading between the lines of the Pesukim describing the introductory meeting between Eliyahu HaNavi and Elisha, we find an emerging tension. On the one hand, Elisha grasps the message Eliyahu HaNavi communicates when he places part of his mantel on him. As explained by Radak and Ralbag, the mantel is a symbol of Nevu’ah, as is evident from Zechariah 13:4. By sharing the mantel with Elisha, Eliyahu HaNavi communicates that he is ready to bring Elisha under his wing, and train him to develop into a Navi.

“And the first one came out red, entirely…” This was a sign that he would be a deceptive hunter who would deceive his father, like the hypocrites who present themselves as modest people. This relates to what is said about the future: And they shall not wear a hairy mantle to deceive (Zechariah 13:4). For such was the custom in those times that modest people would wear hairy mantles. Perhaps this custom also existed in Isaac’s time; therefore he was born with a hairy mantle [of hair], suggesting that he would [appear to] be one consecrated to God from the womb but would actually be among the group of hypocrites. This is also a sign that he would be a keeper of harlots, for the sign of this is that his hair is long, as Maimonides writes in Laws of Personal Development (Chapter 4, Law 19).