But according as it is expounded of the hyacinth-colored tunic alone, the question arises: how was the whole world depicted in it? For since it was entirely of hyacinth, no part of the world seems to be depicted in it except the air alone.
But it must be said that, although the body of the tunic was of hyacinth, nevertheless at its borders there were some things of purple and fine linen and hyacinth and scarlet, such as pomegranates and the like.
The belt represented the ocean, because it encircles the whole earth. The ephod and the two stones, which were above covering each shoulder, represented the two hemispheres, or the sun and the moon. The pomegranates and bells placed below represented lightning and thunder: the twelve stones of the breastplate represented the twelve months, or the twelve parts of the zodiac. The breastplate represented divine providence and disposition. The miter with its hyacinth-colored ribbon represented the heavens. The plate on the forehead of the High Priest and the name of God written thereon represented that all things which exist are governed by the will of God.
And the great deeds of the fathers, that is, names of great authority, were engraved in four rows of stones: for on the breastplate there were four rows of precious stones: on each were inscribed the individual names of the twelve Patriarchs, as is clear from Exodus twenty-eight, just as also in the foundations of Jerusalem are said to be inscribed the names of the twelve Apostles, Apocalypse twenty-one. And your magnificence was engraved on the diadem of his head, that is, the magnificent name of God, the tetragrammaton, that is, of four letters, which are: Yod, He, Vau, He, which signify the principle of the life and passion of Christ.
(Vers. 25.). To these, however, namely the sacred vestments, the one who was destroying yielded, namely the Angel or the fire, yielding not on account of those vestments themselves, but on account of what they signified, namely on account of the future adornment, that is, the sacrifice of the supreme Pontiff, namely Christ, according to what the Gloss touches upon. And he feared these things, that is, he acted as if he feared, namely by withdrawing;
and well did I say: To these he yielded, etc.; for it was only a trial of wrath, that is, a beginning, not a consummation, sufficient namely for the correction of the people, namely with the intercession of the Priest.