And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
Those that wear robes of honour must look upon them as clothes of service; from those upon whom honour is put, service is expected. The Son of man Himself came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And mark how each account of these garments ends with 'as the Lord commanded Moses', a pattern for all God's ministers, to make His word their rule in all their ministrations.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 39:1-31
Gold was beaten into thin plates, then cut with scissors into long slips and rounded into filaments, a labor-intensive process. Ancient cloth of golden tissue is well attested on the monuments, though we cannot always tell if the gold was interwoven at the loom or inserted afterward by the embroiderer.
AI summary
The gold was beaten into thin plates and cut into threads by twisting or winding, pathal means to twist. The Israelites certainly possessed the skill for this; they had mastered far more difficult ornamental arts. But here the design may have called for something more solid than thread could achieve.
AI summary