שמות, פרק ל״ט, פסוק כ״ח

The creation of the priestly garments reaches its final stages with a focus on items made entirely of pure linen. These garments were designed to give those serving in the holy spaces a dignified appearance while ensuring strict modesty and establishing a clear visual distinction between the High Priest and the regular priests. All the garments made exclusively of linen are grouped together, placing the pants before the sash, to keep the pure linen items separate from clothing that incorporated a mixture of different materials [העמק דבר].

At the forefront of these linen items is the specialized head covering reserved exclusively for Aaron, the High Priest [אבן עזרא, פענח רזא, ברכת אשר על התורה]. This headpiece consisted of a long strip of clean linen wrapped repeatedly around the head, similar to a turban [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. It was carefully wrapped to leave an area exposed at the top of the head, making room for the golden plate and the head phylacteries [פענח רזא].

In contrast to the High Priest, the regular priests wore head coverings of a completely different shape [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their hats were deep, extending downward and tying securely under the chin [פענח רזא]. The primary approach among commentators is that the specific term used to describe these hats serves as an adjective of beauty and praise, indicating that they were magnificent and visually striking [רש״י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה, ביאור יש״ר]. Another perspective connects the name of these hats to the commandment of phylacteries, which are traditionally referred to as an ornament of beauty. Because the deep hat of the regular priest occupied the exact space on the head where phylacteries would normally sit, the hat was named in their honor [פענח רזא]. Further interpretations suggest that the hat rose upward like a piece of jewelry [רמב״ן, נתינה לגר], or that it featured an ornamental button placed at its peak [חזקוני].

The final linen item mentioned is the pants, which were worn by all priests [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They were crafted from twisted linen threads. Although the original command did not explicitly require the threads to be twisted, this method was used in practice to create an especially thick fabric. This ensured that the body was covered in the most effective and modest manner possible [העמק דבר].