And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold
It was, as Jarchi says, two fingers broad, and reached from ear
to ear, and so Maimonides F6; it is sometimes called the
holy crown, and the plate of the holy crown, ( Exodus 29:6 ) (
39:30
) ( Leviticus
8:9 ) , this was a priestly crown, for priests were very
honourable and dignified persons, especially the high priest
among the Jews; and even among the Gentiles it was common for
their kings to be priests: and though this crown may denote the
kingly power of Christ, yet as residing in him who is a priest,
for he is a priest on his throne, ( Zechariah
6:13 ) , and so may signify the conjunction of the kingly and
priestly offices in Christ, who has a crown of pure gold given
him by his Father, and put upon him, and by his people, (
Psalms 21:4 )
( Song of Solomon
3:11 ) and being of pure gold, holy, and on the forehead, as
this plate was, may signify the purity and holiness of Christ's
kingdom and office, the glory, visibility, and perpetuity of it:
and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet,
HOLINESS TO THE
LORD;
which words were written either in two lines, or in one. If in
two, Maimonides F7 says, the word "holiness" was above,
and to "the Lord" below: but it might be written in one line, and
that seems most likely: he also says the letters were
protuberant, or stood out; but then they would not be graved like
the engravings of a signet, in which the letters or figures are
engraved within, but like the impressions of a signet made on
wax, or other things: in this the high priest was a type of
Christ, who is holy in himself, in his person, in both his
natures, divine and human, in his offices of prophet, priest, and
King; and he is holiness itself, the most holy, essentially,
infinitely, and perfectly so, as angels and men are not, and the
source and spring of holiness to others: and he is holiness to
the Lord for his people; he is so representatively; as their
covenant head he has all grace in his hands for them, and they
have it in him; this is sanctification in Christ, and is by
virtue of union to him, and is complete and perfect, and the
cause of holiness in his people; and he is so by imputation. The
holiness of his human nature was not a mere qualification for his
office, or only exemplary to us, but is with his obedience and
sufferings imputed to us for justification. Moreover, Christ has
by his blood sanctified his people, or made atonement for them,
and procured the cleansing of them from their sins, or the
expiation of them; and he is also the efficient cause of their
internal holiness by his Spirit, without which there is no seeing
God, ( 1
Corinthians 6:11 ) .
F6 Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 1. Vid. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 63. 2. & Succah, fol. 5. 1.
F7 Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 1. Vid. T. Bab, Sabbat, fol. 63. 2. & Succah, fol. 5. 1.