Exodus 28:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou shalt make holy garments—for glory and for beauty— Holy garments, or garments separated and set apart for the sole use of the priests, are directed to be made for glory and for beauty; that is, very glorious and beautiful; not only that the high-priest might appear in a manner something worthy the solemn character of representative of the Almighty King of the Jews; but also, that the people's minds might be impressed with a due reverence to the dignity of his office, as well as of the character which he sustained: for it should be remembered, that as the tabernacle or temple was the court of Jehovah, the King of Israel; so the high-priest sustained the character of the vice-roy or immediate representative of that great King: and hence many writers have observed, that the glorious and beautiful garments were symbolical of the real glories and perfections of JEHOVAH, the present King and future MESSIAH of the Jews. Philo tells us, that the law dressed up the priests to the venerableness and honour of a king: and in Josephus we have a remarkable relation, that when Alexander the Great was advancing to besiege Jerusalem, the high-priest of the Jews in his sacerdotal robes went forth to meet him at the head of the sacred order, all clothed in their holy vestments; the majesty of which spectacle struck Alexander with such reverence, that he bowed down, and saluted the high-priest: upon which Parmenio asked him, How it came to pass that, when all others adored him, he should adore the high-priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, "I did not adore him, but that GOD who has honoured him with his high-priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios in Macedonia." See more in Josephus, Antiq. B. 11: ch. 8.