Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 15:38

38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments , throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue f.

These were certain threds or ends of their garments, standing out a little further than the rest of their garments, left there for this use.

(i. e.) in the four borders or quarters, as it is Deut. 22. 12. Heb. wings, which is oft used for borders or ends, as Ruth 3. 9. 1 Sam. 15. 27. and 24. 5, &c.

(i. e.) Of their upper garment, or that wherewith they covered themselves, as is expressed Deut. 22. 12. This was practised by the Pharisees in Christs time, who are noted for making their borders larger than ordinary, Mat. 23. 5. and by Christ himself, as may be gathered from Luk. 8. 44.

To make it more obvious to the sight and consequently more serviceable to the use here mentioned. Or, of a purple colour, as the Iewish writers agree, whose opinion is the more considerable, because it was matter of constant practise among them.

Marginal references: Deut. 22. 12. Mat. 23. 5.; Heb. wings.