Chumash with Rashi

and thus by means of the cords the Forehead-plate was placed over the Turban like a crown. It is impossible, however, to say that the Forehead-plate itself was upon the Turban, for we have learned in Tractate Shechitat Kodashim 1 that the high priest’s hair was visible between the Forehead-plate and the Turban, where he would wear tefilin, and the Forehead-plate was worn on the forehead – thus, the Turban was above and the Forehead-plate below. So what, then, is the meaning of “over the top of the Turban”?

Furthermore, I had another difficulty regarding this. Here it says: וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת (lit.) “They put upon it a cord of turquoise wool,” while in connection with the command it says: וְשַׂמְתָּ אֹתוֹ עַל פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת (lit.) “You must place it over a cord of turquoise wool.” 2 Therefore I maintain that the term “a cord of turquoise wool” refers to cords with which to secure the Forehead-plate onto the Turban – for the Forehead-plate itself extended only from ear to ear, and how would he secure it on his forehead? There were turquoise wool cords attached to it at its two ends and in the middle, with which he secured it so that it hung over the Turban when it was on his head, and the cords were folded so as to form two at each end, i.e., one above, on the Forehead-plate’s outside surface, and one below, on the surface next to his forehead, and similarly in the middle, for in this way it was easy to tie it, and it is not usual to tie things together with less than two threads. Therefore it says in one verse: “over a cord of turquoise wool,” and in the other: “upon it a cord of turquoise wool.” He would then tie the two ends of each thread all together behind him at the back of his head and thus place it over the Turban.

Do not wonder why Scripture does not say פְּתִילֵי תְכֵלֶת “cords of turquoise wool” as there were more than one, for so we find regarding the Breastplate and the Ephod: וַיִּרְכְּסוּ אֶת הַחֹשֶׁן וגו׳ בִּפְתִיל תְּכֵלֶת “They linked the Breastplate…with a cord of turquoise wool,” 3 and there must have been no less than two cords, for on the two lower corners of the Breastplate were the two rings of the Breastplate, and on the two shoulder straps of the Ephod were the two rings of the Ephod opposite them. According to the regular manner of tying there were four cords, but in any case, it was impossible that there were less than two.