Matthew 3:4

II. THE KING'S MESSENGER.

4. The same John had his raiment of camel's hair.

In the time of Christ it was the teaching of the scribes that Elijah was to come as the forerunner of Messiah; but our Lord taught his disciples that he had already come in the person of John the Baptist, of whom it was predicted by the angel that he should go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to effect the very changes foretold by Malachi. See Matthew 17:10-13; Luke 1:17. We find, accordingly, that John conformed to his example, even in externals, as to place of residence and style of dress, not for the sake of. mere personal resemblance, but to symbolize the rigor and austerity belonging to the system of which they were both types and representatives.

Camel's hair.

Not the camel's skin with the hair on, but. garment made of the shaggier camel's hair, woven in. coarse fabric like our drugget. It was recognized as. garb of the prophets (Zechariah 13:4), and is still worn in the East by the poor, or those who affect austerity. His dress resembled that of Elijah, and in this respect also he fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi 4:5.

A leathern girdle about his loins.

The "leathern girdle " may be seen around the body of the common laborer, when fully dressed, almost anywhere; whereas men of wealth take special pride in displayIng. rich sash of silk or some other costly fabric.-- Hackett.

His meat was locusts and wild honey.

I have seen at Medina and Tayf locust shops, where these animals were sold by measure. In Egypt and Nubia they are only eaten by the poorest beggars. The Arabs, in preparing locusts as an article of food, throw them alive Into boiling water with which. good deal of salt has been mixed. After. few minutes they are taken out and dried in the sun; the head, feet and wings are then torn off; the bodies are cleansed from the salt and perfectly dried, after which process whole sacks are filled with them by the Bedouin. They are sometimes eaten boiled in butter, and they often contribute materials for. breakfast when spread over unleavened bread, mixed with butter.-- Burckhardt.

Wild honey.

This existed in such abundance in the trunks of trees and the crevices of the rocks that to the ancient Israelites the land was described as "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). In some parts of northern Arabia the bees are said to be so abundant that no sooner is. hive deposited than it is filled. Compare Samson's experience in Judges 14:5-9.-- Abbott.