The co-luiiu. ,,f 111,- Palestiii.' i.fasant. .-ibovr descrilinl, ^^,■l^ ]H..l.,Ml.ly, witli iio.I.mM ,lil^.■l,■ll.•r^,
in materials an. I in nu' tin- i-(.-hii i ilu' cnniiti^-
folk of NT aii.l pn.-N'l' times. 'I'la' /,.',/,/.■ is \\w equivalent of the x'tw". and that «as th.' /,. Ihmuflt. of the OT. Now, as then, it is at tinn-s wuv.-n in one piece without seam (.Jn 10-'). '\\\(''iiliii is the modern equivalent of the iVianoi', tin' simluh ni the OT. It was the outer <l.iak uln.li mi-lit not be retained as a pledge aft. a snn-i i -l'., ■.'■i'-"). It is quite possible that in Ml :. ' tlna- i a reference to this. The Rabbis state.l I lial I lie reas.m the elo.ak mi^ht not be removed was liriausi' the :.i^ilh with their blue and white threads wme a riaiiinilpr of the Law. Christ teachus liere that when a man does an injury, within legal limits, as in taking the shirt. His follower nmst be prepared to go a step farther, and give up even what the Law protects him in keeping. The reversal of the order in Lk., though more intelligiblo to Gentiles, misses the special referenep ti, t he .lewisli Law. Like the modern 'aba, the himnfnni « as east aside for quick movement (Mk Ki", .In i:i'-'-), left aside when working in the lields (Mk i:}"*) ; and being dis- pensed with in lighting, might prolitably be ex- changed for a sword when danger was near (Lk 22*'). It might be spread on the ground to form a carpet for an honoured person (Mt 21»), and might
be used in lieu of a saddle, folded across an ass's back (Mk 11'-*). In every one of these details the use of the modern 'aba in Palestine could furnish jiarallels.
With respect to the x'tmv in two separate refer- ences (Mt 10'" etc. and Lk 3"), two 'coats,' i.e. shirts, are spoken of rather as luxuries than neces- sities for the traveller — as is to-day the case Avith the kamis. Two ' cloaks ' would be such unlikely baggage as not to need mentioning.
The girdle or zunnCir is the equivalent of the iiivi\, as is specially shown in its use as a purse. There is, however, another girding referred to in some passages. John the Baptist's girdle may quite probably have been a broad 'loin cloth' ex- tending from waist to knee, — a very ancient dress, — while over the shoulders hung a rough coarse- haired 'aba. It is not unreasonable to suppose that, like the modern dervish, he wore his long nair uncovered. It is evident that his costume was in- tentionally distinctive. When Peter was found by the risen Master engaged in his old business of fishing, he, like the modern Galilsean fishermen when fishing near shore, was probably girded only with a loin-cloth, and therefore described as ' naked ' (Jn 2P). Christ girded Himself with a towel before washing the disciples' feet, to make Himself in outward form more like a slave (Jn 13''- '). It is evident that in the crucifixion, at least of Jews, who would not have tolerated abso- lute nudity, the victim, after the removal of liLs clothes, was girded round the waist ; Peter must have understood the words ' another shall gird thee ' as foretelling that event (Jn 21'*).
The long garments of the scribes and Pharisees find their modern ccmnteriiarts in tlie long cloak used by Moslem reli'^i.ms leaileis. the jihbeh, and in the velvet, ]ilnsli, and silk ruhes of gorgeous colours favoured l.y the leadin,u Kabbis of the Aslikenazim .le\\>, ,iii Sabbath and least-days. In
cit^- life, L:ai Ills additional to those described
abi'ne are always worn. Over the Icainis, hut hicluded within' the girdle, is a striped coloured robe reaching to near the feet, called the kumbaz, and, among the better dressed, over this is worn the sndriyeh or ornamental waistcoat. LebAs or drawers, thougli utterly despised by the true Arab, are in ( cimnion use in towns. Many other varieties of i;arTiients might be mentioned. Those .alreaily tianieil ami doubtless others all had their eonnleriiart-. in NT limes, but there is no hint lliai any liiil the siiii|ili'sl forms of peasant dress were w.'.rn l.y ( lirist an.l His disciples. It has in.lee.l liei'ii tli.iii.jlit thai tlie garments divided by the soldi, is miisi ti.'. .s-arily have been five, of which four, the . l..ak ii.iore.i), the shoes or sandals, the girdle ami lie' liea.l .li.^s, were 'divided among them,' and the fifth, tli.' x'™" or shirt of finer quality, woven perhaps by the hands of His mother herself, apportioned by lot.
The ffToXiJ was evidently considered among the circle of Jesus a robe of dignity ; it is the ' best rolie" liiiiiiLjlit f.iiili for the returning prodigal ; it isnseil 1.. il.M ril..' I he clothing of the 'young man' at th.' lemli (_Mk IG''), and the imposing garments of the.serihcs(Lk:JU*'etc.).
The unsatisfactoriness of patching with new cloth a much worn garment (Mt 9'", ilk 2-'), and the ubiquitousness of that scourge, the clothes- moth (Mt &^- -", Lk 12'"), are daily to be seen illus-
trated in Palestine. The custom of jprovidiu] ",uests with clean 'wedding garments
still
known, though unusual, in the modern East. But the entertainment of the very poor by the well-to- do at such feasts, evidently then tar from un- common, must have made such a precaution absolutely necessary. In the account of the ' rich man' (Lk 16"), we have reference to two of the