Clothing and Accessories lll

   722. Jewish men did not wear jewelry as a rule. They often carried a cane or staff with some ornamentation at the top. Certain men wore a ring on their right hand, or on a chain around their neck. This was the signet ring or seal and served as the personal signature of its owner.

   723. Jewish women did use ornaments, such as in elaborate braiding of their hair (which Peter and Paul spoke against in 1 Peter and 1 Timothy). Earrings were worn by women of Jacob's family (Gen. 35:4), and the gold earrings of the Israelite women contributed to the gold in Aaron's golden calf (Exod. 32:2). Abraham's servant had two bracelets ready to give Rebekah, and in the third chapter of his prophecy, Isaiah lists many feminine ornaments (Isa. 3:18-20).

   724. Each society has its own standards of physical beauty. It is difficult to know just what the ancient Hebrews found beautiful. Most of the attractive women mentioned in the Bible are not described in detail. The writer usually notes simply that a woman was "beautiful." Some of the most important women in the Old Testament were said to be beauties: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Bathsheba, Tamar, Abishag, and Esther.

   725. What did Jesus wear? He must have worn the turban, worn by both the rich and poor alike. Under His turban His hair would be rather long and His beard uncut. His tunic, the undergarment, was one piece without a seam. It was therefore of some value and had probably been given to Him by one of the wealthier women who ministered to Him. Over this He wore the mantle, loose and flowing. This cloak probably was not white, because we're told it turned white during the transfiguration. It was most likely a common blue or it may have been white with brown stripes. Jesus did have at the four corners of this mantle the tsitsith (fringe).

   726. In Old Testament times practically all clothing was made from sheep's wool. We are accustomed to seeing sheep that have been bred for their white wool, but in Biblical times most sheep had brown coats or were black and white.

   727. The hair clipped from goats was woven into course cloth to make the black tents in which the nomads lived. The size of the tent depended on the wealth of the owner, but even the simplest tent was divided by curtains into a front room for entertaining and another room for cooking and housing the children.