Apparel: In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire
was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female
apparel
(Deuteronomy 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses.
Both men and women wore1. an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who
had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked"
(1 Samuel 19:24)
(Job 24:10; Isaiah 20:2) Those in high stations sometimes wore two
tunics, the outer being called the "upper garment"
(1 Samuel 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20)
2. They wore in common an over-garment
(Isaiah 3:22; 1 Kings 19:13; 2 Kings 2:13)
a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could
be formed into a lap
(Ruth 3:15; Psalms 79:12; Proverbs 17:23; Luke 6:38) Generals
of armies usually wore scarlet robes
(Judges 8:26; Nahum 2:3) A form of
conspicuous raiment is mentioned in
(Luke 20:46) comp.
(Matthew 23:5)
Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans.
Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for
festive occasions
(Isaiah 3:22; Zechariah 3:4) and for presents
(Genesis 45:22; Esther 4:4; 6:8,11; 1 Samuel 18:4; 2 Kings 5:5; 10:22) Prophets and
ascetics wore coarse garments
(Isaiah 20:2; Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4)
