Apparel
In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as “naked” (1 Sam 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa 20:2). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the “upper garment” (1 Sam 15:27; 1 Sam 18:4; 1 Sam 24:5; Job 1:20). (2.) They wore in common an over-garment (“mantle,” Isa 3:22; 1 Kgs 19:13; 2 Kgs 2:13), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap (Ruth 3:15; Ps 79:12; Prov 17:23; Luke 6:38). Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes (Judg 8:26; Nah 2:3). A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned in Luke 20:46; comp. Matt 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 (Isa 3:22; Zech 3:4) and for presents (Gen 45:22; Esth 4:4; Esth 6:8, Esth 6:11; 1 Sam 18:4; 2 Kgs 5:5; 2 Kgs 10:22). Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments (Isa 20:2; Zech 13:4; Matt 3:4).
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
