Looking for insight.

[God-fearing]

When I read scripture I look for breadcrumbs the Holy Spirit leaves and wonder why this was in the scripture or story.
Has anyone studied the appearance and eating habits of John the Baptist
Does eating locust and honey dressed in camel hair have any relevance or meanings behind it?
Why would the Holy Spirit include this in his description. He definitely stood out or was he a part of another culture?
I see no other person like this. Is there a reason?
In Malachi it says he came from the wilderness, is this description of him proof of his wilderness origin to confirm prophecy fulfillment? Or is there more?

 

[timf]

It might simply indicate that he was sustained by God and not employed by someone.

 

[JohnDB]

When I read scripture I look for breadcrumbs the Holy Spirit leaves and wonder why this was in the scripture or story.
Has anyone studied the appearance and eating habits of John the Baptist
Does eating locust and honey dressed in camel hair have any relevance or meanings behind it?
Why would the Holy Spirit include this in his description. He definitely stood out or was he a part of another culture?
I see no other person like this. Is there a reason?
In Malachi it says he came from the wilderness, is this description of him proof of his wilderness origin to confirm prophecy fulfillment? Or is there more?

Locust....boiled in ghee is a delicacy....almost like eating escargot.
We have a stigma about eating bugs unless they come from the ocean....the Middle East does not. (Literally stated as: Top eating)

Wild honey.....good stuff if you can get it. According to the apiaries I know....wild honey is less liquid than domestic honey....you have to eat the comb to get the sweet out of it but supposedly the story is it's less waxy and more papery....but actually kinda good. (Gift from God)

Camel hair....commonly used for tent-making and really uncomfortable. Dark brown, not tan, in color. When it gets wet it swells up and becomes water tight....otherwise the weave becomes loose and is almost fishnet in appearance...allows the wind to blow through.

This is ONLY fit for an outerwear if you wear an undergarment of some sort. Way too stiff, scratchy, and etc. Worse than any burlap bag ever thought of.

John, the Baptist (Levite) came from the Essenes who had a huge commune in the wilderness area. They were extremely conservative....strictest purity behaviors followed. Daily ceremonial Bathing. They made their living by transcribing scriptures, Torah, and other books instead of just leather goods. Meaning they also made phylacteries. They customarily wore whitest white....

These lines describe John the Baptist in many way....delicate stomach, who left his close knit friends/culture, completely devout religiously, willfully enduring hardships. A homeless person who didnt completely act homeless.

He was a nice, educated guy you wouldn't mind hanging out, watching the game, and drinking a beer with....
But he would have iced tea the whole time....probably wouldn't make a wager on it....but otherwise would be a good friend.

The camel hair thing....means he wouldn't be back with his Essene friends/family. He was "apostacized" by his choice from the strictest, most conservative group in order to be even more pure, conservative, and religiously holy.

 

[JohnDB]

John the Baptist....looked like a homeless bum. Did not talk like one, did not ask for money or food.
And he was absolutely zealous for God. These "tidbits" were expensive to include. Paper/papyrus was expensive....same with ink.
(Many of the AI can give you a rough equivalent of costs for paper)

Most of scriptures were extremely expensive to produce. Books like the Torah were paid for as a community project for their community synagogue. Because the Torah (5 books of Moses) cost a Year's wages....yeah....roughly $150k in today's wages in the USA.

So, everything was written in an extremely compact but poetic fashion. There are no wasted words included whatsoever. EVERY word is precious. Usually was read or written by those young enough to see small things easily. (Glasses not invented yet....and at age 40-45 just about everyone needs reading glasses)

 

[JohnDB]

I forgot...
"Baptize" is a word used for dipping cloth or yarn into dye....not Hebrew but Greek word. And when used for John....its a translation....but crucial. He changed his followers so dramatically it was as if they were different people.
John the baptists directed his adherents to pray for sin forgiveness directly (no priest or sacrifice) and quote and explain scriptures themselves without being a levite or rabbi. Huge, HUGE doings in the Jewish world. This is why Jesus said,"Of those born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist".....and He, Himself (God's Son) was born of a woman too....

 

[GWH]

When I read scripture I look for breadcrumbs the Holy Spirit leaves and wonder why this was in the scripture or story.
Has anyone studied the appearance and eating habits of John the Baptist
Does eating locust and honey dressed in camel hair have any relevance or meanings behind it?
Why would the Holy Spirit include this in his description. He definitely stood out or was he a part of another culture?
I see no other person like this. Is there a reason?
In Malachi it says he came from the wilderness, is this description of him proof of his wilderness origin to confirm prophecy fulfillment? Or is there more?

I hope you will want Scriptural support for insights.
Matt. 3:1-12 says that John fulfilled Isa. 40:3, and lived alone in the wilderness near the Jordan River,
where he baptized those who confessed their sins and preached warned Pharisees about the one who
would follow and baptize with the HS and judgment.

Locusts and honey were free food that could be eaten to sustain John. Not sure how he acquired the camel skin and leather belt.
John's references can be interpreted by various Scriptures: to vipers (Matt. 23:33), to Abraham as father (John 8:42-44), and to burning fruitless trees (Matt. 21:19, 25:30, Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 2:8-10).

Anything beyond such as these is speculation rather than insight.

 

[God-fearing]

I forgot...
"Baptize" is a word used for dipping cloth or yarn into dye....not Hebrew but Greek word. And when used for John....its a translation....but crucial. He changed his followers so dramatically it was as if they were different people.
John the baptists directed his adherents to pray for sin forgiveness directly (no priest or sacrifice) and quote and explain scriptures themselves without being a levite or rabbi. Huge, HUGE doings in the Jewish world. This is why Jesus said,"Of those born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist".....and He, Himself (God's Son) was born of a woman too....

Thank you so much for your input. I find that knowing the back story of people in the Bible enhances conversations.
John is a very interesting person in my book.

 

[God-fearing]

I hope you will want Scriptural support for insights.
Matt. 3:1-12 says that John fulfilled Isa. 40:3, and lived alone in the wilderness near the Jordan River,
where he baptized those who confessed their sins and preached warned Pharisees about the one who
would follow and baptize with the HS and judgment.

Locusts and honey were free food that could be eaten to sustain John. Not sure how he acquired the camel skin and leather belt.
John's references can be interpreted by various Scriptures: to vipers (Matt. 23:33), to Abraham as father (John 8:42-44), and to burning fruitless trees (Matt. 21:19, 25:30, Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 2:8-10).

Anything beyond such as these is speculation rather than insight.

Thank you for the scripture references, building upon foundational truths is always the rule.

 

[JohnDB]

When I read scripture I look for breadcrumbs the Holy Spirit leaves and wonder why this was in the scripture or story.
Has anyone studied the appearance and eating habits of John the Baptist
Does eating locust and honey dressed in camel hair have any relevance or meanings behind it?
Why would the Holy Spirit include this in his description. He definitely stood out or was he a part of another culture?
I see no other person like this. Is there a reason?
In Malachi it says he came from the wilderness, is this description of him proof of his wilderness origin to confirm prophecy fulfillment? Or is there more?

These "crumbs" as you call them are also sometimes referred to as "whispers" in scriptures....
Little details hidden amongst a huge active and enticing story.

Scriptures are literally FULL of these whispers.

And as it's written in a very compact manner....a good bit of Anthropology and History knowledge is needed. Flat reading is almost worthless anymore.
But hermeneutics is the proper blend of Arts AND sciences together to determine what was intended by the scriptures.

GOOD JOB GETTING OUT THE BREADCRUMBS

 

[tablet123]

When I read scripture I look for breadcrumbs the Holy Spirit leaves and wonder why this was in the scripture or story.
Has anyone studied the appearance and eating habits of John the Baptist
Does eating locust and honey dressed in camel hair have any relevance or meanings behind it?
Why would the Holy Spirit include this in his description. He definitely stood out or was he a part of another culture?
I see no other person like this. Is there a reason?
In Malachi it says he came from the wilderness, is this description of him proof of his wilderness origin to confirm prophecy fulfillment? Or is there more?

The outside of the Tabernacle was plain and ordinary, intentionally designed to look unremarkable to those passing by.

While the interior was filled with glowing gold and beautiful woven fabrics, the outermost layer was simple and rugged.

Outer Layer: The outermost covering consisted of rough animal hides (often translated as badger, porpoise, or sea-cow skins) that were tough, weather-resistant, and dull gray in appearance.

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

 

[Seeker47]

There are some significant "crumbs" mentioned in Matthew 15:21-28 that the church usually sweeps quickly under the rug. It's not that difficult to understand but doesn't meet the narrative. It's repeated on Mark 7:24-36.

 

[God-fearing]

I hope this thread inspires others to look for the crumbs or whispers as JohnDB says to give a better context of what is written.
A more understanding of the text and not lean on your own understanding.
Im glad this thread was answered in the most sincere way and not ment with dogmatic contempt so far.
Thank you all for your replies

 

[rewriter]

Looking at the "crumbs", anomalies, inconsistencies and simply strange comments. in scripture is a great way to gain insights that many miss. Wearing camel's hair was associated with repentance. Eating locust and wild honey, depending on the time of year, would imply depending totally on God for one's sustenance. In short, this description of John the Baptist portrays someone leaning totally on God. Now he was likely associated with the Essene community, but all Jews of his day would have considered him to be a true man of God and someone to be admired for his faith and someone worth listening to.