Volume 2

342 Life of Jesus Christ
Jesus' time they no longer dwelt under tents, though they
still preserved many of their peculiar customs. They wore
a hairy ephod (a scapular) as a cilicium [hair shirt] next
their skin, and over that a garment made from the skins
of beasts. Their outer robe was white, beautiful and
clean, and was confined by a broad girdle. One of the
points in which they differed from the Essenians was in
their better mode of dressing. Their rules relating to
purity were excessively strict, and they had very singular
customs with regard to marriage. They passed judgment
after examining blood drawn from the candidate for marriage.
According to this test they decided whether he
should marry or not, enjoining it upon some of their sect
and forbidding it to others. In early times they were to be
found in Argob, Jabesch, and in Judea. They offered no
opposition to the words of Jesus, but took His instructions
and His reproaches alike humbly and in good part.
He reprehended them most of all for their unmerciful
severity to adulterers and murderers to whom they
granted no quarter. There were on this mountain many
foundries and forges. They made pots and gutters, also
water pipes. These last were formed of two pieces
soldered together.
1. Jgs. 6:21.
2. Jgs. 7: 13.
3.1 Kgs. 6:15 et seq.
17. JESUS IN BETHARAMPHTHA-JULIAS.
ABIGAIL, THE REPUDIATED WIFE OF
PHILIP THE TETRARCH
From Ephron, Jesus went with His disciples and
several of the Rechabites about five hours to the north to
Betharamphtha-Julias, a beautiful city situated on a
height. On the way He gave an instruction near a mine