Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 3:4

"Now John himself had his raiment of camel`s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey." — Matthew 3:4 (ASV)

His clothing of camel’s hair — This dress was probably adopted deliberately by the Baptist to revive the outward appearance of Elijah, who was “a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather” (2 Kings 1:8). It was also the “rough garment” that had been characteristic of the prophet’s life even at a later period (Zechariah 13:4), contrasting with the “long garments” of the Pharisees (Mark 12:38) and the “gorgeous apparel” of the scribes who attached themselves to Herod's court (Luke 7:25). The Nazarite vow mentioned in Luke 1:15 likely involved long and shaggy hair as well.

Locusts and wild honey — Locusts were among the foods permitted by the Law (Leviticus 11:21) and were, and still are, used by the poor in Palestine and Syria. They are commonly salted and dried, and can be cooked in various ways: pounded, fried in butter, or eaten as they are, tasting like shrimp. Since the facts are so clear, it is unnecessary to look for the Baptist’s food in the sweet pods of the so-called locust tree (Ceratonia siliqua), with which it has sometimes been identified. The “wild honey” was that found in the hollows of trees (as in the story of Jonathan, 1 Samuel 14:25) or in the “rocks” (Deuteronomy 32:13; Psalms 81:16). Stress is laid on the simplicity of the Baptist’s fare, which required no skill or special equipment. It was the food of the poorest wanderer in the wilderness, presenting a marked contrast to the luxury of those who lived in towns. The life of Banus, the hermit-master of Josephus, who lived only on herbs and water (Life, chapter 2), presented similar, though not identical, features.