Covering of Legs and Feet

COVERING of Legs and Feet, used by the Hebrews. The Hebrews, commonly speaking, had their Legs and Feet covered, particularly in the Field and in Cities; but in their Houses, and in private very frequently, they wore no Covering to these parts. Sometimes they laid it aside Exod. iii. 5. Josh. v. 15.out of respect, as Moses before the burning Bush, Joshua before the Angel, who appeared to him in the Plain of Jericho, the Ex. xxx. 19.Priests in the Temple during the time of their Service; sometimes out of a Principle of Sorrow and Repentance, as David did when he departed from Jerusalem, during Absalom’s Rebellion, and the Jews upon 2 Sam. xv. 30.the great day of Expiation, and in the time of mourning. God forbids Ezekiel to undress his Legs, and mourn for his Wife who was just dead. Isaiah received Orders Ezek. xxiv. 17.to go barefoot, and pull off his Clothes, to denote in a more express manner the future Captivity Isai. xx. 2. Mat. iii. 11. John i.27. Mark vi. 9.of Egypt.

Some of the Antients believed¹, that our Saviour had no Shoes, and generally walked barefoot; but others maintain the contrary. S. John Baptist says, that he was not worthy to bear or to untye our Saviour’s Shoes; and it is not credible, that in a matter so indifferent, he would depart from the Custom of his Nation, or permit his Apostles to wear Shoes, if he himself had worn none.

Judith x. 3. xvi. 11.Women of Quality covered their Feet and Legs with something very rich, as we may see by the Spouse in the Canticles, Judith and Ezekiel, who places precious materials for this use among the Presents which he made his Wife, meaning by her his People. The Scripture says, that Judith, with the Finery of this part of her Dress, raised the Eyes of Holofernes. The Shoes which the Lord gave his Spouse, Ezek. xvi. 10. Amos ii.6. viii. 6.were of a Purple colour.

The matter of this Covering for their Feet and Legs, was of Leather, Linen, Rush, or Wood; for we have nothing certain in this particular; what they generally used was of a very low price; and it was said in a proverbial way among them, as vile, as contemptible as his Shoes. They sold the poor for a pair of shoes, says Amos. The Scripture testifies the disinterestedness of Samuel, that he received not so much as a Shoe from any one. Soldiers sometimes Ecclus. xlvi. 20. Deut. xxxiii. 25.wore Brass and Iron upon their Feet and Legs: Ferrum & æs calceamentum ejus. See the Article Sandals.

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