Leather

Leather (Hebrew 'or) was widely used in the ancient Near East for garments, sandals, water containers, and scroll material. Elijah's distinctive leather belt (2 Kgs. 1:8) identified him as a prophet of the wilderness tradition, as did John the Baptist's leather girdle (Matt. 3:4). The outer covering of the tabernacle was made of tanned hides (Ex. 26:14). Tanning was a malodorous trade requiring water and distance from settled areas; Peter lodged with Simon the tanner at Joppa, whose house was "by the sea" (Acts 9:43; 10:6) — a detail that places Peter in contact with the socially marginal even before his vision about the Gentiles.