Here's some interesting commentary about what we've been discussing:
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Job 1:20 — but on hearing of the death of his children, then he arose; or, as Eichorn translates, he started up (2 Samuel 13:31). The rending of the mantle was the conventional mark of deep grief (Genesis 37:34). Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons; and over these a flowing mantle (especially great persons and women). Shaving the head was also usual in grief (Jeremiah 41:5; Micah 1:16).
See, those in the East wore a tunic, loose pantaloons, and over these a long flowing mantle (this is especially true of great persons and women). So, if these pantaloons are "pants", women wore pants as part of their undergarments.
Also, no great distinction between dress between men and women has been found beyond length, color, and embroidery. So, obviously,
Deuteronomy 22:5 doesn't demand a drastic distinction between dress as it relates to gender. In addition, there was no prohibition against the pantaloons worn with one's under garment for men nor women. General design was the same. But color, length, and decorative additions such as embroidery was all that was necessary to draw distinction.
As it relates to the three Hebrew Captives:
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Daniel 3:21 — coats … hosen … hats — Herodotus [1.195] says that the Babylonian costume consisted of three parts: (1) wide, long pantaloons; (2) a woollen shirt; (3) an outer mantle with a girdle round it. So these are specified [Gesenius], “their pantaloons, inner tunics (hosen, or stockings, are not commonly worn in the East), and outer mantles.”
Y'all have bashed me for pages over these points. These were Babylonian garments. I assure you, I'm not crazy.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Biblical references for clothes are nearly all to the costume of the males, owing doubtless to the fact that the garments ordinarily used indoors were worn alike by men and women.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The costume of the men and women was very similar; there was sufficient difference, however, to mark the sex, and it was strictly forbidden to a woman to wear the appendages, such as the staff, signet-ring, and other ornaments, of a man; as well as to a man to wear the outer robe of a woman. (Deut. 22:5)
Men and women wore the same kind of clothing, but it differed in detail. They both would wear an inner garment and a girdle and an outer garment, but the dress of the woman was more elaborate and ornamented. However, the women wore longer tunics and larger mantles than the men. Also the women would often wear a veil covering their face. Beyond these distinctions, there wasn't much difference in men and women's clothing.
Threaded Mode
