Reference: Leather
Easton
a girdle of, worn by Elijah (2Ki 1:8) and John the Baptist (Mt 3:4). Leather was employed both for clothing (Nu 31:20; Heb 11:37) and for writing upon. The trade of a tanner is mentioned (Ac 9:43; 10:6,32). It was probably learned in Egypt.
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Hastings
Morish
Elijah is described as a "hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather." 2Ki 1:8. The same Hebrew word is many times translated 'skin.' In the N.T. John the Baptist had about his loins a 'leathern girdle,' Mt 3:4; or 'of a skin' as in Mr 1:6. We read of Simon a tanner in Ac 9:43; 10:6,32; and the monuments show that the art of tanning was practised in Egypt, so that without doubt it was also known to the Israelites.
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Smith
Leather.
The notices of leather in the Bible are singularly few; indeed the word occurs but twice in the Authorized Version, and in each instance in reference to the same object, a girdle.
There are, however, other instances in which the word "leather" might with propriety be substituted for "skin."
Though the material itself is seldom noticed, yet we cannot doubt that it was extensively used by the Jews; shoes, bottles, thongs, garments, ropes and other articles were made of it. The art of tanning, however, was held in low esteem by the Jews.