trifling then is the sneer of some scoffers who have said that Paul was nothing but a stitcher of skins, and thence conclude that he was a man of the lowest class of the populace." (Witsius § I. ¶ 12.)
The trade which the parents of Saul selected for their son, is
described in the sacred apostolic history as that of a "tent-maker."
A reference to the local history of his native province throws great
light on this account. In the wild mountains of Cilicia, which
everywhere begin to rise from the plains, at a distance of seven
or eight miles from the coast, anciently ranged a peculiar species
of long-haired goats, so well known by name throughout the Grecian
world, for their rough and shaggy aspect, that the name of
"Cilician goat" became a proverbial expression, to signify a rough,
ill-bred fellow, and occurs in this sense in the classic writers.
From the hair of these, the Cilicians manufactured a thick, coarse
cloth,—somewhat resembling the similar product of the camel's
hair,—which, from the country where the cloth was made, and
where the raw material was produced, was called cilicium or cilicia,
and under this name it is very often mentioned, both by
Grecian and Roman authors. The peculiar strength and incorruptibility
of this cloth was so well known, that it was considered
as one of the most desirable articles for several very important
purposes, both in war and navigation, being the best material for
the sails of vessels, as well as for military tents. But it was principally
used by the Nomadic Arabs of the neighboring deserts of
Syria, who, ranging from Amanus and the sea, to the Euphrates,
and beyond, found the tents manufactured from this stout cloth, so
durable and convenient, that they depended on the Cilicians to
furnish them with the material of their moveable homes; and
over all the east, the cilicium was in great demand, for shepherd's
tents. A passage from Pliny forms a splendid illustration of this
interesting little point. "The wandering tribes, (Nomades,) and
the tribes who plunder the Chaldeans, are bordered by Scenites,
(tent-dwellers,) who are themselves also wanderers, but take their
name from their tents, which they raise of Cilician cloth, wherever
inclination leads them." This was therefore an article of
national industry among the Cilicians, and afforded in its manufacture,
profitable employment to a great number of workmen,
who were occupied, not in large establishments like the great
manufactories of modern European nations, but, according to the
invariable mode in eastern countries, each one by himself, or at
most with one or two companions. Saul, however, seems to have
