Matthew 11:8

ἐν μαλακοῖς ἠμφιεσμένον. Prof. Plumptre (Smith’s Bib. Dic. I. 1166) suggests that there may be a historical allusion in these words. A certain Menahem, who had been a colleague of the great teacher Hillel, ‘was tempted by the growing power of Herod, and with a large number of his followers entered the king’s service … they appeared publicly in gorgeous apparel, glittering with gold.’ (See Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr., on Matthew 22:16.)