“this John.” In the Greek text, the word autos, “this,” is demonstrative, “this John” (the one being discussed); it is not intensive, “John himself.” Cp. Robertson, Grammar, p. 686, and Lenski).

“camel’s hair.” The garment of camel’s hair was a rough, thick, outer robe. It was common, and when James Freeman wrote Manners and Customs of the Bible in 1875, it was still worn quite commonly by Arabs. It was likely a similar outer robe to what Elijah wore centuries before (2 Kings 1:8).