the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

 John had lived in the desert. The face of the desert was covered with stubble and brushwood, as dry as tinder. Sometimes a spark set the face of the desert alight and out from their crannies came the vipers, scurrying in terror from the menacing flames. It was to them John likened the people who came to be baptized. 