the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Joram,{TR omits "the son of Joram"} the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

 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. 