The word "Now" is used here to mark a break in the main story line. Here Matthew tells background information about John the Baptist. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background]])
This clothing symbolizes that John is a prophet like the prophets from long ago, especially the prophet Elijah. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])