Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FLAX, LINEN

A winter annual plant with slender long stems (Linum usitatissimum L.). The stem of the flax plant produces fibers for weaving into linen fabrics, while its seeds produce oil that can be used for eating and for lamp oil. However, the best fibers for spinning into linen are those that are harvested before the plant produces seed heads. The plants are harvested by pulling the plants up by their roots. After drying, a process known as retting detaches the fibers from the pectinous substances which surround them, by rotting the plant material away from the flax fibers. This can be done slowly with dew, as when Rahab laid out bundles of flax upon her roof (Josh. 2:6), or more quickly by placing the flax into ponds or streams. When the plant material has disintegrated, the flax is beaten (scrutched) and combed (hackled or heckled) to remove unwanted stem pieces and to produce the long, wavy hanks or stricks of linen fiber. Then the fibers are spun into thread. In biblical times this was done with a drop-weighted spindle.

The linen fabrics are strong and smooth. They bleach easily, but are hard to dye; hence linen is usually white or cream colored. Linen is cool to wear in hot climates, and was the primary fiber used in ancient Egypt. Along with wool, linen was the primary fabric mentioned in the Bible; however, Deut. 22:11 forbids the wearing of clothing made from the two fibers woven together (cf. Lev. 19:19). Linen was the fabric specified for the curtains, screens, and hangings of the tabernacle (Exod. 26:1, 36; 27:9) and also was used for the breastpiece, ephod, robe, tunic, turban, and sash worn by the high priest (28:4-5). The capable wife makes, wears, and sells linen garments (Prov. 31:13, 22, 24). All four Gospels describe the body of Jesus wrapped in linen cloths for burial (Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53; John 19:40).

Bibliography. L. Barber, Prehistoric Textiles: The Development of Cloth in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages (Princeton, 1991), 9-15.

Mary Petrina Boyd

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FLAX, LINEN

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)