86 FLAX. 



Jericho, hid the spies sent by Joshua under flax on the house 

 top, which proved that it had been introduced into the land 

 before the arrival of the Israelites. The flax after preparation 

 was twisted around the end of a stick, called the distaff, 

 from which it was drawn and fastened to the end of a short 

 spindle. This spindle, when rapidly whirled by the fingers, 

 twisted the thread. This method of making woollen and linen 

 thread is still pursued in many parts of the East and in Eu 

 rope among the peasantry. It is frequently represented on 

 Roman and other ancient marbles, and is referred to by Solo 

 mon in Prov. xxxi. : &quot; She layeth her hands to the spindle, 

 and her hands hold the distaff.&quot; The finest linen came from 

 Egypt, notwithstanding it was spun and woven in Palestine, 

 Greece, and Italy. Accordingly, the Egyptian fabric com 

 manded a high price ; and one of the proofs of the luxury of 

 Tyre mentioned by the prophet Ezekiel is seen in the fact that 

 the ships of Tyre were furnished with sails of the fine linen 

 of Egypt; and among the denunciations by the prophet Isaiah 

 (xix. 9) it was mentioned that &quot;the Egyptian workers of fine 

 flax should be confounded.&quot; this being the distinguishing art 

 of the land and a source of its wealth. The rich desired to 

 obtain the finest linen, which always commanded the highest 

 price : hence, as a token of the luxury and wealth of the rich 

 man spoken of in Luke xvi. 19, it is said he was clothed in 

 purple and &quot;fine linen.&quot; 



Linen was worn among the priests, both in Egypt and in 

 Palestine, and was supposed to be preferable to woollen, because 

 it did not harbor vermin, which could not be said of any other 



