194- CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



The Israelites appear to have carried the 

 art with them when they were delivered 

 from bondage ; for they were commanded 

 in the wilderness to make offerings for the 

 tabernacle, of " blue, and purple, and scarlet, 

 and fine linen, and goats' hair." 



" Thou shalt make the tabernacle with 

 ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, 

 and purple, and scarlet ; with cherubims of 

 cunning work shalt thou make them."* 



In the 28th chapter of the same book, we 

 have a description of the holy garments for 

 Aaron, which were of fine linen. " And thou 

 shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and 

 thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and 

 thou shalt make the girdle of needle-work." 



" And all the women that were wise- 

 hearted did spin with their hands, and 

 brought that which they had spun, both of 

 blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of 

 fine linen. And all the women, whose 

 heart stirred them up in wisdom, spun goats' 

 hair."-j' 



Egypt continued to be celebrated as the 

 country of flax and linen in the days of 

 Solomon, whose merchants traded thither 



* Exod. chap. xxvi. 1. f Exod. chap. xxxv. 25, 26. 



