FLAX, OR LINE. 195 



nearly a thousand years after the time that 

 Abram visited that land. 



" And Solomon had horses brought out 

 of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's mer- 

 chants received linen yarn at a price." * 



" I have decked my bed with coverings of 

 tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen 

 of Egypt."*f* 



The prophet Isaiah notices this manufac- 

 ture of the Egyptians, about 250 years 

 later than Solomon. This prophet menaces 

 Egypt with a drought of so terrible a kind, 

 that it should interrupt every kind of labour. 



" Moreover, they that work in fine flax, 

 they that weave net-works, shall be con- 

 founded, j" 



Ezekiel the prophet, in his description of 

 the riches and the merchandize of Tyre, 

 speaks of the productions of Egypt, about 

 150 years after Isaiah. 



" Fine linen with broidered work from 

 Egypt, was that which thou spreadedst 

 forth to be thy sail.§" 



From the Egyptian linen, the principal 

 garments of the priests of the heathens, 

 as well as those of the Israelites, were formed. 



* 1 Kings, chap. x. 28. f Proverbs, chap. vii. 16. 



X Isaiah, chap. xix. 9. § Ezekiel, chap, xxvii. 7. 



o 2 



