Weaving, weavers

Weaving was one of the most ancient and economically significant crafts in the biblical world. Egypt was particularly famed for its fine linen weaving (Isaiah 19:9), and the skilled weavers among the Israelites contributed their expertise to the construction of the tabernacle: Exodus 35:35 lists "the weaver" alongside the embroiderer and the designer among the craftsmen filled with divine wisdom for tabernacle work. The specific weaving of the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1–6) and the high priest's garments (Exodus 28:6–8) required exceptional skill. Weaving is used metaphorically in Job 7:6 — "my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle" — as an image of the speed and transience of life. The craft employed both horizontal looms (for ordinary cloth) and vertical looms (for fine tapestry). The Phoenicians (Ezekiel 27:7) and Egyptians were renowned as exporters of woven textiles throughout the Mediterranean world.