Weaving was an art practised in very early times ( Exodus 35:35 ). The Egyptians were specially skilled in it ( Isaiah 19:9 ; Ezek. 27:7 ), and some have regarded them as its inventors.
In the wilderness, the Hebrews practised it ( Exodus 26:1 Exodus 26:8 ; Exodus 28:4 Exodus 28:39 ; Leviticus 13:47 ). It is referred to in subsequent times as specially the women's work ( 2 Kings 23:7 ; Proverbs 31:13 Proverbs 31:24 ). No mention of the loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the "shuttle" ( Job 7:6 ), "the pin" of the beam ( Judges 16:14 ), "the web" (13,14), and "the beam" ( 1 Samuel 17:7 ; 2 Sam 21:19 ). The rendering, "with pining sickness," in Isaiah 38:12 (A.V.) should be, as in the Revised Version, "from the loom," or, as in the margin, "from the thrum." We read also of the "warp" and "woof" ( Leviticus 13:48 Leviticus 13:49 Leviticus 13:51-53 Leviticus 13:58 Leviticus 13:59 ), but the Revised Version margin has, instead of "warp," "woven or knitted stuff."