Spinning
Summary
The ancient craft of twisting fibers into thread, performed by hand using spindle and distaff—traditionally women's work in Israel.
☩Materials and Method
Materials spun included flax, cotton, wool, and goats' hair. Wool was first cleansed and carded by snapping a bow-string against the pile. Flax stalks were retted (soaked until fibers loosened), then combed, washed, and exposed to weather to produce snowy-white linen. Fibers were gathered into a loose rope wound around a distaff or the left hand, then twisted by means of a spindle with a stone whorl to give momentum.
☩Scriptural Reference
Jesus referred to spinning in teaching about God's providential care: the lilies of the field are richly clothed though they 'neither toil nor spin.' Spinning was characteristically women's work, and the virtuous woman of Proverbs 'layeth her hands to the spindle.'
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Spinning," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Spinning," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Spinning," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Spinning," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Spinning," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).