FWIW: Linen in Leviticus - an historical context

[Jayhawker Soule]

By way of introduction, this week's Torah portion is Parashat Tsav which begins at Leviticus 6. The JPS Torah Commentary: Leviticus introduces the parsha as follows:

Chapters 6-7 ... focus on the role of the priesthood as officiants in the sanctuary and detail the special care that must attend the sacrificial offerings in order to prevent impurity.​

I suspect that few of us would turn to the early chapters of Leviticus as a source of fun and/or relaxation. Nevertheless, I was fortunate to find myself in an interesting discussion about, of all things, linen.

Leviticus 6:3 reads:

The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar.​

What's with the linen?

In another thread I found myself quoting the following comment on a verse found in Genesis:

The full import of these terms can be grasped only within the broader context of biblical literature and against the background of ancient Near Eastern analogues.​

Referencing Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries by A. Lucas and J. Harris, The Leviticus commentary notes:

​

Linen was first imported into ancient Israel from Egypt, where it was also worn by priests.​

Specifically ...

In ancient Egypt, linen was used for mummification and for burial shrouds. It was also worn as clothing on a daily basis; white linen was worn because of the extreme heat.[citation needed] For example, the Tarkhan dress, considered to be among the oldest woven garments in the world and dated to between 3482 and 3102 BC, is made of linen. Plutarch wrote that the priests of Isis also wore linen because of its purity.​

So, why linen? Because back then, for those engaged in priestly functions, it was simply de rigueur. And now we know.

 

[crossfire]

Question: would you want to wear woolen (as opposed to linen) drawers? What other choice was available at that time and in that area? Leather?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The same natural fibres would have been available then as now. Including fine bleached linen, course natural linen(flax). Camel hair. Goats hair, sheep's wool an cotton. Some places used stinging nettle to produce a linen like fibre. Fine fibres like rabbit make the finest quality felt. Not all fibres were spun and woven. There were always choices, but linen bleaches well in the sun and is always cool to the touch. Silk was know but was rare and prohibitively expensive. It is also naturally warm .