ישעיהו, פרק י״ט, פסוק ט׳

A devastating drought striking the Egyptian Nile brings about a severe economic collapse, dealing a crushing blow to the local textile and fishing industries. The focus falls on the deep despair of the craftsmen who watch their livelihoods dry up alongside the river. The farmers who grow flax along the riverbanks [רש״י], as well as the laborers who perform the heavy work of processing it, face absolute ruin. This industry relies on enormous amounts of water to soak the raw flax. Without the river, even if workers have leftover materials from previous harvests, production must completely halt [שד״ל]. Consequently, these laborers are left deeply ashamed and disappointed, stripped of any hope of earning a living.

The processing of the raw material is a meticulous craft. The primary approach among commentators is that workers carefully comb the flax with a special tool to separate its fibers and remove waste. Alternatively, the focus is on the specific artisans who perform this combing [שד״ל]. Others suggest the trade revolves around a highly sought-after, premium strain of luxurious flax that was widely grown in ancient Egypt [מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא, רד״ק].

The final stage of this economic ruin affects the weavers. One common view is that these artisans craft fishing nets. Because the river has dried up and the fish are gone, the net-makers are left without work and are filled with shame [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Another perspective suggests they weave elegant, white linen garments [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. A third approach shifts the focus entirely from the woven goods to the physical reaction of the weavers themselves. Rather than describing white fabric, this view describes the workers' faces turning pale. Just as the flax processors are overcome with shame, the weavers' faces will turn stark white from the sheer embarrassment, disappointment, and sorrow of losing their livelihood [שד״ל, מלבי״ם].