Who Rode Camels in Bible Times

By whom the camel was used. The camel was used largely by the early Hebrew patriarchs. These men measured their wealth by the number of domestic animals they possessed, and camels were included among them. "Abram had sheep, oxen, she-asses, and camels" (Genesis 12:16). Rebekah rode on a camel on her trip to become the bride of Isaac (Genesis 24:64). "Jacob had much cattle, asses, and camels" (Genesis 30:43). It was a company of Ishmeelites with their caravan of camels that carried Joseph down into Egypt (Genesis 31:25, 28). The patriarch Job had three thousand camels before his testing experience, and this number was doubled afterwards (Job 1:3; 42:12). The Hebrew people as a whole during most of the Old Testament times did not make large use of the camel. Living in hilly country, and being a pastoral and agricultural people, they did not have so much need for the camel. Their kings usually possessed camels which were used for travel and transport purposes. Thus Scripture says King David had many camels, some of which had been captured in war (I Samuel 21:9). [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]