camel Summary and Overview

from the Hebrew "gamal", "to repay" or "requite," as the camel does the care of its master. There are two distinct species of camels, having, however, the common characteristics of being "ruminants without horns, without muzzle, with nostrils forming oblique slits, the upper lip divided and separately movable and extensile, the soles of the feet horny, with two toes covered by claws, the limbs long, the abdomen drawn up, while the neck, long and slender, is bent up and down, the reverse of that of a horse, which is arched." (1.) The Bactrian camel is distinguished by two humps. It is a native of the high table-lands of Central Asia. (2.) The Arabian camel or dromedary, from the Greek "dromos", "a runner" (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 2:23), has but one hump, and is a native of Western Asia or Africa. The camel was early used both for riding and as a beast of burden (Gen. 24:64; 37:25), and in war (1 Sam. 30:17; Isa. 21:7). Mention is made of the camel among the cattle given by Pharaoh to Abraham (Gen. 12:16). Its flesh was not to be eaten, as it was ranked among unclean animals (Lev. 11:4; Deut. 14:7). Abraham's servant rode on a camel when he went to fetch a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24:10, 11). Jacob had camels as a portion of his wealth (30:43), as Abraham also had (24:35). He sent a present of thirty milch camels to his brother Esau (32:15). It appears to have been little in use among the Jews after the conquest. It is, however, mentioned in the history of David (1 Chr. 27:30), and after the Exile (Ezra 2:67; Neh. 7:69). Camels were much in use among other nations in the East. The queen of Sheba came with a caravan of camels when she came to see the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings 10:2; 2 Chr. 9:1). Benhadad of Damascus also sent a present to Elisha, "forty camels' burden" (2 Kings 8:9). To show the difficulty in the way of a rich man's entering into the kingdom, our Lord uses the proverbial expression that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matt. 19:24). To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression (Matt. 23:24), used with reference to those who were careful to avoid small faults, and yet did not hesitate to commit the greatest sins. The Jews carefully filtered their wine before drinking it, for fear of swallowing along with it some insect forbidden in the law as unclean, and yet they omitted openly the "weightier matters" of the law. The raiment worn by John the Baptist was made of camel's hair (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6), by which he was distinguished from those who resided in royal palaces and wore soft raiment. This was also the case with Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), who is called "a hairy man," from his wearing such raiment. "This is one of the most admirable materials for clothing; it keeps out the heat, cold, and rain." The "sackcloth" so often alluded to (2 Kings 1:8; Isa. 15:3; Zech. 13:4, etc.) was probably made of camel's hair.

The species of camel which was in common use among the Jews and the heathen nations of Israel was the Arabian or one-humped camel, Camelus arabicus. The dromedary is a swifter animal than the baggage-camel, and is used chiefly for riding purposes; it is merely a finer breed than the other. The Arabs call it the heirie. The speed, of the dromedary has been greatly exaggerated, the Arabs asserting that it is swifter than the horse. Eight or nine miles an hour is the utmost it is able to perform; this pace, however, it is able to keep up for hours together. The Arabian camel carries about 500 pounds. "The hump on the camel's back is chiefly a store of fat, from which the animal draws as the wants of his system require; and the Arab is careful to see that the hump is in good condition before a long journey. Another interesting adaptation is the thick sole which protects the foot of the camel from the burning sand. The nostrils may be closed by valves against blasts of sand. Most interesting is the provision for drought made by providing the second stomach with great cells in which water is long retained. Sight and smell is exceedingly acute in the camel." --Johnson's Encyc. It is clear from #Ge 12:16| that camels were early known to the Egyptians. The importance of the camel is shown by #Ge 24:64; 37:25; Jud 7:12; 1Sa 27:9; 1Ki 19:2; 2Ch 14:15; Job 1:3; Jer 49:29,32| and many other texts. John the Baptist wore a garment made of camel hair, #Mt 3:4; Mr 1:6| the coarser hairs of the camel; and some have supposed that Elijah was clad in a dress of the same stuff.

CAM'EL , a well-known and highly useful animal in Eastern countries, and justly called "the ship of the desert." It is by the law of Moses unclean. Lev 11:4. The camel is usually about 6 feet in height to the saddle. Though he makes loud complaints when caused to kneel or receive a load, he is still docile, and marches on as under a painful sense of duty. He varies in color from white to black, but is ordinarily tawny. In the Bible lands the Arabian or one-humped camel ( Camelits dromedcuius) is found. Two-humped camels (C. Bactrianus) are rarely used except in Central Asia. The feet of this animal are provided with a tough, elastic sole, which prevents them from sinking in the sand. His hump serves as a cushion for loads, Isa 30:6, and a store-house of food against times of scarcity. There is a large callus on his breast and three pairs of calluses on his legs, which protect him from laceration when kneeling upon sharp stones. His nostrils are adapted for breathing with safety in a sandstorm. A horny mouth with divided upper lip is fitted for the harsh and thorny shrubs of the desert, which he seems to prefer to more tender herbage. The second stomach of the camel, which is a ruminant animal, is divided into hexagonal cells, and receives and retains for gradual use the water which is drunk. On a full supply he can live even 20 or 30 days. As the camel never sensibly perspires, there is no loss in this direction. These qualities all combine to CAM CAM adapt the animal to the countries he inhabits and to the services required of him. He is, perhaps, more sure-footed than the ass, more easily supported, and capable of an incomparably greater burden. He can carry a load of 600 or 800 pounds Camel at the rate of 30 miles a day, and, on short journeys, 1000 to 1200 pounds. His usual speed is two and a half miles an hour, but the breed of fast camels called distinctively dromedaries, Jer 2:23, will travel 100 miles a day. Like a docile colt, this animal is driven or led by a rude halter. Crescent-shaped ornaments of cloth and cowrie-shells, or even of silver, are often hung to the camel's neck Jud 8:21, Acts 11:26. The flesh and milk are used for food (except by Jews); the skin and hair are employed for garments; the bones are cut into various articles and sometimes the dung is needed for fuel. The ordinary life of the camel is from 30 to 50 years. Camels were formerly, and are still, in the East, among the chief possessions of the wealthy. Gen 12:16; Gen 30:43; Gen 37:25; Jud 6:5 and Num 7:12; 1 Sam 30:17; 1 Kgs 10:2; 1 Chr 5:21;2 Chr 14:15; Job 1:3 and Job 42:12; Isa 30:6. The expression in Matt 19:24 is usually considered figurative, denoting something beyond human power. The same form of expression is used among the Arabs and by the Rabbins in respect to the elephant. Some believe that the expression refers to the small door within the large and heavy door of the Oriental gate, for this is called in Arabic "the needle's eye." Rolla Floyd (a well-known Syrian dragoman) told the writer that till recently it was the custom to close the gates of Jerusalem from 12 till 2 on Fridays during Mohammedan worship, but this small door might then be used. On one such occasion, Mr. F. was waiting outside the Jaffa gate for some travellers, when a train of camels arrived. He saw them enter the city by unloading each animal and taking it separately through "the needle's eye." Another figurative expression occurs Matt 23:24, in which the inconsistency of the scribes and Pharisees (who attended to the most unimportant ceremonies of their religion, while they were unjust, unmerciful, and faithless) is compared to one who should very carefully strain out (not at) a gnat or other small insect from the liquor he was about to drink, and yet swallow an animal as large as a camel. See Drink. Travellers sometimes throw over the camel, upon the top of his burden, a pair of panniers, in which they ride, one on either side. Two boxes like small carriage-bodies are often hung upon the animal in the same manner, and in these females may ride and be sheltered from the heat. Gen 24:64. It is easy to see how Rachel might have concealed her father's idols. Gen 31:34. The camel is said to choose ruinous and desolate places for his habitations, and hence the force of the prophetic language respecting Rabbah, Eze 25:5; though the prophecy would be abundantly verified if the place should merely become a stopping-place for caravans. Camel's Hair, Matt 3:4, was made into cloth. 2 Kgs 1:8; Zech 13:4. Sometimes the fabric was wrought of the finest and softest part of the hair, and was then a very rich and luxurious article of dress. A coarser kind was used for the covering of tents and for the upper garments of shepherds and camel-drivers. Travellers tell us that modern dervishes wear cloth of this kind, and also leathern girdles. The raiment of John the Baptist, Matt 11:8, was probably of this kind, for it is put in opposition to soft raiment; but some think it was of prepared camel's hide.

gamal. A ruminant animal, the chief means of communication between places separated by sandy deserts in Asia, owing to its amazing powers of endurance. The "ship of the desert," able to go without food, and water for days, the cellular stomach containing a reservoir for water, and its fatty hump a supply of nourishment; and content with such coarse, prickly shrubs as the desert yields and its incisor teeth enable it to divide. Their natural posture of rest is lying down on the breast; on which, as well as on the joints of the legs, are callosities. Thus, Providence by their formation adapts them for carriers; and their broad, cushioned, elastic feet enable them to tread sure-footedly upon the sinking sands and gravel. They can close their nostrils against the drifting sand of the parching simoom. Their habitat is Arabia, Syria, Asia Minor, S. Tartary, and part of India; in Africa from the Mediterranean to Senegal, and from Egypt and Abyssinia to Algiers and Morocco. The dromedary (beeker) is from a better breed, and swifter; from the Greek dromas, a runner; going often at a pace of nine miles an hour (Esther 8:10; Esther 8:14). The Bactrian two-humped camel is a variety. Used in Abraham's time for riding and burdens (Genesis 24:64; Genesis 37:25); also in war (1 Samuel 30:17; Isaiah 21:7). Camel's hair was woven into coarse cloth, such as what John the Baptist wore (Matthew 3:4). The Hebrew gamal is from a root "to revenge," because of its remembrance of injuries and vindictiveness, or else "to carry." In Isaiah 60:6 and Jeremiah 2:23 beeker should be translated not "dromedary," but "young camel." In Isaiah 66:20 kirkaroth, from karar to bound, "swift beasts," i.e. dromedaries. Its milk is used for drink as that of the goats and sheep for butter.