Difference between revisions of "Camel"

<p> Carrier, A beast of burden very common in the East, where it is called "the land-ship," and "the carrier of the desert." It is six or seven feet high, and is exceedingly strong, tough, and enduring of labor. The feet are constructed with a tough elastic sole, which prevents the animal from sinking in the sand; and on all sorts of ground it is very sure-footed. The [[Arabian]] species, most commonly referred to in Scripture, has but one hump on the back; while the Bactrian camel, found in central Asia, has two. While the animal is well fed, these humps swell with accumulated fat, which is gradually absorbed under scarcity and toil, to supply the lack of food. The dromedary is a lighter and swifter variety, otherwise not distinguishable from the common camel, &nbsp;Jeremiah 2:23 . Within the cavity of the stomach is a sort of paunch, provided with membranous cells to contain an extra provision of water: the supply with which this is filled will last for many days while he traverses the desert. His food is coarse leaves, twigs, thistles, which he prefers to the tenderest grass, and on which he performs the longest journeys. But generally, on a march, about a pound weight of dates, beans, or barley, will serve for twenty-four hours. The camel kneels to receive its load, which varies from 500 to 1,000 or 1,200 pounds. Meanwhile it is wont to utter loud cries or growls of anger and impatience. It is often obstinate and stupid, and at times ferocious; the young are as dull and ungainly as the old. Its average rate of travel is about two and one third miles an hour; and it jogs on with a sullen pertinacity hour after hour without fatigue, seeming as fresh at night as in the morning. No other animal could endure the severe and continual hardships of the camel, his rough usage, and his coarse and scanty food. The [[Arabians]] well say of him, "Job's beast is a monument of God's mercy." </p> <p> This useful animal has been much employed in the East, from a very early period. The merchants of those sultry climes have found it the only means of exchanging the products of different lands, and from time immemorial long caravans have traversed year after year the almost pathless deserts, &nbsp;Genesis 37:25 . The number of one's camels was a token of his wealth. Job had 3,000, and the Midianites' camels were like the sand of the sea, </p> <p> &nbsp; Judges 7:12; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:21; &nbsp;Job 1:3 . [[Rebekah]] came to Isaac riding upon a camel, &nbsp;Genesis 24:64; the queen of [[Sheba]] brought them to Solomon, and [[Hazael]] to Elisha, laden with the choicest gifts, &nbsp;1 Kings 10:2; &nbsp;2 Kings 8:9; and they were even made serviceable in war, &nbsp;1 Samuel 30:17 . The camel was to the Hebrews an unclean animal, &nbsp;Leviticus 11:4; yet its milk has ever been to the Arabs an important article of food, and is highly prized as a cooling and healthy drink. Indeed, no animal is more useful to the Arabs, while living or after death. Out of its skin they make for corn. Of its skin they make huge water bottles and leather sacks, also sandals, ropes, and thongs. Its dung, dried in the sun, serves them for fuel. </p> <p> [[Camels' Hair]]  was woven into cloth in the East, some of it exceedingly fine and soft, but usually coarse and rough, used for making the coats of shepherds and camel-drivers, and for covering tents. It was this that John the [[Baptist]] wore, and not "soft raiment," &nbsp;Matthew 11:8 . Modern dervishes wear garments of this kind and this appears to be meant in &nbsp;2 Kings 1:8 . </p> <p> The expression, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle," etc., &nbsp;Matthew 19:24 , was a proverb to describe an impossibility. The same phrase occurs in the Koran; and a similar one in the Talmud, respecting an elephant's going through a needle's eye. See also the proverb in &nbsp;Matthew 23:24 , which illustrates the hypocrisy of the [[Pharisees]] by the custom of passing wine through a strainer. The old versions of the New Testament, instead of, "strain at" a gnat, have, "strain out," which conveys the true meaning. </p>

<li> The Arabian camel or dromedary, from the Greek <i> Dromos </i> , "A runner" (&nbsp; Isaiah 60:6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 2:23 ), has but one hump, and is a native of Western Asia or Africa. <p> The camel was early used both for riding and as a beast of burden (&nbsp;Genesis 24:64; &nbsp;37:25 ), and in war (&nbsp;1 Samuel 30:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 21:7 ). [[Mention]] is made of the camel among the cattle given by [[Pharaoh]] to [[Abraham]] (&nbsp;Genesis 12:16 ). Its flesh was not to be eaten, as it was ranked among unclean animals (&nbsp;Leviticus 11:4; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 14:7 ). Abraham's servant rode on a camel when he went to fetch a wife for Isaac (&nbsp;Genesis 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 (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:30 ), and after the [[Exile]] (&nbsp;Ezra 2:67; &nbsp;Nehemiah 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]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:2; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:1 ). [[Benhadad]] of Damascus also sent a present to Elisha, "forty camels' burden" (&nbsp;2 Kings 8:9 ). </p> <p> 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 (&nbsp;Matthew 19:24 ). </p> <p> To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression (&nbsp;Matthew 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. </p> <p> The raiment worn by John the Baptist was made of camel's hair (&nbsp;Matthew 3:4; &nbsp;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]] (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;2 Kings 1:8; &nbsp;Isaiah 15:3; &nbsp;Zechariah 13:4 , etc.) was probably made of camel's hair. </p> <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Camel'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/c/camel.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> '''''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. </p> <p> 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 (&nbsp;Esther 8:10; &nbsp;Esther 8:14). The Bactrian two-humped camel is a variety. Used in Abraham's time for riding and burdens (&nbsp;Genesis 24:64; &nbsp;Genesis 37:25); also in war (&nbsp;1 Samuel 30:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 21:7). Camel's hair was woven into coarse cloth, such as what John the Baptist wore (&nbsp;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 &nbsp;Isaiah 60:6 and &nbsp;Jeremiah 2:23 '''''Beeker''''' should be translated not "dromedary," but "young camel." In &nbsp;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. </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Κάμηλος''''' ''' (Strong'S #2574 — Noun — kamelos — kam'-ay-los ) </div> <p> from a Hebrew word signifying "a bearer, carrier," is used in proverbs to indicate (a) "something almost or altogether impossible," &nbsp;Matthew 19:24 , and parallel passages, (b) "the acts of a person who is careful not to sin in trivial details, but pays no heed to more important matters," &nbsp;Matthew 23:24 . </p>

<p> ''''' kam´el ''''' ( גּמל , <i> ''''' gāmāl ''''' </i> ; κάμηλος , <i> ''''' kámēlos ''''' </i> ; בּכר , <i> ''''' bekher ''''' </i> , and בּכרה , <i> ''''' bikhrāh ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Isaiah 60:6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 2:23 "dromedary," the American Revised Version, margin "young camel"), רכשׁ , <i> ''''' rekhesh ''''' </i> (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:28; see [[Horse]] ), כּרכּרות , <i> ''''' kirkārōth ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Isaiah 66:20 , "swift beasts," the American Standard Revised ersion. "dromedaries"); בּני הרמּכים , <i> ''''' benē hā ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' rammākhı̄m ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Esther 8:10 , "young dromedaries," the American Standard Revised Version "bred of the stud"); אחשׁתּרנים , <i> ''''' 'ăḥashterānı̄m ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Esther 8:10 , &nbsp;Esther 8:14 , the King James Version "camels," the American Standard Revised Version "that were used in the king's service")): There are two species of camel, the Arabian or one-humped camel or dromedary, <i> Camelus dromedarius </i> , and the Bactrian or two-humped camel, <i> Camelus bactrianus </i> . The latter inhabits the temperate and cold parts of central Asia and is not likely to have been known to Biblical writers. The Arabian camel inhabits southwestern Asia and northern Africa and has recently been introduced into parts of America and Australia. Its hoofs are not typical of ungulates but are rather like great claws. The toes are not completely separated and the main part of the foot which is applied to the ground is a large pad which underlies the proximal joints of the digits. It may be that this incomplete separation of the two toes is a sufficient explanation of the words "parteth not the hoof," in &nbsp;Leviticus 11:4 and &nbsp; Deuteronomy 14:7 . [[Otherwise]] these words present a difficulty, because the hoofs are completely separated though the toes are not. The camel is a ruminant and chews the cud like a sheep or ox, but the stomach possesses only three compartments instead of four, as in other ruminants. The first two compartments contain in their walls small pouches, each of which can be closed by a sphincter muscle. The fluid retained in these pouches may account in part for the power of the camel to go for a relatively long time without drinking. </p> <p> The Arabian camel is often compared with justice to the reindeer of the Esquimaux. It furnishes hair for spinning and weaving, milk, flesh and leather, as well as being an invaluable means of transportation in the arid desert. There are many Arabic names for the camel, the commonest of which is <i> ''''' jamal ''''' </i> (in Egypt <i> ''''' gamal ''''' </i> ), the root being common to Arabic, Hebrew and other Semitic languages. From it the names in Latin, Greek, English and various European languages are derived. There are various breeds of camels, as there are of horses. The riding camels or dromedaries, commonly called <i> ''''' hajı̄n ''''' </i> , can go, even at a walk, much faster than the pack camels. The males are mostly used for carrying burdens, the females being kept with the herds. Camels are used to a surprising extent on the rough roads of the mountains, and one finds in the possession of <i> ''''' fellāḥı̄n ''''' </i> in the mountains and on the littoral plain larger and stronger pack camels than are often found among the Bedouin. Camels were apparently not much used by the Israelites after the time of the patriarchs. They were taken as spoil of war from the Amalekites and other tribes, but nearly the only reference to their use by the later Israelites was when David was made king over all Israel at Hebron, when camels are mentioned among the animals used for bringing food for the celebration (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:40 ). David had a herd of camels, but the herdsman was Obil, an [[Ishmaelite]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:30 ). Nearly all the other Biblical references to camels are to those possessed by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Ishmaelites, Amalekites, Midianites, [[Hagrites]] and the "children of the East" (see [[East]] ). Two references to camels (&nbsp;Genesis 12:16; &nbsp;Exodus 9:3 ) are regarded as puzzling because the testimony of the [[Egyptian]] monuments is said to be against the presence of camels in ancient Egypt. For this reason, Gen 12 through 16, in connection with Abram's visit to Egypt, is turned to account by [[Canon]] Cheyne to substantiate his theory that the Israelites were not in Egypt but in a north Arabian land of <i> ''''' Muṣri ''''' </i> ( <i> Encyclopaedia Biblica </i> under the word "Camel," 4). While the flesh of the camel was forbidden to the Israelites, it is freely eaten by the Arabs. </p> <p> There are three references to the camel in New Testament: (1) to John's raiment of camel's hair (&nbsp;Matthew 3:4; &nbsp;Mark 1:6 ); (2) The words of Jesus that "it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (&nbsp;Matthew 19:24; &nbsp;Mark 10:25; &nbsp;Luke 18:25 ); (3) The proverb applied to the Pharisees as blind guides, "that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel" (&nbsp;Matthew 23:24 ). Some manuscripts read <i> ''''' ho kámilos ''''' </i> , "a cable," in &nbsp;Matthew 19:24 and &nbsp; Luke 18:25 . </p> <p> There are a few unusual words which have been translated "camel" in text or margin of one or the other version. (See list of words at beginning of the article) <i> ''''' Bekher ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' bikhrāh ''''' </i> clearly mean a young animal, and the Arabic root word and derivatives are used similarly to the Hebrew. <i> ''''' Rākhash ''''' </i> , the root of <i> ''''' rekhesh ''''' </i> , is compared with the Arabic <i> ''''' rakaḍ ''''' </i> , "to run," and, in the Revised Version (British and American), <i> ''''' rekhesh ''''' </i> is translated "swift steeds." <i> ''''' Kirkārōth ''''' </i> , <i> ''''' rammākhı̄m ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' 'ăḥashterānı̄m ''''' </i> must be admitted to be of doubtful etymology and uncertain meaning. </p>