Topical Bible: The Camel: Abounded in the East

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The camel, a significant animal in biblical times, is frequently mentioned throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing wealth, trade, and transportation. Its presence in the biblical narrative underscores its importance in the ancient Near Eastern culture and economy.

Biblical References and Symbolism

Camels are first mentioned in the context of the patriarchs. In Genesis 12:16, Pharaoh gives Abram camels, among other livestock, as part of a wealth transfer: "He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels." This early reference highlights the camel's role as a measure of wealth and status.

The account of Rebekah in Genesis 24 further illustrates the camel's significance. Abraham's servant takes ten camels to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac, demonstrating the animal's use in long-distance travel and trade. Genesis 24:10 states, "Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking with him all sorts of choice gifts from his master. He set out and went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor."

Camels are also associated with the wealth of Job, a man described as the greatest of all the people of the East. Job 1:3 records, "He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and he had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East." The inclusion of camels in this list emphasizes their value and utility.

Cultural and Economic Role

In the ancient Near East, camels were indispensable for trade and commerce, particularly in desert regions. Their ability to travel long distances without water made them ideal for caravans traversing arid landscapes. This is evident in the account of the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon, where she arrives with a great caravan of camels carrying spices, gold, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:2).

The camel's role in trade is further highlighted in Isaiah 60:6, which envisions a future where "A multitude of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD." This prophetic vision underscores the camel's continued importance in the economic and spiritual life of the region.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

In the New Testament, Jesus uses the camel in a metaphor to teach about the challenges of wealth and spiritual entry into the kingdom of God. In Matthew 19:24, He states, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This hyperbolic expression emphasizes the difficulty of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material riches.

The camel also appears in the teachings of Jesus regarding hypocrisy and legalism. In Matthew 23:24, He criticizes the Pharisees, saying, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." This metaphor highlights the absurdity of focusing on minor legalistic details while neglecting more significant moral and spiritual issues.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, the camel is depicted as a vital component of life in the ancient Near East, serving as a symbol of wealth, a means of transportation, and a subject of spiritual teaching. Its presence in the biblical narrative reflects its integral role in the culture and economy of the time.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 5:21
And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 60:6
The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
... loins [The loose skirts worn in the East required a ... They are frequently seasoned
with camel's milk and honey ... The country once abounded in wild bees, and their ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvii john the baptists person.htm

Mosaic Cosmogony.
... to leap up each morning from the east, and traversing ... The waters now abounded with
monsters, half-fish, half-crocodile ... size of those made by the horse or camel. ...
/.../temple/essays and reviews the education of the world/mosaic cosmogony.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... A suite of three rooms shut off in the north-east angle did duty for a magazine ... as
G. Raw-linson did, that this strip forming a turban was of camel's hair; the ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the ...
... in the West, and the source of much dispute between the East and the ... order has been
necessarily neglected (for while liberty of transgressing abounded, and the ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iii the dissolution of.htm

Dialogue iii. --The Impassible.
... For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue iii the impassible.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... heaven, sounding a trumpet, and a glorious throne was seated in the east, whereon
sat ... at that time; for being now in an army where wickedness abounded, he was ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm