Topical Bible: The Camel: Found in Deserted Places

◄ The Camel: Found in Deserted Places ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The camel, a remarkable creature designed for survival in arid and deserted regions, holds a significant place in the biblical narrative. Known for its resilience and ability to endure harsh conditions, the camel is frequently mentioned in Scripture, symbolizing wealth, trade, and the challenges of traversing desolate landscapes.

Biblical References and Symbolism

Camels are first introduced in the Bible in the context of wealth and prosperity. In Genesis 12:16, Pharaoh rewards Abram with camels, among other livestock, highlighting their value as a measure of wealth. Similarly, in Genesis 24:10, Abraham's servant takes ten camels on his journey to find a wife for Isaac, indicating the importance of camels in trade and travel.

The camel's ability to thrive in deserted places is emblematic of endurance and provision. In Isaiah 21:7, the prophet describes a vision of a chariot with a team of donkeys and a team of camels, symbolizing the coming judgment and the swiftness of God's plans. The camel's presence in this vision underscores its role as a creature capable of navigating difficult terrains.

Cultural and Economic Significance

In the ancient Near East, camels were indispensable for trade and commerce. Their ability to carry heavy loads over long distances made them ideal for caravans traversing the desert. This is evident in the account of the Queen of Sheba, who visits King Solomon with a great caravan of camels carrying spices, gold, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:2). The camel's role in facilitating trade routes contributed to the economic prosperity of regions connected by these networks.

Metaphorical Usage

The camel is also used metaphorically in Scripture to convey spiritual truths. In Matthew 19:24, Jesus states, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This hyperbolic statement emphasizes the difficulty of entering God's kingdom when one is encumbered by material wealth, using the camel as a symbol of the burdens that can hinder spiritual progress.

Adaptations and Characteristics

Camels are uniquely adapted to survive in deserted places. Their humps store fat, which can be converted into water and energy, allowing them to endure long periods without food or water. This physical adaptation is mirrored in their spiritual symbolism, representing the ability to withstand spiritual droughts and remain steadfast in faith.

Conclusion

The camel, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of endurance, wealth, and the challenges of navigating both physical and spiritual deserts. Its presence in Scripture reminds believers of the importance of resilience and reliance on God's provision in times of scarcity and trial.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 25:5
And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ahab and Elijah
... on locusts and wild honey, with a girdle of camel's skin about ... His 'enemy' has found
the sinner. ... but doleful like the unnatural quiet of a deserted city, then ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/ahab and elijah.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... lost sheep and rests not till he has found it and ... John the Evangelist to this deserted
city to preach the ... besides the crowd of servants and camel-drivers that ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... The inhabitants seemed to me to be camel-drivers, for ... I came over the sea to Egypt,
and found the Holy ... two stories and looked like an ancient deserted synagogue ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... she wore a long cloak of brownish wool, like camel's hair ... I saw many deserted gardens
here and there near these ... They found in it a second cave, walled-up, which ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... sense, that Rabbinic ingenuity mostly found some means ... its moral sequences, would
neither have deserted nor drawn ... the gnat, and swallow the camel!' We remember ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Memphite Empire
... goats or sheep, but the horse and camel were unknown ... approach of the foe, the workmen
immediately deserted the mine ... The tools found in the village are all of ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... goat, dog, and dromedary, and the camel with two ... made a clean sweep of everything
they found in their ... and populous region left unfilled and deserted.* Most of ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... the most efficacious, but an ox, a cow, a sheep, a camel, an ass ... himself in the coming
war, if only money could be found for paying ... Radet places the operations ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... others, yea, and their company fled from and deserted by others. ... when it shall convince
him that it has found him out ... is to be taken in all those places where a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Augustin's Part in the Controversy.
... to God,"even the passage of a camel through the ... in sin; and absolutely no one can
be found who was ... by humble seeking and doing; but when deserted by divine ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/iii augustins part in the.htm