A Bride for Isaac (Gen. 24:1-67)

Camels are a very interesting creature and are still used today in many of the Middle East Countries. In the Bible we find they were used for riding, for post traveling camel-back. (Esther 8: 10, We rode one on our trip to Israel in 1993 and 1998
They were used as chariots, Isaiah 21: 7, They were used for carrying burdens, 1 Kings 10: 2 Isaiah 30: 6 cavalry 1 Samuel 30: 17 and to provide milk -Gen. 32: 15 and clothes.Mt.3: 4
Camels were considered unclean animals, but the chief means of travel in the East in Isaiah's time. They have feet that do not sink in the sand, and possess many little cells to be filled wit water which make them suitable for desert travel. The cells can be filled at one drinking in 15 minutes, they say, and this gives such animals a water supply for 20-30 days. They eat coarse food such as leaves, twigs and thistles. They can carry a burden of 600-800 lbs. and generally speaking. One species can travel 1100 miles a day. On short trips they can carry up to 1200 lbs. Camel flesh and milk are used for food and the hair for making garments. Mt. 3:4.
The Bactrian camel has two humps on the back, and the dromedary only one. They are called land-ships, and they live 30-50 years. -- See Gen. 12: 16; Gen 9:3 Ex. 0:3; Lev. 11:4 Deut. 14: 7 Judges 6:5 Ezra, 2: 67: Nehemiah 7: 69; Esther 8: 10, Jer. 49: 29 Ezek. 25:5 Zech. 14: 15; Mt. 19: 24; 23:24
Herds of camels are mentioned in Gen. 12: 16 24 35; 30;43 Job 1: 3 42; 12
Here is a story in God's Word about the Camel Train and how Isaac obtained his bride.

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. -Genesis 24:10,11

 Jacob had camels as a portion of his wealth-

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Genesis 24: 64

Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.  Genesis 31: 34

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;  Matthew 3:4

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Matthew 23: 24

 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 (Matthew 19:24) 

Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. Deut. 14: 7

Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. Leviticus 11: 4

(Matthew 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; Isaiah 15:3)

(Zechariah 13:4) etc.) was probably made of camel's hair.
(Genesis 30:43) as Abraham also had (Genesis 24:35) He sent a present of thirty milch camels to his brother Esau (Genesis 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 Chronicles 27:30) and after the Exile (Ezra 2:67; 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 (1 Kings 10:2; 2 Chronicles 9:1) Benhadad of Damascus also sent a present to Elisha, "forty camels' burden" (2 Kings 8:9)

To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression (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. The raiment worn by John the Baptist was made of camel's hair

Camel: 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." - Easton's Bible Dictionary

1. The Bactrian camel is distinguished by two humps. It is a native of the high table-lands of Central Asia.


The Arabian camel or dromedary, from the Greek dromos, "a runner"  (Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 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 (Genesis 24:64; 37:25) and in war (1 Samuel 30:17)

 Mention is made of the camel among the cattle given by Pharaoh to Abraham. (Isaiah 21:7)(Genesis 12:16) 

Its flesh was not to be eaten, as it was ranked among unclean animals (Leviticus 11:4; 

Deuteronomy 14:7) Abraham's servant rode on a camel when he went to fetch a wife for Isaac

 I love this song. It is very old, but I always enjoy it.



THE CAMEL TRAIN

1-Twas a day in early Spring time.
By an ancient wayside trail
Eliezer paused to rest his camel train.
He had found a bride for Isaac
ere the evening shadows fell.
Oh His weary journey had not been in vain.

So he took the fair Rebecca
decked with jewels rich and rare.
back to Abraham and Sarah far away
Where Rebecca loved her Isaac
And he loved Rebecca fair.
Oh it must have been a happy wedding day.


Oh get ready ere the evening shadows fall.
Don't you hear the Eliezer call.
There is going to be a wedding, and I know it will soon begin.
In the evening when the camel train comes in.


2-Now the blessed holy spirit
from the Father God above
has come to earth to find a worthy bride.
for our Savior over yonder has prepared his tents of love.
And he wants his fair Rebecca by His side

There's going to be a wedding
Somewhere up in the air.
And I have an invitation to attend
Its gon'na be the rich young Isaac and the his sweet Rebecca fair
say now want that be to be a happy wedding day


Oh get ready ere the evening shadows fall.
Don't you hear the Eliezer call.
There is going to be a wedding, and I know it will soon begin.
In the evening when the camel train comes in.
In the evening when the camel train comes in.

 

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Revised: August 18, 2010