Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
he offered Achsah his daughter in marriage to whoever would take Kirjath-sepher, i.e. Debir; and
how when Othniel, his younger brother, had performed the feat, he not only gave him his daughter
to wife, but with her the upper and nether springs of water which she asked for. It is probable that
Caleb was a foreigner by birth,—a proselyte, incorporated into the tribe of Judah.
Calf
The calf was held in high esteem by the Jews as food. (1 Samuel 28:24; Luke 15:23) The molten
calf prepared by Aaron for the people to worship, (Exodus 32:4) was probably a wooden figure
laminated with gold, a process which is known to have existed in Egypt. [Aaron]
Calvary
[See Golgatha]
Camel
The species of camel which was in common use among the Jews and the heathen nations of
Palestine 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 (Genesis 12:16) that camels were early known to
the Egyptians. The importance of the camel is shown by (Genesis 24:64; 37:25; Judges 7:12; 1
Samuel 27:9; 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Chronicles 14:15; Job 1:3; Jeremiah 49:29,32) and many other texts.
John the Baptist wore a garment made of camel hair, (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6) the coarser hairs of
the camel; and some have supposed that Elijah was clad in a dress of the same stuff.
Camon
(full of grain), the place in which Jair the judge was buried. (Judges 10:5)
Camp
[Encampment]
Camphire
There can be no doubt that “camphire” is the Lawsonia alba of botanists, the henna of Arabian
naturalists. The henna plant grows in Egypt, Syria, Arabia and northern India. The flowers are
white and grow in clusters, and are very fragrant. The whole shrub is from four to six feet high,
(Song of Solomon 4:13)
Cana
(place of reeds) of Galilee, once Cana in Galilee, a village or town not far from Capernaum,
memorable as the scene of Christ’s first miracle, (John 2:1,11; 4:46) as well as of a subsequent one,
(John 4:46,54) and also as the native place of the apostle Nathanael. (John 21:2) The traditional
site is at Kefr-Kenna, a small village about 4 1/2 miles northwest of Nazareth. The rival site is a
village situated farther north, about five miles north of Seffurieh (Sepphoris) and nine north of
Nazareth.
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William Smith