52 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



So shall thy poverty advance as rapidly as an express, 



And thy penury as a siroag and swift antagonist or [jiashare-riAet.] 



In that sublime prediction, where the prophet foretels the great 

 increase and flourishing state of Messiah's kingdoms, by the con- 

 version and accession of the Gentile nations, he compares the hap- 

 py and glorious concourse to avast assemblage of camels: 'The 

 multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and 

 Ephah.' That people, rather than irrational animals are intended, 

 is evident from these words ; 'All they from Sheba shall come; 

 they shall show forth the praises of the Lord.' Isa. Ix. 6. In adopt- 

 ing this figure, the prophet might, perhaps, have his eye on the hie- 

 roglyphical writing of the Egyptians, in which the figure of a camel 

 represented a man ; and if so, besides its strict conformity to the 

 genius of Hebrew poetry, we can discern a propriety in its introduc- 

 tion into this illustrious prediction. Some interpreters piously refer 

 the prophecy to Christ himself; and imagine it began to receive its 

 accomplishment when the magi, proceeding from the very places 

 mentioned by the prophet, worshipped the new-born Saviour, 'and 

 presented unto him gifts ; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.' But 

 Midian, and the other places mentioned by the prophet, lay to the 

 south of Judea ; while the evangelist expressly says the magi carne 

 from the east ; which, as well as their name, magi, or wise men, 

 clearly proves that Persia was their native country, and the place of 

 their abode. 



To pass a camel through the eye of a needle, was a proverbial 

 expression among the nations of high antiquity, denoting a difficul- 

 ty which neither the art nor the power of man could surmount. 

 Our Lord condescends to employ it in his discourse to the disci- 

 pies, to show how extremely difficult it is for a rich man to forsake 

 all, for the cause of God and truth, and obtain the blessings of sal- 

 vation : ' I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the 

 eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of 

 heaven,' Matthew, xix. 24. Many expositors are of opinion, that the 

 allusion is not to the camel, but to the cable by which an anchor is 

 made fast to the ship ; and for camel they read camil, from which 

 our word cable is supposed to be derived. It is not, perhaps, easy 

 to determine, which of these ought to be preferred; and some inter- 

 preters of considerable note, have accordingly adopted both views. 

 Others have asserted, that there was near Jurusalem a low gate, 

 called the Needle's Eye, under which a camel could not pass with- 

 out being unloaded. 



However though the exact proverbial expression, which was 

 doubtless well understood, by those to whom it was addressed, may 

 be to us unintelligible, the instruction conveyed is obvious. Riches 

 are a snare and often a hindrance in the way to heaven ; and the 

 heart that is supremely set upon them, can never be brought to a 

 cordial surrender of itself to the meek, lowly, and self-denying Jesus, 

 without which, it is impossible to enter into bis kingdom. But the 



