INTRODUCTION 5 



even in those days the camel was, and had been, a 

 most useful slave to man, providing him with the 

 means of livelihood, and forming a great source of 

 wealth to him, at the same time that he was looked 

 upon among the predatory nomads, who were per- 

 petually raiding one another, as one of the spoils of 

 war; Job, for example, with his flocks of 7,000 

 sheep, herds of oxen and she-asses, and 3,000 camels, 

 being counted a man of great substance ' and of a 

 very great household, and the greatest of all the 

 children of the East.' ' The Midianites also, who 

 oppressed the Israelites, came up with their cattle and 

 their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude, 

 for both they and their camels were without number, 

 and they entered into the land to destroy it.' David, 

 when he smote c the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, 

 inhabitants of the land as thou goest to Shur, even 

 unto the land of Egypt,' took away their sheep, oxen, 

 asses, and camels.' The tribes of Eeuben and Ma- 

 nasseh when they destroyed the Hagarites took away 

 their cattle of their camels 50,000, and of their sheep 

 250,000, and of asses 2,000. And again we read that 

 when Job's misfortunes were falling thick upon him, 

 * not single spies, but in battalions,' the Chaldeans formed 

 three bands and made a raid upon his camels, and took 

 them away, and slew his servants with the edge of the 

 sword, the narrator being the only man who escaped to 

 tell the tale ; while to show that the value of the camel 

 was considered and appreciated, amongst David's 

 several officers who were in separate charge of his 

 treasure his fields, his vineyards, his flocks, &c. an 

 officer had the special control of these animals : ' Over 



