Caleb
A dog. (1.) One of the three sons of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai ( 1 Chr. 2:9 ). His descendants are enumerated (18-20, 42-49). (2.) A “son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah” ( 1 Chr. 2:50 ). Some would read the whole passage thus: “These [i.e., the list in ver. 42-49] were the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, were Shobal, etc.” Thus Hur would be the name of the son and not the father of Caleb (ver. 19). (3.) The son of Jephunneh ( Num. 13:6 ; 32:12 ; Josh. 14:6 , 14 ). He was one of those whom Moses sent to search the land in the second year after the Exodus. He was one of the family chiefs of the tribe of Judah. He and Joshua the son of Nun were the only two of the whole number who encouraged the people to go up and possess the land, and they alone were spared when a plague broke out in which the other ten spies perished ( Num. 13 ; 14 ). All the people that had been numbered, from twenty years old and upward, perished in the wilderness except these two. The last notice we have of Caleb is when (being then eighty-five years of age) he came to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, after the people had gained possession of the land, and reminded him of the promise Moses had made to him, by virtue of which he claimed a certain portion of the land of Kirjath-arba as his inheritance ( Josh. 14:6-15 ; 15:13-15 ; 21:10-12 ; 1 Sam. 25:2 , 3 ; 30:14 ). He is called a “Kenezite” in Josh. 14:6 , 14 . This may simply mean “son of Kenez” ( Num. 32:12 ). Some, however, read “Jephunneh, the son of Kenez,” who was a descendant of Hezron, the son of Pharez, a grandson of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:5 ). This Caleb may possibly be identical with (2). (4.) Caleb gave his name apparently to a part of the south country ( 1 Sam. 30:14 ) of Judah, the district between Hebron and Carmel, which had been assigned to him. When he gave up the city of Hebron to the priests as a city of refuge, he retained possession of the surrounding country ( Josh. 21:11 , 12 ; comp. 1 Sam. 25:3 ).
Camon
Full of stalks, a place ( Judg. 10:5 ) where Jair was buried. It has usually been supposed to have been a city of Gilead, on the east of Jordan. It is probably, however, the modern Tell-el-Kaimun, on the southern slopes of Carmel, the Jokneam of Carmel ( Josh. 12:22 ; 1 Kings 4:12 ), since it is not at all unlikely that after he became judge, Jair might find it more convenient to live on the west side of Jordan; and that he was buried where he had lived.
Carmel
A park; generally with the article, “the park.” (1.) A prominent headland of Central Palestine, consisting of several connected hills extending from the plain of Esdraelon to the sea, a distance of some 12 miles or more. At the east end, in its highest part, it is 1,728 feet high, and at the west end it forms a promontory to the bay of Acre about 600 feet above the sea. It lay within the tribe of Asher. It was here, at the east end of the ridge, at a place called el-Mukhrakah (i.e., the place of burning), that Elijah brought back the people to their allegiance to God, and slew the prophets of Baal ( 1 Kings 18 ). Here were consumed the “fifties” of the royal guard; and here also Elisha received the visit of the bereaved mother whose son was restored by him to life ( 2 Kings 4:25-37 ). “No mountain in or around Palestine retains its ancient beauty so much as Carmel. Two or three villages and some scattered cottages are found on it; its groves are few but luxuriant; it is no place for crags and precipices or rocks of wild goats; but its surface is covered with a rich and constant verdure.” “The whole mountain-side is dressed with blossom, and flowering shrubs, and fragrant herbs.” The western extremity of the ridge is, however, more rocky and bleak than the eastern. The head of the bride in Cant. 7:5 is compared to Carmel. It is ranked with Bashan on account of its rich pastures ( Isa. 33:9 ; Jer. 50:19 ; Amos 1:2 ). The whole ridge is deeply furrowed with rocky ravines filled with dense jungle. There are many caves in its sides, which at one time were inhabited by swarms of monks. These caves are referred to in Amos 9:3 . To them Elijah and Elisha often resorted ( 1 Kings 18:19 , 42 ; 2 Kings 2:25 ). On its north-west summit there is an ancient establishment of Carmelite monks. Vineyards have recently been planted on the mount by the German colonists of Haifa. The modern Arabic name of the mount is Kurmul, but more commonly Jebel Mar Elyas, i.e., Mount St. Elias, from the Convent of Elias. (2.) A town in the hill country of Judah ( Josh. 15:55 ), the residence of Nabal ( 1 Sam. 25:2 , 5 , 7 , 40 ), and the native place of Abigail, who became David’s wife ( 1 Sam. 27:3 ). Here king Uzziah had his vineyards ( 2 Chr. 26:10 ). The ruins of this town still remain under the name of Kurmul, about 10 miles south-south-east of Hebron, close to those of Maon.
Cattle
Abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management of them the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves ( Deut. 8:13 ; 12:21 ; 1 Sam. 11:5 ; 12:3 ; Ps. 144:14 ; Jer. 3:24 ). They may be classified as, (1.) Neat cattle. Many hundreds of these were yearly consumed in sacrifices or used for food. The finest herds were found in Bashan, beyond Jordan ( Num. 32:4 ). Large herds also pastured on the wide fertile plains of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough ( 1 Kings 19:19 ), and were employed for carrying burdens ( 1 Chr. 12:40 ). They were driven with a pointed rod ( Judg. 3:31 ) or goad (q.v.). According to the Mosaic law, the mouths of cattle employed for the threshing-floor were not to be muzzled, so as to prevent them from eating of the provender over which they trampled ( Deut. 25:4 ). Whosoever stole and sold or slaughtered an ox must give five in satisfaction ( Ex. 22:1 ); but if it was found alive in the possession of him who stole it, he was required to make double restitution only (22:4). If an ox went astray, whoever found it was required to bring it back to its owner (23:4; Deut. 22:1 , 4 ). An ox and an ass could not be yoked together in the plough ( Deut. 22:10 ). (2.) Small cattle. Next to herds of neat cattle, sheep formed the most important of the possessions of the inhabitants of Palestine ( Gen. 12:16 ; 13:5 ; 26:14 ; 21:27 ; 29:2 , 3 ). They are frequently mentioned among the booty taken in war ( Num. 31:32 ; Josh. 6:21 ; 1 Sam. 14:32 ; 15:3 ). There were many who were owners of large flocks ( 1 Sam. 25:2 ; 2 Sam. 12:2 , comp. Job 1:3 ). Kings also had shepherds “over their flocks” ( 1 Chr. 27:31 ), from which they derived a large portion of their revenue ( 2 Sam. 17:29 ; 1 Chr. 12:40 ). The districts most famous for their flocks of sheep were the plain of Sharon ( Isa. 65 : 10), Mount Carmel ( Micah 7:14 ), Bashan and Gilead ( Micah 7:14 ). In patriarchal times the flocks of sheep were sometimes tended by the daughters of the owners. Thus Rachel, the daughter of Laban, kept her father’s sheep ( Gen. 29:9 ); as also Zipporah and her six sisters had charge of their father Jethro’s flocks ( Ex. 2:16 ). Sometimes they were kept by hired shepherds ( John 10:12 ), and sometimes by the sons of the family ( 1 Sam. 16:11 ; 17:15 ). The keepers so familiarized their sheep with their voices that they knew them, and followed them at their call. Sheep, but more especially rams and lambs, were frequently offered in sacrifice. The shearing of sheep was a great festive occasion ( 1 Sam. 25:4 ; 2 Sam. 13:23 ). They were folded at night, and guarded by their keepers against the attacks of the lion ( Micah 5:8 ), the bear ( 1 Sam. 17:34 ), and the wolf ( Matt. 10:16 ; John 10:12 ). They were liable to wander over the wide pastures and go astray ( Ps. 119:176 ; Isa. 53:6 ; Hos. 4:16 ; Matt. 18:12 ). Goats also formed a part of the pastoral wealth of Palestine ( Gen. 15:9 ; 32:14 ; 37:31 ). They were used both for sacrifice and for food ( Deut. 14:4 ), especially the young males ( Gen. 27:9 , 14 , 17 ; Judg. 6:19 ; 13:15 ; 1 Sam. 16:20 ). Goat’s hair was used for making tent cloth ( Ex. 26:7 ; 36:14 ), and for mattresses and bedding ( 1 Sam. 19:13 , 16 ). (See GOAT .)