their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
Parallel Translations
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their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
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Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
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their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
Cross-references
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Explain this verse (3 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 67. camels] The camel is mentioned in the O.T.…
67. camels] The camel is mentioned in the O.T. chiefly as the beast of burden of nomad families and races, e.g. Ishmaelites (Gen_37:25), Midianites and Amalekites (Jdg_6:5; 1Sa_30:17). It would be the most serviceable of all beasts for the long journey from Babylon, on account of its great endurance and its capacity for carrying heavy weights.
The camel here spoken of is probably of Arabian breed. It is what we should call the ‘dromedary’ or one-humped camel.
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Camels would be in frequent use in Babylon. Several Assyrian sculptures have been preserved in which we may see that the camel then as now was the favourite beast both of merchants and of robbers (Job_1:17).
asses] Here and in Nehemiah the number is 6720, in 1Es_5:43 it is 5525. The ass was the commonest best of burden. Unlike the horse, mule and camel, it seems from the earliest times to have been bred in Palestine. Its endurance for a long journey is greater than that of the horse. But it is not so serviceable for work in waterless regions as the mule or the camel. Asses are mentioned along with camels and horsemen in Isaiah’s prophecy of the fall of Babylon (Isa_21:7).
These four beasts of burden are mentioned in the same order in Zec_14:15. The horses and mules would be ridden by the wealthier, asses by the poorer classes. The camels and asses would carry the baggage.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (67) The asses, as throughout earlier Hebrew history, are…
(67) The asses, as throughout earlier Hebrew history, are the chief and most numerous beasts of burden.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Their asses. The ass (we see) is still, as…
Their asses. The ass (we see) is still, as in the earlier times, the chief beast of burden employed by the Israelites. Horses are rare, camels and mules still rarer; but most emigrant families had, it would seem, one ass. (comp. 1Sa_8:16; 1Ch_27:30; Isa_30:6)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.