Caravan — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Traveling group of merchants, pilgrims, or others in Bible times who joined together for mutual protection. Usually travelers used pack animals to carry their wares or personal belongings. To transport goods from one district to another, donkeys were mainly used until about 1100 BC, when the use of camels became more common. Ancient Palestine, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt on one side and Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, and lands farther east on the other, was crisscrossed by trade routes. The nation of Israel was thus intimately acquainted with caravans, many in OT times coming from Transjordan and Arabia. Arabian caravans often transported spices and incense, products that were particularly lucrative. The rulers of Sheba were engaged in that enterprise (1 Kgs 10:2). The size of a caravan depended on the amount of traffic, precariousness of the route, and availability of camels. Perhaps 40 camels might be joined by ropes attached from the saddle of one camel to the nose ring of the trailing camel. Caravans could travel in single file or with three to four camels abreast. In hot weather or on an extensive journey, a camel could carry about 350 pounds (159 kilograms); on short, cool trips, it could carry much more. Joseph was sold into slavery to a spice caravan going to Egypt (Gn 37:25-28). Raiding expeditions also formed caravans at times (Jgs 6:3-5; 1 Sm 30:1-20).

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:2

OET-RV KI1 10:2

2 She came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with lots of her top people, camels carrying spices and gemstones and a lot of gold. Then she went to Shelomoh and started asking him everything that had been on her mind.

OET-LV KI1 10:2

2 And_she _came to_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) with_a _retinue numerous very camels which _were_carrying spices and_gold much very and_stone _of precious and_she _came to Shəlomoh/(Solomon) and_she _spoke to_him/it DOM all _of that it _was with heart _of_her.

Show passage in OET: GEN 37:25–28

OET-RV GEN 37:25

25 Then they sat down to eat, and a bit later when they looked up, look, there was a caravan of Yishmaelim (Ishmaelites) coming towards them. They had left Gilead carrying spices and balm and myrrh on their camels that they were going to take down to Mitsrayim (Egypt).

OET-RV GEN 37:26

26 Then Yehudah (Judah) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

OET-RV GEN 37:27

27 Let’s sell him to these Yishmaelim so we won’t be guilty of killing him. After all, he’s our brother—our own flesh and blood.” And his brothers agreed.

OET-RV GEN 37:28

28 So when the Midyanite traders came past, the brothers pulled Yosef up and lifted him out of the pit and sold him to the Yishmaelim for twenty pieces of silver. Then the traders took Yosef onwards with them to Mitsrayim.

OET-LV GEN 37:25

25 And_they _lived to_eat bread and_they _lifted _up eyes _of_their and_they _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _caravan _of Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī was_coming from_Gilˊād and_camels _of_their were_carrying spice and_balm and_myrrh they_were_travelling to_take_them_down towards_Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

OET-LV GEN 37:26

26 And_ Yəhūdāh/(Judah) _he/it _said to brothers _of_his what is_the_profit that/for/because/then/when we _will _kill DOM brother _of_our and_we _will _conceal DOM blood _of_his.

OET-LV GEN 37:27

27 Come and_let_us _sell _him to_Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī and_hand _of_our not let _it _be in_him/it if/because brother _of_is_our flesh _of_our _own he and_ brothers _of_his _they _heard.

OET-LV GEN 37:28

28 And_ men Midyānite[s] traders _they _passed _by and_they _drew and_they _brought _up DOM Yōşēf from the_pit and_they _sold DOM Yōşēf to_Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī for_twenty silver and_they _brought DOM Yōşēf towards_Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: JDG 6:3–5

OET-RV JDG 6:3

3 Whenever the Israelis planted a crop, the Midyanites or the Amalekim, or eastern groups would attack them.

OET-RV JDG 6:4

4 They would set up their camps around them and destroy the crops as far away as Azah (Gaza)—they left nothing for the Israelis to eat, and no sheep, cattle, or donkeys.

OET-RV JDG 6:5

5 It was like a swarm of locusts when they’d all come with their tents and their livestock—you couldn’t even count their camels! They entered the region to totally ravage it.

OET-LV JDG 6:3

3 And_it _was if Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) it _sowed and_ Midyān and_ˊAmālēq and_the _sons the_east _he/it _would _go _up and_they _went _up on/upon/above_him/it.

OET-LV JDG 6:4

4 And_they _encamped on_them and_they _destroyed DOM the _produce _of the_earth/land until come_you ˊAzzāh and_not they _left sustenance in_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_a _sheep and_an _ox and_a _donkey.

OET-LV JDG 6:5

5 If/because they livestock _of_their they _came _up and_tents _of_their and_they _came according_to_the_abundance _of locust[s] to_increase _in _number and_to_them and_to_camels _of_their there_was_not number and_they _came in/on _the_earth to_destroy_it.

Jump to OET KI1 10:2 section.

Jump to OET GEN 37:25–28 section.

Jump to OET JDG 6:3–5 section.