“Gimel” is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and is a “letter word;” it is also the word for “camel” and corresponds to our English letter “G.” The wise men (or Magi) would have arrived at Bethlehem with a great caravan of camels and quite a large entourage by following the miraculous star that led them to the Savior’s birthplace; they travelled from a great distance, possibly from Persia. We know this because even when Abraham’s servant went to seek a wife for Isaac in Nahor of Mesopotamia, he took ten camels, and a number of servants with him, as we read in Genesis 24:10 and 32 *
And the servant took ten camels [gamal:H1581] of the camels [gamal:H1581] of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor… {32} And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels [gamal:H1581], and gave straw and provender for the camels [gamal:H1581], and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that [were] with him.
In fact in Genesis 24, the term “camel(s)” surfaces no less than 17 times. We find this term comprised of three Hebrew letters (reading from right to left),” and please note the consonants : G-M-L
We also read the account of the Queen of Sheba paying a visit to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 9:1, And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels [gamal:H1581] that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
In Genesis 37:24-25 and 28 we discover what Joseph’s half brothers did to him, which is a spiritual portrait of Jesus going into Egypt to escape Herod’s plot to kill Him in the New Testament: And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it. {25} And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels [gamal:H1581] bearing spicery [naka’:H5218] and balm [tseriy:H6875] and myrrh [lot:H3910], going to carry [it] down to Egypt. ... {28} Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty [pieces] of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Not only is this a historical parable regarding Christ being slain “...at the foundation of the world,” - typified by Joseph - who is a monumental type of the Lord Jesus but the words, “spicery,” “balm,” and “myrrh” which the Ishmeelites had acquired from Gilead (known for its exceptional medicinal compounds) would “carry down to Egypt” along with Joseph, serve to identify Joseph’s (“Christ’s”) mission to redeem His elect from spiritual slavery to sin and Satan. “Spicery” (naka’:H5218/H5217) is translated as “broken,” “stricken,” “wounded,” and “vile” (reminding one of Isaiah 53). “Balm” (tseriy:H6875) is indicative of healing as Jeremiah 8:22 highlights:
[Is there] no balm [tseriy:H6875] in Gilead; [is there] no physician [Christ] there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
“Myrrh,” on the other hand is only found again in Genesis 43:11, which also focuses on the “gift” that Israel (Jacob) commanded his sons to take to “the man” (Joseph) when they went down to Egypt the second time - taking Benjamin with them - in order to buy food; And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh [lot:H3910], nuts, and almonds:
We note that the “spicery,” “balm,” and “myrrh” were linked to the “camels,” and in turn to “Joseph,” since they were all headed to Egypt.
By the way, there are two other words that are identical to each other, and are related to the same “family” of words as “camels.” These three letters are G-A-L, instead of G-M-L, as the following passage reveals with regard to “ga’al” (H1351) and “ga’al” (H1350) and is rendered as “and I will stain” in verse 3 of Isaiah 61:1-3, which is speaking about the Atonement “from the foundation of the world.” On the other hand, H1350 appears in verses 4 and 9 as “of my redeemed” and “He redeemed them”:
Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. {2} Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? {3} I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain [ga’al:H1351] all my raiment. {4} For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed [ga’al:H1350] is come. ... {9} In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them [ga’al:H1350]; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
“Ga’al” (H1350) is also found in the following extremely significant citations:
Exodus 6:6 declares: Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem [ga’al:H1350] you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
Psalm 77:15 likewise affirms: Thou hast with [thine] arm redeemed [ga’al:H1350] thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Ruth 3:13 gloriously proclaims that Boaz, who typifies the Lord Jesus Christ as the “kinsman,” who redeemed Ruth (who pictures all the elect) by marrying her: Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, [that] if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman [ga’al:H1350], well; let him do the kinsman's part: [ga’al:H1350] but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee [ga’al:H1350], then will I do the part of a kinsman [ga’al:H1350]to thee, [as] the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
May God richly bless you this Christmas as you ponder the Work and Faith of this Glorious “Kinsman-Redeemer,” Who, as “Emmanuel” (“God with us” - Matthew 1:23) and “Jesus” (“for He shall save His people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21) ransomed His elect Bride from certain death... To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4)
*All Scripture references are from the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible.