Traditionally Bedouin tents were made from goat hair. Not only is it a strong fibre, it also swells when it becomes wet and therefore provides a water-resistant cover in rain. Here’s a close-up of the fabric of the Bedouin tent we have at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, Mississippi. Goat hair was also used to weave mantels.

The goat common in Palestine is the black Capra mambrica. It is this characteristic black color which gives rise to the praise of the beloved in Song of Songs (SS4:1): “Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.” The goats have long, hanging ears and the sizeable horns of the billy goats are noticeable. Peasants in Palestine did not regard the character of goats highly—they are definitely less placid than sheep. But this also means that they are more likely to fight predators.
In comparison to a sheep…