Chayei Sarah – Camels, Chessed vs Gemilus Chassadim
The mentioning of the people of חת ten times is noted in the medrash as a significant "shout out" in recognition of their support of the transaction of a Talmid Chacham; Avraham Avinu. However the mentioning of camels that Eliezer took with him goes almost unnoticed.
The Kli Yakar does associate the test of Rivkah's Gemilus Chasadim to the camels. Someone who is so enwrapped in being a Gomel Chassadim, would instinctively notice a Gamal since they sound similar. This concept we find elsewhere, like the agalos - wagons - of Yosef hinting to עגל ערופה and the נחש הנחושת that Moshe made. ((לשון נופל על לשון
However, I believe that there is a much stronger relationship between the two that extends beyond the realm of just language.
R' Samson Rephael Hirsch explains that a גמל is the most independent animal, in that it may distance itself from the most life giving element, a source of water, farther and longer than any other creature. Thus its name גמל connotates something that weaned off from its source, like a toddler weaned off from his nursing mother.
The mishnah states that the world stands on Torah Avodah & Gemilus Chasadim. Not Chessed, but Gemilus Chassadim. Let's explain.
R' Chaim Valozhiner notices that these pillars - represented by the Avos, seem in reversed order. Avraham's chessed should be first, and Yakov's Torah should be last. But, he explains, that once Torah was given it redefined the other qualifications. The original open-ended, never-ending extreme chessed of Avraham Avinu was fine before the Torah was give. But once we have the Torah, Chessed has its rules, guidelines and limitations and priorities as with any other mitzvah. The same applies to Avodah. Previous to the Torah, any avodah would suffice. A bamah, mizbeach, matzeivah, which animals and how or when they were offered was all up to the bal hakorban. But with the Torah came very specific instructions about every detail of korbanos. Hence, the Torah is the pillar that now allows the other two to hold up the world within the Torah's specifications.
This perhaps is why it states specifically Gemilus Chassadim. The truest form of loving-kindness is to give the recipient his own independence and not to feed into his neediness to the point that he remains eternally dependent. Our sages teach us that giving to others should be limited to those who can be expected to at least reciprocate back with a thank you! Giving to one who is not makir tova is not allowed, as giving with no expectations encourages dependency. Gemilus Chassadim is chessed done in a way that allows the recipient to feel independent and weaned off from his benefactor.