Bitumen, often referred to as "asphalt" or "pitch" in various translations, is a naturally occurring, sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. In biblical times, it was a valuable resource used for construction and waterproofing purposes. The Bible references bitumen in several contexts, highlighting its significance in ancient Near Eastern culture and technology.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 11:3 · The Tower of Babel: "And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.' They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar." In this passage, the term "tar" is understood to refer to bitumen. The builders of the Tower of Babel utilized bitumen as a binding agent for bricks, demonstrating its importance in construction.

2. Genesis 14:10 · The Valley of Siddim: "Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the hill country." The presence of tar pits in the Valley of Siddim indicates the natural abundance of bitumen in the region, which played a role in the historical and geographical context of the narrative.

3. Exodus 2:3 · The Basket of Moses: "But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile." Here, bitumen is used to waterproof the basket that carried the infant Moses, ensuring his safety on the Nile River.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near East, bitumen was a crucial material for various applications. Its waterproofing properties made it ideal for sealing boats, baskets, and other vessels. The use of bitumen in construction, as seen in the Tower of Babel account, reflects the technological advancements of the time. Bitumen's availability in regions like the Dead Sea area, known for its natural deposits, made it a readily accessible resource for the peoples of the Bible.

Symbolic and Theological Implications:

While bitumen itself is a physical substance, its use in biblical narratives often carries deeper symbolic meanings. For instance, the waterproofing of Moses' basket can be seen as a divine provision for his protection and future role as a leader of Israel. Similarly, the use of bitumen in the construction of the Tower of Babel may symbolize human ambition and the desire to reach the heavens, ultimately leading to God's intervention and the scattering of peoples.

Archaeological Insights:

Archaeological findings have confirmed the widespread use of bitumen in ancient Mesopotamia and surrounding regions. Excavations have uncovered bitumen-coated artifacts, such as pottery and building materials, providing tangible evidence of its historical applications. These discoveries align with the biblical accounts, offering a glimpse into the technological practices of the time.

In summary, bitumen is a significant material mentioned in the Bible, serving practical purposes in construction and waterproofing while also carrying symbolic weight in the narratives. Its presence in the biblical text underscores the resourcefulness and ingenuity of ancient civilizations in utilizing natural resources for their needs.Genesis 11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. "slime"), a mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Exodus 2:3.) (see SLIME.) 1. (n.) Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew's pitch. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. It is used in cements, in the construction of pavements, etc. See Asphalt.

2. (n.) By extension, any one of the natural hydrocarbons, including the hard, solid, brittle varieties called asphalt, the semisolid maltha and mineral tars, the oily petroleums, and even the light, volatile naphthas.

BITUMEN

bi-tu'-men.

See SLIME.

2564. chemar -- bitumen, asphalt
... bitumen, asphalt. Transliteration: chemar Phonetic Spelling: (khay-mawr') Short
Definition: tar. ... From chamar; bitumen (as rising to the surface) -- slime(-pit). ...
/hebrew/2564.htm - 6k

3722. kaphar -- to cover over, pacify, make propitiation
... A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate
or condone, to placate or cancel -- appease, make (an atonement, cleanse ...
/hebrew/3722.htm - 5k

3724. kopher -- the price of a life, ransom
... From kaphar; properly, a cover, ie (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically)
bitumen (as used for coating), and the henna plant (as used for dyeing ...
/hebrew/3724.htm - 5k

Chapter xi
... 3, 4. And they said, one to another: Come, let us make bricks and let us burn them
well. And they used brick in place of stone and bitumen in place of mortar. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xi.htm

The Sea of Sodom
... so properly interpret here, "the salt sea," as "the bituminous sea." In which sense
word for word, "Sodom's salt," but properly "Sodom's bitumen," doth very ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 5 the sea of.htm

All the People Upon the Earth are to be Regarded as Having Used ...
... when they had hardened and compacted these materials of clay and matter, and had
shown their desire to make brick into stone, and clay into bitumen, and by ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxx all the people.htm

How Vespasian Upon Hearing of Some Commotions in Gall, Made Haste ...
... However, it casts up black clods of bitumen in many parts of it; these swim at the
top of the water, and resemble both in shape and bigness headless bulls; and ...
/.../chapter 8 how vespasian upon.htm

The Conquest of Babylon.
... They used for all this masonry a cement made from a species of bitumen, which was
found in great quantities floating down one of the rivers which flowed into ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter viii the conquest of.htm

Chapter xiv
... 10. Now the valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom
and of Gomorrah fled some leaped into the pits, and the rest fled into the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Fragment ix. Of Abraham and Lot. ...
... And there are the springs of bitumen; and it yields alum and salt a little different
from the common kinds, for they are pungent and transparent. ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment ix of abraham and.htm

Nineveh.
... three chariots could drive side by side on the top, and built of bricks made of
the clay of the country, dried in the sun and cemented with bitumen, guarded at ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

And they Arose and came from the Land of the East...
... And the building was made with burnt bricks and bitumen: and the boldness of their
audacity went forward, as they were all of one mind and consent, and by ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 23 and they arose.htm

Concerning a Stratagem that was Devised by the Jews, by which they ...
... They filled that part of the western cloister [14] which was between the beams,
and the roof under them, with dry materials, as also with bitumen and pitch ...
/.../chapter 3 concerning a stratagem.htm

Bitumen-pits (1 Occurrence)
Bitumen-pits. Bitumen, Bitumen-pits. Biziothiah . Multi-Version
Concordance Bitumen-pits (1 Occurrence). Genesis 14:10 ...
/b/bitumen-pits.htm - 6k

Bitumen (3 Occurrences)
... naphthas. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BITUMEN. bi-tu'-men. See SLIME.
Multi-Version Concordance Bitumen (3 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/b/bitumen.htm - 8k

Slime (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Genesis 11:3; LXX., "asphalt;" RV marg., "bitumen").
The vale of Siddim was full of slime pits (14:10). ... 3. (n.) Bitumen. ...
/s/slime.htm - 11k

Pits (13 Occurrences)
... slim, slim'-pits (chemar; Septuagint asphaltos; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible,
390-405 AD) bitumen; the Revised Version margin "bitumen"; compare Arabic chummar ...
/p/pits.htm - 13k

Pitch (25 Occurrences)
... (Genesis 6:14), asphalt or bitumen in its soft state, called "slime" (Genesis
11:3; 14:10; Exodus 2:3), found in pits near the Dead Sea (qv). ...
/p/pitch.htm - 18k

Bulrushes (3 Occurrences)
... Slime (chemar, "bitumen"), pitch (zepheth, "pitch") was probably the sticky mud
of the Nile with which to this day so many things in Egypt are plastered. ...
/b/bulrushes.htm - 10k

Siddim (3 Occurrences)
... It was "full of slime-pits" (RV, "bitumen pits"). Here Chedorlaomer and the confederate
kings overthrew the kings of Sodom and the cities of the plain. ...
/s/siddim.htm - 14k

Ark (212 Occurrences)
... Slime (chemar, "bitumen"), pitch (zepheth, "pitch") was probably the sticky mud
of the Nile with which to this day so many things in Egypt are plastered. ...
/a/ark.htm - 84k

Ur (5 Occurrences)
... It stood near the mouth of the Euphrates, on its western bank, and is represented
by the mounds (of bricks cemented by bitumen) of el-Mugheir, ie, "the ...
/u/ur.htm - 15k

Gopher (1 Occurrence)
... gopher with the modern Arabic kufa, a name given to the boats made of interwoven
willow branches and palm leaves with a coating of bitumen outside, used today ...
/g/gopher.htm - 9k

What is the importance of the Dead Sea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Chedorlaomer / Kedorlaomer? | GotQuestions.org

Bitumen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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