Slime; Slime Pits
What Biblical "Slime" Actually Is
Modern readers encountering the word "slime" in older translations like the King James Version may picture something very different from what the biblical text describes. The Hebrew word chemar refers to bitumen — a black, tar-like hydrocarbon substance related to petroleum and natural gas. It is a lustrous solid that melts when heated and burns with a yellow flame. Newer translations typically render this as "bitumen," "tar," or "asphalt." This naturally occurring substance was one of the most valuable industrial materials of the ancient world, prized for its waterproofing and adhesive properties.
Bitumen in the Biblical Narratives
Bitumen appears in three key Old Testament passages. First, Noah's ark was coated inside and out with a substance to make it waterproof (Genesis 6:14), and while the Hebrew word used there is kopher ("pitch"), it likely refers to bitumen rather than tree-derived pitch. Second, the builders of the Tower of Babel used "slime" (bitumen) as mortar in their construction: "They had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar" (Genesis 11:3). Third, and most dramatically, the Valley of Siddim near the Dead Sea "was full of slime pits" — bitumen pits that became a hazard during the battle of the four kings against five (Genesis 14:10). Some of the fleeing kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell into these pits during their retreat. Additionally, when Moses' mother placed the infant in a basket of bulrushes, she "daubed it with slime and with pitch" to make it watertight (Exodus 2:3).
The Dead Sea and Bitumen
The Dead Sea region was the most famous source of bitumen in the ancient world. The Greek geographer Diodorus Siculus called the Dead Sea "the lake of asphalt," and ancient writers frequently noted the large masses of bitumen that would float to the surface, especially after earthquakes. These deposits came from bitumen-rich layers in the cretaceous limestone along the western shore. The connection between the Dead Sea, bitumen, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah has generated considerable speculation. The presence of combustible hydrocarbons in the region may have contributed to the fiery destruction described in Genesis 19:24-28, though the biblical text attributes the destruction to divine judgment.
Bitumen in Mesopotamia
The reference to bitumen as mortar in the Tower of Babel narrative (Genesis 11:3) accurately reflects conditions in ancient Mesopotamia, where natural bitumen springs were abundant. The Greek historian Herodotus described how the Babylonians used hot bitumen as mortar for their sun-dried bricks, and archaeological excavations have confirmed this practice at numerous sites. The ancient city of Hit on the Euphrates River was especially famous for its bitumen springs and remained a source of the material for millennia. This detail in the Genesis narrative demonstrates the text's familiarity with Mesopotamian building practices.
Practical and Symbolic Significance
Beyond its practical uses, the presence of bitumen in these narratives carries thematic weight. The waterproofing of Noah's ark and Moses' basket both involve bitumen protecting something precious from water and death, connecting this humble material to themes of divine preservation. The bitumen pits of the Valley of Siddim become instruments of judgment as the wicked kings fall into them. The Tower of Babel's bitumen mortar represents human ambition and technological achievement used in defiance of God. In each case, a natural substance becomes part of a larger theological story about God's sovereignty over creation and human affairs.
Biblical Context
Bitumen (slime) appears in Genesis 6:14 in the construction of Noah's ark, Genesis 11:3 at the Tower of Babel, Genesis 14:10 in the Valley of Siddim during the battle of the kings, and Exodus 2:3 in the waterproofing of baby Moses' basket. Related references to pitch in Isaiah 34:9 may also denote bitumen. These references span the primeval history and the early narratives of Israel's founding.
Theological Significance
The appearances of bitumen in Scripture consistently connect to themes of preservation and judgment. God uses this natural material to preserve Noah's family and the infant Moses, while the bitumen pits of Siddim become traps for the wicked. The Tower of Babel narrative shows human ingenuity — represented by brick and bitumen technology — being employed in rebellion against God. These stories demonstrate that natural resources and human technology are neutral tools whose significance depends on whether they serve God's purposes or oppose them.
Historical Background
Bitumen was among the most important industrial materials in the ancient Near East. Archaeological evidence confirms its use as mortar in Mesopotamian construction, as waterproofing for boats and containers, and as an export commodity. Ancient Egyptians imported Dead Sea bitumen for use in the embalming process, and the substance gave the region economic significance far beyond its agricultural value. Important bitumen deposits existed near Mount Hermon, in northern Syria, and throughout Mesopotamia. The site of Hit on the Euphrates was one of the ancient world's most productive bitumen sources. Modern geological surveys of the Dead Sea region continue to find substantial bitumen deposits, confirming the ancient descriptions.