The Hebrew word chêmâr, represented by H2564, refers to bitumen or slime. Derived from a root meaning to boil up, it describes a substance that rises to the surface. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, where it functions as both a natural feature of the landscape and a critical material for construction and preservation.
In its biblical occurrences, H2564 is used in distinct and significant ways. At the Tower of Babel, the builders used man-made materials, having brick for stone and slime for morter Genesis 11:3, showcasing human ingenuity. In a different context, the vale of Siddim is described as being full of slimepits, which became a natural hazard where the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell during a battle Genesis 14:10. Finally, it was used as a protective sealant when Moses's mother took an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch to save her child Exodus 2:3.
Several related words help clarify the use and context of chêmâr:
- H2560 châmar (to boil up; to smear with pitch): This is the root verb from which H2564 is derived. Its meaning is directly applied in the narrative of Moses's birth, where the ark was "daubed" with slime Exodus 2:3.
- H2563 chômer (mire or clay; morter): This substance is what the builders at Babel used slime for Genesis 11:3. While chômer is the morter, chêmâr is the binding agent. It is also used to describe the hard bondage of the Israelites in Egypt, working with morter and brick Exodus 1:14.
- H2203 zepheth (pitch): This word for asphalt appears alongside slime as a waterproofing agent for the ark of Moses Exodus 2:3, indicating they were used together to create a durable seal.
- H3843 lᵉbênâh (a brick): In the Babel account, brick is the man-made building block used in place of stone, held together by slime Genesis 11:3.
- H68 ʼeben (a stone): This is the natural building material that was substituted for brick and slime at the Tower of Babel Genesis 11:3, highlighting a key technological choice in the narrative.
The narrative significance of H2564 is seen in its contrasting roles.
- Material of Human Ambition: In the story of the Tower of Babel, using slime as morter for bricks symbolizes a reliance on human technology over natural materials like stone, underpinning the theme of mankind's self-glorifying efforts Genesis 11:3.
- A Natural Danger: The slimepits in the vale of Siddim serve as a geographical trap, a feature of the natural world that directly impacts the outcome of a human conflict Genesis 14:10.
- An Instrument of Preservation: In stark contrast to its other uses, slime becomes an agent of deliverance. It is used to waterproof the basket that saves the life of Moses, the future deliverer of Israel Exodus 2:3.
In summary, H2564 is a specific natural substance whose application in Scripture carries significant weight. Though its occurrences are few, chêmâr is presented as a versatile material. It is used in a grand project of human pride, exists as a deadly natural pitfall, and serves as the humble sealant on an ark of rescue. Its varied uses demonstrate how a simple element of creation can feature in stories of both human folly and divine providence.
TRV