Lime
“Possibly from boiling or effervescing when slaked”
☩Production and Use
Lime (Hebrew 'sid') is obtained by burning limestone, marble, chalk, or shells to drive off carbonic acid, producing 'quicklime.' From Isaiah 33:12 it appears that lime was made in kilns lit with thorn-bushes, a practice still observed: thorns are cut up only for lime-kilns, otherwise they are burned where they grow. The plaster used on the stones at Mount Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:2-4) was likely lime-based, similar to Egyptian practice of plastering surfaces before painting or inscribing them.
☩Symbolic Reference
In Amos 2:1, the prophet condemns Moab 'because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime'—an act of extreme desecration against a deceased enemy. Some interpret this as meaning the burned bones were actually made into lime and used to plaster a palace, adding insult to sacrilege. The imagery of 'burning into lime' signifies complete destruction and dishonor, reducing human remains to a common building material.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lime," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Lime," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).