I’m sorry, but there are no specific Bible stories that mention “gum” as we know it today. The term “gum” was not used in ancient times to the extent that we use it today. However, there are several references to “resin” and “pitch” in the Bible, which were common substances used for various purposes in ancient times. Here are some examples:
1. The story of Noah’s Ark: In Genesis 6-9, God instructed Noah to build an ark to save himself and his family, along with two of every kind of animal, from the flood that God would send to destroy the earth. As part of the construction, Noah was instructed to “make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch” (Genesis 6:14). Pitch is a type of resinous material extracted from trees and was commonly used in boat building to make the hulls waterproof.
2. The story of Moses and the Ark of the Covenant: In Exodus 25-40, God instructed Moses on how to build the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden chest that would house the tablets of the Ten Commandments. As part of the construction, Moses was instructed to overlay the chest with pure gold, and to make a mercy seat (or lid) of pure gold. He was also told to make four rings of gold for the corners of the chest, through which he would insert poles for carrying the chest. In Exodus 30:34-36, God also gave Moses instructions for making the incense that would be burned on the altar of incense inside the Tabernacle. This incense included several spices and “pure frankincense,” which is a gum resin derived from certain types of trees.
3. The story of the Queen of Sheba: In 1 Kings 10, the queen of Sheba travels to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon and test his wisdom. She brings with her a great caravan of camels that are loaded with spices, gold, and precious stones. Among the gifts she brings is “almug wood” (1 Kings 10:11), which is a type of wood that was highly valued in ancient times for its fragrance, durability, and beauty. The wood was often used to make furniture, musical instruments, and other valued objects.
4. The story of the healing of the blind man: In John 9, Jesus encounters a man who was born blind and heals him by spitting on the ground, making clay with the saliva, and putting it on the man’s eyes. He then instructs the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Many commentators have speculated about the significance of the clay that Jesus used, which may have included some type of healing properties. Some have suggested that the clay may have contained some type of resin or gum, which could have had medicinal properties. However, this is just speculation and is not directly stated in the biblical text.
