Coal

kōl ( פחם , peḥam , "charcoal"; compare Arabic faḥm , "charcoal"; גּחלת , gaḥeleth , "burning coal" or "hot ember"; compare Arabic jaḥam , "to kindle"; שׁחור , sheḥōr , "a black coal" (Lamentations 4:8 ); compare Arabic shaḥḥār , "soot" or "dark-colored sandstone"; רצף , receph (1 Kings 19:6 ), and רצפה , ricpāh (= Rizpah) (Isaiah 6:6 ), margin "a hot stone"; compare רשׁף , resheph , "a flame" (Song of Solomon 8:6; Habakkuk 3:5 ); ἄνθραξ , ánthrax , "a live coal" (Romans 12:20 ) (= gaḥeleth in Proverbs 25:22 ); ανθρακια , ἀνθρακιά , anthrakiá , "a live coal" (John 18:18; John 21:9 )): There is no reference to mineral coal in the Bible. Coal, or more properly lignite, of inferior quality, is found in thin beds (not exceeding 3 ft.) in the sandstone formation (see GEOLOGY , Nubian Sandstone), but there is no evidence of its use in ancient times. Charcoal is manufactured in a primitive fashion which does not permit the conservation of any by-products. A flat, circular place (Arabic beidar , same name as for a threshing-floor) 10 or 15 ft. in diameter is prepared in or conveniently near to the forest. On this the wood, to be converted into charcoal, is carefully stacked in a dome-shaped structure, leaving an open space in the middle for fine kindlings. All except the center is first covered with leaves, and then with earth. The kindlings in the center are then fired and afterward covered in the same manner as the rest. While it is burning or smoldering it is carefully watched, and earth is immediately placed upon any holes that may be formed in the covering by the burning of the wood below. In several days, more or less, according to the size of the pile, the wood is converted into charcoal and the heap is opened. The charcoal floor is also called in Arabic mashḥarah , from shaḥḥār , "soot"; compare Hebrew sheḥōr ̌ . The characteristic odor of the mashḥarah clings for months to the spot.

In Psalm 120:4 , there is mention of "coals of juniper," the Revised Version, margin "broom," rōthem . This is doubtless the Arabic retem , Retama roetam , Forsk., a kind of broom which is abundant in Judea and Moab. Charcoal from oak wood, especially Quercus coccifera , L., Arabic sindyān , is much preferred to other kinds, and fetches a higher price.

In most of the passages where English versions have "coal," the reference is not necessarily to charcoal, but may be to coals of burning wood. Peḥam in Proverbs 26:21 , however, seems to stand for charcoal:

"As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to inflame strife."

The same may be true of peḥam in Isaiah 44:12 and Isaiah 54:16; also of sheḥōr in Lamentations 4:8 .