Ark of bulrushes

A painting by Konstantin Flavitsky of Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses, who is in a basket.

The ark of bulrushes in which the infant Moses was laid (Ex. 2:3) is called in the Hebrew teiva, a word similar to the Egyptian teb, meaning "a chest". It is also the same word used for Noah's Ark. The bulrushes were likely papyrus stalks (Cyperus papyrus), daubed with bitumen and pitch (which probably refers to the sticky mud of the Nile). [1]

See also

• Reed boat