Reference: Burial
American
The Hebrews were at all times very careful in the burial of their dead, Ge 25:9; 35:29. To be deprived of burial was thought one of the greatest marks of dishonor, or cause of unhappiness, Ec 6:3; Jer 22:18-19; it being denied to none, not even to enemies. Good men made it a part of their piety to inter the dead. Indeed, how shocking must the sight of unburied corpses have been to the Jews, when their land was thought to be polluted if the dead were in any manner exposed to view, 2Sa 21:14; and when the very touch of a dead body, or of any thing that had touched a dead body, was esteemed a defilement, and required a ceremonial ablution, Nu 19.11-22.
Only two cases of burning the bodies of the dead occur in Scripture: the mangled remains of Saul and his sons, 1Sa 31:12, and the victims of some plague, Am 6:10. It was customary for the nearest relatives to close the eyes of the dying and give them the parting kiss, and then to commence the wailing for the dead, Jer 46:4; 50:1; in this wailing, which continued at intervals until after the burial, they were joined by other relatives and friends, Joh 11:19, whose loud and shrill lamentations are referred to in Mr 5:38. It is also a custom still prevailing in the East to hire wailing women, Jer 9:17; Am 5:16, who praised the deceased, Ac 9:39, and by doleful cries and frantic gestures, aided at times by melancholy tones of music, Mt 9:23, strove to express the deepest grief, Eze 24:17-18.
Immediately after death the body was washed, and laid out in a convenient room, Ac 9:39; it was wrapped in many folds of linen, with spices, and the head bound about with a napkin, Mt 27:59; Joh 11:44. Unless the body was to be embalmed, the burial took place very soon, both on account of the heat of the climate and the ceremonial uncleanness incurred. Rarely did twenty-four hours elapse between death and burial, Ac 5:6,10. The body being shrouded, was placed upon a bier-a board resting on a simple handbarrow, borne by men-to be conveyed to the tomb, 2Sa 3:31; Lu 7:14. Sometimes a more costly bier or bed was used, 2Ch 16:14: and the bodies of kings and some others may have been laid in coffins of wood, or stone sarcophagi. The relatives attended the bier to the tomb, which was usually without the city. A banquet sometimes followed the funeral, Jer 16:7-8; and during subsequent days the bereaved friends were wont to go to the grave from time to time, to weep and to adorn the place with fresh flowers, Joh 11:31, a custom observed even at this day. See EMBALMING, SEPULCHRE.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him, in the cave of Machpelah, - in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, which is over against Mamre;
And Isaac breathed his last, and died and was added unto his people, old, and satisfied with days, - and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, - and came to Jabesh, and burned them there;
And David said unto Joab, and unto all the people who were with him, - Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and lament aloud before Abner. And, King David himself, was following the bier.
so they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin, in Zelah, in the grave of Kish his father, thus did they all that the king commanded, - and God suffered himself to be entreated for the land, after this.
Though a man should beget a hundred children, and live, many years, so that many should be the days of his years but, his own soul, should not be satisfied with the good, and he should not even have, a burial, I said, Better than he, is an untimely birth!
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Consider ye diligently and call for the wailing women that they may come, - And unto the wise women, send ye, that they may come;
Neither shall they break bread to them in mourning To console one over his dead, - Nor cause them to drink the cup of consolation, Over ones father Or over ones mother; And the house of banqueting, shall thou not enter To sit with them, To eat and to drink.
Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, Touching Jehoiakim son of Josiah King of Judah, They shall not cry in lament for him Alas my brother! or Alas sister! They shall not cry in lament for him Alas lord! or Alas! his renown! With the burial of an ass, shall he be buried, Dragged along and cast forth, beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Harness the horses, and mount, ye horsemen, Stand forth in helmets, - Polish the lances, put on the coats of mail.
The word which Yahweh spake Against Babylon Against the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
To groan, forbear, Over the dead - no mourning, shalt thou make Thy chaplet, bind thou on thee And thy sandals:, put thou on thy feet, And thou shalt not cover thy beard, And the bread of other men, shalt thou not eat. So I spake unto the people in the morning, and my wife died in the even, - and I did in the morning, as I had been commanded.
Therefore, thus, saith Yahweh, God of hosts, My Lord, In all broadways, shall be lamentation, and, in all streets, shall they say, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the husbandman unto the mourning, and, unto the lamentation, them who know a wailing song;
And a man's near of kin, even he who is about to burn the bones, shall carry him out of the house, when he shall say to him that is in the hinder parts of the house - Are there yet any with thee? and he shall say - No one. Then shall he say - Hush! for we must not invoke the name of Yahweh.
And, Jesus, coming, into the house of the ruler, and seeing the flute-players and the multitude in confusion, was saying:
And Joseph, taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean Indian-cloth,
And they come into the house of the synagogue-ruler, and he observeth a tumult, and persons weeping and wailing greatly;
And, going forward, he touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still; and he said - Young man! to thee, I say, Arise!
and, many from among the Jews, had come unto Martha and Mary, that they might console them concerning their brother.
The Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house and consoling her, seeing Mary, that quickly she arose and went out, followed her, supposing that she was withdrawing unto the tomb, that she might weep there.
He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bandages, and, his face, with a napkin, was bound about. Jesus saith unto them - Loose him, and let him go.
But the young men, rising up, wrapped him about, and, bearing him forth, buried him.
And she fell instantly at his feet, and expired. And the young men, coming in, found her dead; and, bearing her forth, they buried her with her husband.
And Peter, arising, went with them, - whom, when he arrived, they brought up into the upper room; and there stood by him all the widows, weeping, and showing the tunics and mantles - whatsoever things Dorcas was making while she was with them.
And Peter, arising, went with them, - whom, when he arrived, they brought up into the upper room; and there stood by him all the widows, weeping, and showing the tunics and mantles - whatsoever things Dorcas was making while she was with them.
Easton
(3.) The first burial we have an account of is that of Sarah (Ge 23). The first commercial transaction recorded is that of the purchase of a burial-place, for which Abraham weighed to Ephron "four hundred shekels of silver current money with the merchants." Thus the patriarch became the owner of a part of the land of Canaan, the only part he ever possessed. When he himself died, "his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah," beside Sarah his wife (Ge 25:9).
(4.) Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried under Allon-bachuth, "the oak of weeping" (Ge 35:8), near to Bethel. Rachel died, and was buried near Ephrath; "and Jacob set a pillar upon her grave" (Ge 25:16-20). Isaac was buried at Hebron, where he had died (Ge 25:27,29). Jacob, when charging his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, said, "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah" (Ge 49:31). In compliance with the oath which he made him swear unto him (Ge 47:29-31), Joseph, assisted by his brethren, buried Jacob in the cave of Machpelah (Ge 50:2,13). At the Exodus, Moses "took the bones of Joseph with him," and they were buried in the "parcel of ground" which Jacob had bought of the sons of Hamor (Jos 24:32), which became Joseph's inheritance (Ge 48:22; 1Ch 5:1; Joh 4:5). Two burials are mentioned as having taken place in the wilderness. That of Miriam (Nu 20:1), and that of Moses, "in the land of Moab" (De 34:5-6,8). There is no account of the actual burial of Aaron, which probably, however, took place on the summit of Mount Hor (Nu 20:28-29).
(5.) Joshua was buried "in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah" (Jos 24:30).
(6.) In Job we find a reference to burying-places, which were probably the Pyramids (Job 3:14-15). The Hebrew word for "waste places" here resembles in sound the Egyptian word for "pyramids."
(7.) Samuel, like Moses, was honoured with a national burial (1Sa 25:1). Joab (1Ki 2:34) "was buried in his own house in the wilderness."
(8.) In connection with the burial of Saul and his three sons we meet for the first time with the practice of burning the dead (1Sa 31:11-13). The same practice is again referred to by Amos (Am 6:10).
(9.) Absalom was buried "in the wood" where he was slain (2Sa 18:17-18). The raising of the heap of stones over his grave was intended to mark abhorrence of the person buried (comp. Jos 7:26; 8:29). There was no fixed royal burying-place for the Hebrew kings. We find several royal burials taking place, however, "in the city of David" (1Ki 2:10; 11:43; 15:8; 2Ki 14:19-20; 15:38; 1Ki 14:31; 22:50; 2Ch 21:19-20; 24:25, etc.). Hezekiah was buried in the mount of the sepulchres of the sons of David; "and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death" (2Ch 32:33).
(10.) Little is said regarding the burial of the kings of Israel. Some of them were buried in Samaria, the capital of their kingdom (2Ki 10:35; 13:9; 14:16).
(11.) Our Lord was buried in a new tomb, hewn out of the rock, which Joseph of Arimathea had prepared for himself (Mt 27:57-60; Mr 15:46; Joh 19:41-42).
(12.) The grave of Lazarus was "a cave, and a stone lay on it" (Joh 11:38). Graves were frequently either natural caverns or artificial excavations formed in the sides of rocks (Ge 23:9; Mt 27:60); and coffins were seldom used, unless when the body was brought from a distance.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
That he would give me, the cave of Machpelah, which pertaineth unto him, which is within the bounds of his field, - For full silver, let him give it me in your midst, For a possession of a buryingplace.
And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him, in the cave of Machpelah, - in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, which is over against Mamre;
these, same, are the sons of Ishmael and these, their names, by their villages and by their encampments, - twelve princes, after their tribes. And these, are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty-seven years, - and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered unto his people. read more. And they stretched their habitations from Havilah as far as to Shur, which is over against Egypt, as thou goest in towards Assyria, - over against all his brethren, he settled down. And, these, are the generations of Isaac, son of Abraham, - Abraham, begat Isaac; and it came to pass that, Isaac, was forty years old, when he took Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Syrian, of the Plain of Syria, - sister of Laban the Syrian. to himself to wife.
And when the youths grew up, it came to pass that Esau was a man skilled in game a man of the field, - but, Jacob, was a ready man, dwelling in tents.
And Jacob had boiled pottage, - when Esau came in from the field, he, being famished.
And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and was buried below Beth-el, under the oak, - so the name thereof was called, Allon-bacuth.
And the days of Israel drew near that he must die, so he called for his son for Joseph and said to him - If, I pray thee I have found favour in thine eyes, place, I pray thee thy hand under my thigh, - so shalt thou deal with me in lovingkindness and faithfulness - Do not I pray thee, bury me in Egypt. When I shall lie down with my fathers, then shalt thou carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said: I, will do according to thy word. read more. Then he said: Come, swear to me! And he sware to him. Then did Israel how himself down on the head of the couch.
But, I, have given to thee one mountain-track above thy brethren, - which I took out of the hand of the Amorite, with my sword and with my bow.
There, buried they Abraham, and Sarah his wife, There, buried they Isaac, and Rebekah his wife, - And there, buried I Leah: -
Then Joseph commanded his servants the physicians, to embalm his father, - so the physicians embalmed Israel.
so his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, - which Abraham bought - with the field - for a possession of a buryingplace from Ephron the Hittite over against Mamre.
Then came the sons of Israel the whole assembly, into the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people dwelt in Kadesh, - and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there, in the top of the mount, - and Moses and Eleazar came down out of the mount. And all the assembly saw that Aaron was dead; and they bewailed Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
So Moses, the servant of Yahweh, died there, in the land of Moab, at the bidding of Yahweh; and he buried him, in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor, - but no man hath known his burying-place, until this day.
And the sons of Israel bewailed Moses in the waste plains of Moab thirty day, - then were completed the wailing-days of the mourning for Moses.
yea they raised over him a great heap of stones which remaineth until this day. And Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger, - for which cause, hath the name of that place been called - The Valley of Achor, until this day.
And, the king of Ai, hanged he on a tree until eventide, - but, at the going in of the sun, Joshua gave command and they took down his dead body from the tree, and cast it in at the opening of the gate of the city, and raised up over it a great heap of stones - which remaineth until this day.
And they buried him within the bounds of his own inheritance, in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of Mount Gaash.
And, the bones of Joseph - which the sons of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the portion of field, which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of money, - and they belonged unto the sons of Joseph, as an inheritance.
And Samuel died, and all Israel were gathered together, and made lamentation for him, and buried him within his own house, in Ramah, - and David arose and went down into the wilderness of Maon.
And, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done unto Saul, then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, - and came to Jabesh, and burned them there; read more. and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, - and fasted seven days.
And they took Absolom, and cast him, in the forest, into a large pit, and raised up over him a very great heap of stones, - and, all Israel, fled, every man to his home. But, Absolom, had taken, and raised up for himself, in his lifetime, the pillar that is in the king's vale, for he said, I have no son, to keep in remembrance my name, so he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absolom's monument unto this day.
So then David slept with his fathers, - and was buried in the city of David.
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and put him to death, - and he was buried in his own house, in the wilderness.
So then Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, - and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
So then Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, - and, Asa his son, reigned, in his stead.
And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, - and, Jehoahaz his son, reigned, in his stead.
So then Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, - and, Joash his son, reigned, in his stead.
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel, - and, Jeroboam his son, reigned, in his stead.
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him, honour, in his death, - and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
With kings, and counselors of the earth, who had built them pyramids: Or with rulers possessing, gold, - Who had filled their houses with silver:
And a man's near of kin, even he who is about to burn the bones, shall carry him out of the house, when he shall say to him that is in the hinder parts of the house - Are there yet any with thee? and he shall say - No one. Then shall he say - Hush! for we must not invoke the name of Yahweh.
And, when, evening, arrived, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, whose name was Joseph, who also, himself, had been discipled unto Jesus. The same, going unto Pilate, claimed the body of Jesus. Then, Pilate commanded it to be given up. read more. And Joseph, taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean Indian-cloth, and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock, and, rolling near a large stone unto the door of the tomb, departed.
and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock, and, rolling near a large stone unto the door of the tomb, departed.
And, buying a fine Indian cloth, he took him down, and wrapped him about with the cloth, and laid him in a tomb, which had been hewn out of a rock, - and rolled near a stone upon the door of the tomb.
He cometh, therefore, unto a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground which Jacob gave unto Joseph his son.
Jesus, therefore, again, being indignant within himself, cometh unto the tomb. Now it was a cave, and, a stone, was lying thereon.
Now there was, in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and, in the garden, an unused tomb, wherein, as yet, no one had been laid. So, there, by reason of the preparation of the Jews, because, near, was the tomb, laid they Jesus.
Fausets
The Jews entombed, if possible, or else inferred, their dead; the rabbis alleging as a reason" Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Ge 3:19). Even enemies received burial (1Ki 11:15). The law ordained the same treatment of the malefactor (De 21:23). Nothing but extreme profanity on the part of the deceased during life was deemed a warrant for disturbing their remains (2Ki 23:16-17; Jer 8:1-2). A cave was the usual tomb, as Palestine abounds in caves. The funeral rites were much less elaborate than those of the Egyptians. Jacob and Joseph dying in Egypt were embalmed; the Egyptians, through lack of a better hope, endeavoring to avert or delay corruption. Kings and prophets alone were buried within the walls of towns. A strong family feeling led the Israelites to desire burial in the same tomb as their forefathers.
So Jacob (Ge 49:29-32). The burial place of Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob, in the field of Machpelah (Genesis 23), bought by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite, and the field bought by Jacob from Shechem's father, Hamor, where Joseph's bones were buried (Jos 24:32), were the only fixed possessions the patriarchs had in Canaan, and the sole purchases they made there. They felt their bodies belonged to the Lord. To be excluded from the family burying place, as Uzziah and Manasseh were, was deemed an indignity. 2Ch 26:23; 33:20; compare 1Ki 13:22-31, which shows it was a mark of great respect to one not of one's family to desire burial with him (compare Ru 1:17). The greatest indignity was to be denied burial (2Ki 9:10; Isa 14:20; Jer 22:18-19; 2Sa 21:12-14).
David's magnanimity appears in his care to restore his enemy Saul's remains to the paternal tomb. To give a place in one's own sepulchre was a special honor; as the children of Heth offered Abraham, and as Jehoiada was buried among the kings (Ge 23:6; 2Ch 24:16). So Joseph of Arimathea could not have done a greater honor to our crucified Lord's body than giving it a place in his own new tomb, fulfilling the prophecy Isa 53:9 (Joh 19:31-42). A common tomb for all the kindred, with galleries, is not uncommon in the East. Burning was only practiced in peculiar circumstances, as in the case of Saul's and his sons' mutilated headless bodies, where regular burial was impossible and there was a possibility of the Philistines coming and mutilating them still more. However, the bones were not burned but buried (1Sa 31:11-13). Also in a plague, to prevent contagion (Am 6:9-10).
Costly spices were wrapped up in the linen swathes round the corpse, and also were burnt at the funeral (2Ch 16:14); so Nicodemus honored Jesus with 100 pounds weight of "myrrh and aloes." The rapidity of decomposition in the hot East, and the legal uncleanness of association with a dead body, caused immediate interment; as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5; Nu 19:11-14). Hired mourners with shrill pipes increased the sound of wailings for the dead (Mt 9:23; Jer 9:17; 2Ch 35:25). The body without any coffin was carried to burial on a bier (Lu 7:12). A napkin was bound round the head, and linen bandages wound round the body (Joh 11:44; 19:40). The whole of the preparations are included in the Greek word entafiasmos which Jesus uses (Mr 14:8).
After burial the funeral feast followed (Jer 16:6-8). Eze 24:17, "Eat not the bread of men," i.e. the bread or viands, as well as "the cup of consolation," which men usually bring mourners in token of sympathy. The law (Le 19:28) forbade cuttings in the flesh for the dead, usual among the pagan. Families often reduced their means by lavish expenditure in gifts at funerals, to which there may be reference in De 26:14. By the law also nothing ought to be carried into a mourning house (as being unclean) of that which was sanctified, as for instance tithes. Samuel was buried in his own house at Ramah; and the sepulchers of Judah's kings were in the city of David (2Ch 16:14).
Fine ranges of tombs, said to be of the kings, judges, and prophets, still remain near Jerusalem; but these, many think, are the tomb of Helena, the widow of the king of Adiabene, who settled at Jerusalem and relieved poor Jews in the famine foretold by Agabus under Claudius Caesar. The "graves of the children of the people" were and are in the valley of Kedron or Jehoshaphat (2Ki 23:6); and on the graves of them that had sacrificed to the idols and groves Josiah strawed the dust of their idols (2Ch 34:4): "the graves of the common people" outside the city (Jer 26:23). Tophet, the valley E. of the city, was once the haunt of Moloch worship, but was doomed to defilement by burials there (Jer 7:32; 19:11).
The potters' field, with its holes dug out for clay, afforded graves ready made "to bury strangers in." Tombs were often cut out of the living rock. One of the kings' tombs near Jerusalem has a large circular stone set on its edge. A deep recess is cut in the solid rock at the left of the door, into which the stone might be rolled aside, when the tomb was opened; when closed, the stone would be rolled back to its proper place. The disk is large enough, not only to cover the entrance, but also to fit into another recess at the right of the door, and thus completely shut it in. There is an incline to its proper place, so that to roll it back is much harder than to roll it into it. The women going to Jesus' tomb might well say," Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" (Mr 16:3.)
Mary stooped to look in, because the door was low; the angel sat on the stone rolled aside into its recess, as the women drew near (Mt 28:2; Joh 20:11; compare Isa 22:16; Lu 23:53). Demoniacs and outcasts would haunt such tombs for shelter, when open (Isa 60:4; Mr 5:5). Sepulchers used to be whitened, after the rains, before the Passover, each year, to guard against any defiling himself by touching them. This explains Jesus' comparison of hypocrites to "whited sepulchers" (Mt 23:27). To repair the prophets' tombs was regarded as an act of great piety (Mt 23:29).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground, because therefrom, wast thou taken, - For, dust, thou art, And, unto dust, shalt thou return.
In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground, because therefrom, wast thou taken, - For, dust, thou art, And, unto dust, shalt thou return.
Hear us, my lord! A prince of God, art thou in our midst, In the choice of our buryingplaces, bury thy dead, - Not, a man from among us his, burying-place, will withhold from thee, from burying thy dead.
Hear us, my lord! A prince of God, art thou in our midst, In the choice of our buryingplaces, bury thy dead, - Not, a man from among us his, burying-place, will withhold from thee, from burying thy dead.
Then commanded he them and said unto them - I, am about to be gathered unto my people, Bury me among my fathers, - within the cave, that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite:
Then commanded he them and said unto them - I, am about to be gathered unto my people, Bury me among my fathers, - within the cave, that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite: in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah which is over against Mamre, in the land of Canaan, - which Abraham bought, along with the field, from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace: -
in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah which is over against Mamre, in the land of Canaan, - which Abraham bought, along with the field, from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace: - There, buried they Abraham, and Sarah his wife, There, buried they Isaac, and Rebekah his wife, - And there, buried I Leah: -
There, buried they Abraham, and Sarah his wife, There, buried they Isaac, and Rebekah his wife, - And there, buried I Leah: - buying the field and the cave that is therein, from the sons of Heth.
Cuttings for a dead person, shall ye not make in your flesh. And punctures in your persons, shall ye not print, - I, am Yahweh.
Cuttings for a dead person, shall ye not make in your flesh. And punctures in your persons, shall ye not print, - I, am Yahweh.
He that toucheth the dead, even any human person, shall be unclean seven days.
He that toucheth the dead, even any human person, shall be unclean seven days. He, shall cleanse himself from sin therewith on the third day, then on the seventh day, shall he be clean, - but if he cleanse not himself from sin on the third day, then on the seventh day, shall he not be clean,
He, shall cleanse himself from sin therewith on the third day, then on the seventh day, shall he be clean, - but if he cleanse not himself from sin on the third day, then on the seventh day, shall he not be clean, Whoso-ever toucheth the dead the person of the human being that dieth and doth not cleanse himself from sin, the habitation of Yahweh, hath he made unclean; that person therefore shall be cut off out of Israel, - because, the water of separation, was not dashed upon him, unclean, shall he be, his uncleanness is yet upon him.
Whoso-ever toucheth the dead the person of the human being that dieth and doth not cleanse himself from sin, the habitation of Yahweh, hath he made unclean; that person therefore shall be cut off out of Israel, - because, the water of separation, was not dashed upon him, unclean, shall he be, his uncleanness is yet upon him. This, is the law - When, a human being, shall die in a tent, every one who goeth into the tent and every one who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.
This, is the law - When, a human being, shall die in a tent, every one who goeth into the tent and every one who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.
his dead body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shalt bury, him on the same day, for a reproach unto God, is he that is hanged, - so shalt thou not make unclean thy soil which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee for an inheritance.
his dead body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shalt bury, him on the same day, for a reproach unto God, is he that is hanged, - so shalt thou not make unclean thy soil which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee for an inheritance.
I have not eaten in my sorrow therefrom neither have I removed therefrom when unclean, neither have I given thereof unto the dead, - I have hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh my God, I have done according to all which thou hast commanded me.
I have not eaten in my sorrow therefrom neither have I removed therefrom when unclean, neither have I given thereof unto the dead, - I have hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh my God, I have done according to all which thou hast commanded me.
And, the bones of Joseph - which the sons of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the portion of field, which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of money, - and they belonged unto the sons of Joseph, as an inheritance.
And, the bones of Joseph - which the sons of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the portion of field, which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of money, - and they belonged unto the sons of Joseph, as an inheritance.
where thou diest, I will die, and, there, will I be buried: So, let Yahweh do to me, and, so, let him add, if, death itself, part me and thee.
where thou diest, I will die, and, there, will I be buried: So, let Yahweh do to me, and, so, let him add, if, death itself, part me and thee.
And, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done unto Saul,
And, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done unto Saul, then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, - and came to Jabesh, and burned them there;
then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, - and came to Jabesh, and burned them there; and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, - and fasted seven days.
and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, - and fasted seven days.
And it came to pass, when David was dealing with Edom, and Joab general of the army went up to bury the slain, - and had smitten every male in Edom, -
And it came to pass, when David was dealing with Edom, and Joab general of the army went up to bury the slain, - and had smitten every male in Edom, -
but hast returned, and eaten bread and drunk water, in the place of which he said unto thee, Thou mayest neither eat bread nor drink water: thy dead body shall not enter the burying-place of thy fathers.
but hast returned, and eaten bread and drunk water, in the place of which he said unto thee, Thou mayest neither eat bread nor drink water: thy dead body shall not enter the burying-place of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And, when he had gone, there met him a lion by the way, and slew him, - and his dead body was cast out in the way, and, the ass, was standing near it, and, the lion, was standing near the dead body.
And, when he had gone, there met him a lion by the way, and slew him, - and his dead body was cast out in the way, and, the ass, was standing near it, and, the lion, was standing near the dead body. And lo! certain men, passing by, saw the dead body, cast out in the way, and the lion standing near the dead body, - so they came in, and spake of it in the city, wherein, the aged prophet, dwelt.
And lo! certain men, passing by, saw the dead body, cast out in the way, and the lion standing near the dead body, - so they came in, and spake of it in the city, wherein, the aged prophet, dwelt. And, when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said - The man of God, it is, who rebelled against the bidding of Yahweh, - therefore did Yahweh deliver him unto the lion, and it hath torn him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh which he spake unto him.
And, when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said - The man of God, it is, who rebelled against the bidding of Yahweh, - therefore did Yahweh deliver him unto the lion, and it hath torn him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh which he spake unto him. And he spake unto his sons, saying, Saddle for me the ass. And they saddled it.
And he spake unto his sons, saying, Saddle for me the ass. And they saddled it. So he went and found his dead body, cast out in the way, with, the ass and the lion, standing near the dead body, - the lion had neither eaten the dead body, nor had it torn the ass.
So he went and found his dead body, cast out in the way, with, the ass and the lion, standing near the dead body, - the lion had neither eaten the dead body, nor had it torn the ass. And the prophet took up the dead body of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back, - and the aged prophet came into the city, to make lamentation, and to bury him.
And the prophet took up the dead body of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back, - and the aged prophet came into the city, to make lamentation, and to bury him. And he laid his dead body in his own grave, - and they lamented over him, saying - Alas, my brother!
And he laid his dead body in his own grave, - and they lamented over him, saying - Alas, my brother! And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake unto his sons, saying, When I die, then shall ye bury me in the grave wherein the man of God is buried; beside his bones, lay my bones;
And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake unto his sons, saying, When I die, then shall ye bury me in the grave wherein the man of God is buried; beside his bones, lay my bones;
And, as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her , in the town-land of Jezreel, there being none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
And, as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her , in the town-land of Jezreel, there being none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
and he brought forth the Sacred Stem out of the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, into the Kidron ravine, and burned it in the Kidron ravine, and crushed it to powder, - and cast the powder upon the graves of the sons of the people;
and he brought forth the Sacred Stem out of the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, into the Kidron ravine, and burned it in the Kidron ravine, and crushed it to powder, - and cast the powder upon the graves of the sons of the people;
And, when Josiah turned, and saw the graves which were there, in the mount, he sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burned upon the altar, and defiled it, - according to the word of Yahweh, which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.
And, when Josiah turned, and saw the graves which were there, in the mount, he sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burned upon the altar, and defiled it, - according to the word of Yahweh, which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. Then said he - What is yonder erection, which I do see? And the men of the city said unto him - The grave of the man of God, who came in out of Judah, and proclaimed these things, which thou hast done, concerning the altar of Bethel.
Then said he - What is yonder erection, which I do see? And the men of the city said unto him - The grave of the man of God, who came in out of Judah, and proclaimed these things, which thou hast done, concerning the altar of Bethel.
and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.
and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.
and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.
and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.
And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial that pertained unto the kings, for they said, A leper, he is. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial that pertained unto the kings, for they said, A leper, he is. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the garden off his own house, - and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the garden off his own house, - and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
And they threw down before him, the altars of the Baalim, and, the sun-pillars which were on high above them, he hewed down, - and, the Sacred Stems and the carved images and the molten images, brake he in pieces and ground to dust, and tossed over the face of the graves, of them who had been sacrificing unto them.
And they threw down before him, the altars of the Baalim, and, the sun-pillars which were on high above them, he hewed down, - and, the Sacred Stems and the carved images and the molten images, brake he in pieces and ground to dust, and tossed over the face of the graves, of them who had been sacrificing unto them.
As for them who go down to the stones of the Pit, Thou shalt not be united with them in burial; For thy land, thou didst ruin Thy people, didst slay, - Unnamed to times ago-abiding, Be the seed of the wicked!
As for them who go down to the stones of the Pit, Thou shalt not be united with them in burial; For thy land, thou didst ruin Thy people, didst slay, - Unnamed to times ago-abiding, Be the seed of the wicked!
What doest thou here? And whom hast thou here? That thou hast hewn for thyself here a sepulchre, - As one hewing on high his sepulchre, Cutting out in the cliff a habitation for himself?
What doest thou here? And whom hast thou here? That thou hast hewn for thyself here a sepulchre, - As one hewing on high his sepulchre, Cutting out in the cliff a habitation for himself?
And, appointed with lawless men, was his grave, And with the wicked, his tomb, - Though no violence, had he done, Nor was guile in his mouth.
And, appointed with lawless men, was his grave, And with the wicked, his tomb, - Though no violence, had he done, Nor was guile in his mouth.
Lift up - round about - thine eyes and see, They all, have gathered themselves together - have come to thee, - Thy sons, from afar shall come, And thy daughters, on the side, shall he carried.
Lift up - round about - thine eyes and see, They all, have gathered themselves together - have come to thee, - Thy sons, from afar shall come, And thy daughters, on the side, shall he carried.
Therefore, lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh, When it shall not be called any more - The Topheth, nor The valley of Ben-hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter, - And they shall bury in Topheth, for want of place;
Therefore, lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh, When it shall not be called any more - The Topheth, nor The valley of Ben-hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter, - And they shall bury in Topheth, for want of place;
At that time, Declareth Yahweh, Shall they bring forth, The bones of the kings of Judah, and The bones of his princes, and The bones of the priests, and The bones of the prophets, and The bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Out of their graves,
At that time, Declareth Yahweh, Shall they bring forth, The bones of the kings of Judah, and The bones of his princes, and The bones of the priests, and The bones of the prophets, and The bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Out of their graves, And shall spread them out - To the sun, and To the moon, and To all the host of the heavens, Whom they have loved, And whom they have served, And after whom they have walked, And whom they have sought, And to whom they have bowed themselves down, - They shall not be gathered, Neither shall they be buried, As heaps of dung on the face of the ground, shall they be.
And shall spread them out - To the sun, and To the moon, and To all the host of the heavens, Whom they have loved, And whom they have served, And after whom they have walked, And whom they have sought, And to whom they have bowed themselves down, - They shall not be gathered, Neither shall they be buried, As heaps of dung on the face of the ground, shall they be.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Consider ye diligently and call for the wailing women that they may come, - And unto the wise women, send ye, that they may come;
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Consider ye diligently and call for the wailing women that they may come, - And unto the wise women, send ye, that they may come;
So shall great and small die in this land, They shall not be buried, - Neither shall men lament for them Nor cut themselves, Nor make themselves bald for them;
So shall great and small die in this land, They shall not be buried, - Neither shall men lament for them Nor cut themselves, Nor make themselves bald for them; Neither shall they break bread to them in mourning To console one over his dead, - Nor cause them to drink the cup of consolation, Over ones father Or over ones mother;
Neither shall they break bread to them in mourning To console one over his dead, - Nor cause them to drink the cup of consolation, Over ones father Or over ones mother; And the house of banqueting, shall thou not enter To sit with them, To eat and to drink.
And the house of banqueting, shall thou not enter To sit with them, To eat and to drink.
and shalt say unto them - Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts - Thus and thus, will I break this people, and this city, As one breaketh the vessel of a potter, which cannot be made whole any more, - And in Topheth, shall they bury, for want of place to bury.
and shalt say unto them - Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts - Thus and thus, will I break this people, and this city, As one breaketh the vessel of a potter, which cannot be made whole any more, - And in Topheth, shall they bury, for want of place to bury.
Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, Touching Jehoiakim son of Josiah King of Judah, They shall not cry in lament for him Alas my brother! or Alas sister! They shall not cry in lament for him Alas lord! or Alas! his renown!
Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, Touching Jehoiakim son of Josiah King of Judah, They shall not cry in lament for him Alas my brother! or Alas sister! They shall not cry in lament for him Alas lord! or Alas! his renown! With the burial of an ass, shall he be buried, Dragged along and cast forth, beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
With the burial of an ass, shall he be buried, Dragged along and cast forth, beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
and they brought forth Urijah out of Egypt, and took him in unto King Jehoiakim, who smote him with the sword, - and cast out his dead body among the graves of the sons of the people.
and they brought forth Urijah out of Egypt, and took him in unto King Jehoiakim, who smote him with the sword, - and cast out his dead body among the graves of the sons of the people.
To groan, forbear, Over the dead - no mourning, shalt thou make Thy chaplet, bind thou on thee And thy sandals:, put thou on thy feet, And thou shalt not cover thy beard, And the bread of other men, shalt thou not eat.
To groan, forbear, Over the dead - no mourning, shalt thou make Thy chaplet, bind thou on thee And thy sandals:, put thou on thy feet, And thou shalt not cover thy beard, And the bread of other men, shalt thou not eat.
And it shall come to pass, though there be left remaining ten men in one house, yet shall they die;
And it shall come to pass, though there be left remaining ten men in one house, yet shall they die; And a man's near of kin, even he who is about to burn the bones, shall carry him out of the house, when he shall say to him that is in the hinder parts of the house - Are there yet any with thee? and he shall say - No one. Then shall he say - Hush! for we must not invoke the name of Yahweh.
And a man's near of kin, even he who is about to burn the bones, shall carry him out of the house, when he shall say to him that is in the hinder parts of the house - Are there yet any with thee? and he shall say - No one. Then shall he say - Hush! for we must not invoke the name of Yahweh.
And, Jesus, coming, into the house of the ruler, and seeing the flute-players and the multitude in confusion, was saying:
And, Jesus, coming, into the house of the ruler, and seeing the flute-players and the multitude in confusion, was saying:
Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye make yourselves like sepulchres whitewashed, which, outside, indeed, appear, beautiful, but, within, are full, of dead men's bones and all uncleanness, -
Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye make yourselves like sepulchres whitewashed, which, outside, indeed, appear, beautiful, but, within, are full, of dead men's bones and all uncleanness, -
Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
And lo! a great commotion occurred, - for, a messenger of the Lord, descending out of heaven, and coming near, had rolled away the stone, and was sitting upon it.
And lo! a great commotion occurred, - for, a messenger of the Lord, descending out of heaven, and coming near, had rolled away the stone, and was sitting upon it.
and, continually, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, was he crying aloud, and cutting himself in pieces with stones.
and, continually, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, was he crying aloud, and cutting himself in pieces with stones.
What she had, she used, - She took it beforehand to anoint my body for the burial;
What she had, she used, - She took it beforehand to anoint my body for the burial;
And they were saying one to another - Who, shall roll away for us the stone, out of the door of the tomb?
And they were saying one to another - Who, shall roll away for us the stone, out of the door of the tomb?
Now, as he drew near unto the gate of the city, then lo! there was being brought forth, one dead, the only-begotten son of his mother, - and, she, was a widow; and, a considerable multitude of the city, was with her.
Now, as he drew near unto the gate of the city, then lo! there was being brought forth, one dead, the only-begotten son of his mother, - and, she, was a widow; and, a considerable multitude of the city, was with her.
And, taking it down, he wrapped it in a fine Indian cloth, and laid him in a tomb hewn in stone, - where no one as yet was lying.
And, taking it down, he wrapped it in a fine Indian cloth, and laid him in a tomb hewn in stone, - where no one as yet was lying.
He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bandages, and, his face, with a napkin, was bound about. Jesus saith unto them - Loose him, and let him go.
He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bandages, and, his face, with a napkin, was bound about. Jesus saith unto them - Loose him, and let him go.
The Jews, therefore, since it was, a preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross during the Sabbath, - for that Sabbath day was, great, requested Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they be taken away.
The Jews, therefore, since it was, a preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross during the Sabbath, - for that Sabbath day was, great, requested Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came; and, of the first, indeed, brake the legs, and of the other who was crucified with him, -
The soldiers, therefore, came; and, of the first, indeed, brake the legs, and of the other who was crucified with him, - but coming, unto Jesus, when they saw that, already, he was dead, they brake not his legs; -
but coming, unto Jesus, when they saw that, already, he was dead, they brake not his legs; - but, one of the soldiers, with a spear, pierced, his side, and there came out, straightway, blood and water.
but, one of the soldiers, with a spear, pierced, his side, and there came out, straightway, blood and water. And, he that hath seen, hath borne witness; and, genuine, is his testimony, and, he, knoweth that he saith, what is true, that, ye also, may believe.
And, he that hath seen, hath borne witness; and, genuine, is his testimony, and, he, knoweth that he saith, what is true, that, ye also, may believe. For these things came to pass, that, the Scripture, might be fulfilled - A bone thereof, shall not be crushed;
For these things came to pass, that, the Scripture, might be fulfilled - A bone thereof, shall not be crushed; and, again, a different Scripture, saith - They shall look unto him whom they pierced.
and, again, a different Scripture, saith - They shall look unto him whom they pierced. But, after these things, Joseph from Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but having kept it secret for fear of the Jews, requested Pilate, that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave permission. He came, therefore, and took away his body.
But, after these things, Joseph from Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but having kept it secret for fear of the Jews, requested Pilate, that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave permission. He came, therefore, and took away his body. There came, moreover, Nicodemus also, - he that came unto him by night at the first, - bearing a roll of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight.
There came, moreover, Nicodemus also, - he that came unto him by night at the first, - bearing a roll of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. So they received the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen-bandages with the spices, - just as it is, a custom, with the Jews to prepare for burial.
So they received the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen-bandages with the spices, - just as it is, a custom, with the Jews to prepare for burial.
So they received the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen-bandages with the spices, - just as it is, a custom, with the Jews to prepare for burial.
So they received the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen-bandages with the spices, - just as it is, a custom, with the Jews to prepare for burial. Now there was, in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and, in the garden, an unused tomb, wherein, as yet, no one had been laid.
Now there was, in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and, in the garden, an unused tomb, wherein, as yet, no one had been laid. So, there, by reason of the preparation of the Jews, because, near, was the tomb, laid they Jesus.
So, there, by reason of the preparation of the Jews, because, near, was the tomb, laid they Jesus.
Howbeit, Mary, remained standing against the tomb, outside, weeping. So then, as she wept, she stooped aside into the tomb,
Howbeit, Mary, remained standing against the tomb, outside, weeping. So then, as she wept, she stooped aside into the tomb,
Hastings
Morish
This was the universal custom among the Israelites for the disposal of their dead, and provision was made in the law for the burial of criminals. De 21:23. Those slain in battle were also interred. 1Ki 11:15. This was needful in so warm a country in order to avoid a pestilence, and the dead were always promptly buried, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. These were probably bound round with the clothes they were wearing and at once laid in the grave. In other cases linen cloths were wrapped round the body and round the head, as in the case of Lazarus, and as loving hands tended the body of the Lord. Spices were enclosed among the cloths: Nicodemus furnished 100 pound weight of 'myrrh and aloes' at the burial of the Lord, besides what the devout women had brought.
It does not appear that there was any 'service' or prayers offered at the burial of the dead. At the death of Lazarus 'Jews' were present, mourning with the family four days after the death; and in the case of the daughter of Jairus there was a 'tumult' with weeping and great wailing; these were probably hired mourners (as is the custom to this day), for 'musicians' were also present.
Among the judgements pronounced on the people of Jerusalem one was that they should not be buried: their bodies should be eaten by the fowls and the wild beasts. Jer 16:4. In the case of God's two future witnesses in Jerusalem the wicked will rejoice over their dead bodies and will not allow them to be buried; only to have their joy turned into terror when they see them stand upon their feet alive again, and behold them ascend to heaven. Re 11:9-12.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
his dead body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shalt bury, him on the same day, for a reproach unto God, is he that is hanged, - so shalt thou not make unclean thy soil which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee for an inheritance.
And it came to pass, when David was dealing with Edom, and Joab general of the army went up to bury the slain, - and had smitten every male in Edom, -
Of deaths from diseases, shall they die, They shall not be lamented, Neither shall they be buried, As heaps of dung on the face of the ground, shall riley serve, - Yea by sword and by famine, shall they be consumed, And, their dead bodies shall become, food - To the bird of the heavens, and To the beast of the earth.
And some of the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, see, their dead bodies three days and a half, and, their dead bodies, do they not suffer to be put into a tomb. And, they who are dwelling upon the earth, rejoice over them, and make merry, and, gifts, will they send one to another, - because, these two prophets, tormented them that were dwelling upon the earth. read more. And, after thethree days and a half, a spirit of life from God, entered within them, and they stood upon their feet; and, great fear, fell upon them who were beholding them. And they heard a loud voice out of heaven, saying unto them - Come up hither! And they went up into heaven, in the cloud, and, their enemies, beheld them.
Watsons
BURIAL, the interment of a deceased person; an office held so sacred, that they who neglected it have in all nations been held in abhorrence. As soon as the last breath had fled, the nearest relation, or the dearest friend, gave the lifeless body the parting kiss, the last farewell and sign of affection to the departed relative. This was a custom of immemorial antiquity; for the patriarch Jacob had no sooner yielded up his spirit, than his beloved Joseph, claiming for once the right of the first-born, "fell upon his face and kissed him." It is probable he first closed his eyes, as God had promised he should do: "Joseph shall put his hands upon thine eyes." The parting kiss being given, the company rent their clothes, which was a custom of great antiquity, and the highest expression of grief in the primitive ages. This ceremony was never omitted by the Hebrews when any mournful, event happened, and was performed in the following manner: they took a knife, and holding the blade downward, gave the upper garment a cut in the right side, and rent it a hand's breadth. For very near relations, all the garments are rent on the right side. After closing the eyes, the next care was to bind up the face, which it was no more lawful to behold. The next care of surviving friends was to wash the body, probably, that the ointments and perfumes with which it was to be wrapped up, might enter more easily into the pores, when opened by warm water. This ablution, which was always esteemed an act of great charity and devotion, was performed by women. Thus the body of Dorcas was washed, and laid in an upper room, till the arrival of the Apostle Peter, in the hope that his prayers might restore her to life. After the body was washed, it was shrouded, and swathed with a linen cloth, although in most places, they only put on a pair of drawers and a white tunic; and the head was bound about with a napkin. Such were the napkin and grave clothes in which the Saviour was buried.
2. The body was sometimes embalmed, which was performed by the Egyptians after the following method: the brain was removed with a bent iron, and the vacuity filled up with medicaments; the bowels were also drawn out, and the trunk being stuffed with myrrh, cassia, and other spices, except frankincense, which were proper to exsiccate the humours, it was pickled in nitre, in which it lay for seventy days. After this period, it was wrapped in bandages of fine linen and gums, to make it adhere; and was then delivered to the relations of the deceased entire; all its features, and the very hairs of the eyelids, being preserved. In this manner were the kings of Judah embalmed for many ages. But when the funeral obsequies were not long delayed, they used another kind of embalming. They wrapped up the body with sweet spices and odours, without extracting the brain, or removing the bowels. This is the way in which it was proposed to embalm the lifeless body of our Saviour; which was prevented by his resurrection. The meaner sort of people seem to have been interred in their grave clothes, without a coffin. In this manner was the sacred body of our Lord committed to the tomb. The body was sometimes placed upon a bier, which bore some resemblance to a coffin or bed, in order to be carried out to burial. Upon one of these was carried forth the widow's son of Nain, whom our compassionate Lord raised to life, and restored to his mother. We are informed in the history of the kings of Judah, that, Asa being dead, they laid him in the bed, or bier, which was filled with sweet odours. Josephus, the Jewish historian, describing the funeral of Herod the Great, says, His bed was adorned with precious stones; his body rested under a purple covering; he had a diadem and a crown of gold upon his head, a sceptre in his hand; and all his house followed the bed. The bier used by the Turks at Aleppo is a kind of coffin, much in the form of ours, only the lid rises with a ledge in the middle.
3. The Israelites committed the dead to their native dust; and from the Egyptians, probably, borrowed the practice of burning many spices at their funerals. "They buried Asa in his own sepulchres, which he made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours, and divers kinds of spices, prepared by the apothecaries' art; and they made a very great burning for him," 2Ch 16:14. Thus the Old Testament historian entirely justifies the account which the Evangelist gives, of the quantity of spices with which the sacred body of Christ was swathed. The Jews object to the quantity used on that occasion, as unnecessarily profuse, and even incredible; but it appears from their own writings, that spices were used at such times in great abundance. In the Talmud it is said, that no less than eighty pounds of spices were consumed at the funeral of rabbi Gamaliel the elder. And at the funeral of Herod, if we may believe the account of their most celebrated historian, the procession was followed by five hundred of his domestics carrying spices. Why then should it be reckoned incredible, that Nicodemus brought of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds' weight, to embalm the body of Jesus?
4. The funeral procession was attended by professional mourners, eminently skilled in the art of lamentation, whom the friends and relations of the deceased hired, to assist them in expressing their sorrow. They began the ceremony with the stridulous voices of old women, who strove, by their doleful modulations, to extort grief from those that were present. The children in the streets through which they passed, often suspended their sports, to imitate the sounds, and joined with equal sincerity in the lamentations. "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have mourned you and ye have not lamented," Mt 9:17. Music was afterward introduced to aid the voices of the mourners: the trumpet was used at the funerals of the great, and the small pipe or flute for those of meaner condition. Hired mourners were in use among the Greeks as early as the Trojan war, and probably in ages long before; for in Homer, a choir of mourners were planted around the couch on which the body of Hector was laid out, who sung his funeral dirge with many sighs and tears:
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and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Consider ye diligently and call for the wailing women that they may come, - And unto the wise women, send ye, that they may come;
Therefore, thus, saith Yahweh, God of hosts, My Lord, In all broadways, shall be lamentation, and, in all streets, shall they say, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the husbandman unto the mourning, and, unto the lamentation, them who know a wailing song;
but palace-songs, shall become howlings, in that day, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh, - Many shall be the dead bodies in every place - cast forth - with a hush!
Neither pour they new wine into old skins: otherwise at least, the skins are burst, and, the wine, runneth out, and, the skins, are spoiled, - but they pour new wine into unused skins, and, both, are together preserved.