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◄ Burial: Design of►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the design and practice of burial were deeply rooted in cultural, religious, and familial traditions. The act of burial was not merely a practical necessity but a significant ritual that reflected beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife.

Old Testament Practices

The Old Testament provides numerous insights into the burial customs of the Israelites. Burial was typically conducted soon after death, often on the same day, as seen in the account of Sarah's burial in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:19). This practice was partly due to the climate of the region, which necessitated prompt interment to prevent decay.

The design of burial sites varied, but common elements included caves, rock-hewn tombs, and family burial plots. The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were buried in the family tomb at Machpelah, indicating the importance of familial connections in burial practices (Genesis 49:29-31). The use of family tombs underscored the belief in maintaining family unity even in death.

New Testament Practices

By the New Testament period, Jewish burial customs had evolved but retained core elements from earlier traditions. The burial of Jesus provides a detailed example of first-century Jewish burial practices. After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a new tomb, hewn out of rock, belonging to Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:59-60). This tomb was sealed with a large stone, a common practice to protect the body from animals and grave robbers.

The New Testament also reflects the practice of anointing the body with spices and perfumes, as seen when the women came to anoint Jesus' body (Mark 16:1). This was both a sign of respect and a practical measure to counteract the odor of decay.

Symbolism and Theology

Burial in the Bible carries rich symbolic and theological significance. It is an act of honoring the deceased, reflecting the belief in the dignity of the human body as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The care taken in burial practices underscores the hope in the resurrection, a theme that is particularly prominent in the New Testament. The burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ serve as the cornerstone of Christian faith, symbolizing victory over death and the promise of eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Cultural and Religious Influences

The design of burial practices was influenced by surrounding cultures, yet the Israelites maintained distinct customs that aligned with their religious beliefs. For instance, unlike the Egyptians, who practiced elaborate embalming and mummification, the Israelites focused on simple, respectful interment, reflecting their belief in the resurrection and the temporary nature of death.

In summary, the design of burial in biblical times was a profound expression of faith, family, and cultural identity. It was a practice that not only addressed the practicalities of death but also conveyed deep theological truths about life, death, and the hope of resurrection.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 23:3,4
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Jonathan was Slain by Treachery; and How Thereupon the Jews...
... that Trypho gave him this advice out of kindness, and with a sinceredesign.... he slew
Jonathan there; and when he had given order for hisburial, he returned...

Particulars
... This meeting of the corpse must have been casual, without any concerteddesign between
Jesus... As sure as persons do not carry men forth toburial till they are...

The Master.
... from the best of earthly comforters the mind turns away unsatisfied; while the
burial-ground and... It is the very end anddesign our gracious God has in all His...

The Cruse of Ointment
... are over-ruled, and they are unconscious agents of a mysteriousdesign, which their...
there is a heart no longer light (for He foresees Hisburial), yet not so...

Translator's Preface
... [76] This, hisdesign of encouraging penitence and stimulating praise, is... His sin
was dead; and he had carried it to itsburial with tears of repentance....

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
... son was in some sense chosen but since he was publickly carried forth toburial,
and the... But the maindesign of a miracle is not the profit of him, who is the...

Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment
... and theburial, the shame and the smart, the cross and the grave of Jesus, shall
be laid upon thy score, if thou hast refused the mercies anddesign of all...

The Cruelty of the Idumeans when they were Gotten into the Temple...
...burial, although the Jews used to take so much care of theburial of men... Before these
was Zacharias accused of adesign to betray their polity to the Romans...

Epistle Xliv. To Rusticiana, Patrician .
... the affliction of gout so affects me that my body is dried up even as if inburial....
On the day on which I suffered these things I had had adesign of flying...

Chapter xxiii
... CHAPTER XXIII. 15. Death andBurial of Sarah (23:1-20) After the climax
of the... of old. This cannot be withoutdesign. She is the...