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◄ Burial: Places Used for Gardens►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, gardens were often used as places for burial, serving as serene and sacred spaces for the interment of the dead. The use of gardens for burial is rooted in the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Near East, where gardens symbolized life, beauty, and the hope of resurrection.

Biblical Examples:

1.The Garden Tomb of Jesus:
One of the most significant examples of a garden used for burial is the tomb of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus was buried in a garden near the site of His crucifixion.John 19:41 states, "Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." This garden tomb, owned by Joseph of Arimathea, was a place of tranquility and new beginnings, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ.

2.The Burial of Lazarus:
Another notable instance is the burial of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, who was laid to rest in a tomb that may have been situated in a garden setting. While the specific location is not detailed, the narrative inJohn 11 suggests a peaceful and private area, typical of garden burials of the time.

3.Old Testament References:
The Old Testament also alludes to gardens as places of burial. In2 Kings 21:18 , it is recorded that King Manasseh "was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza." This indicates that royal and private gardens were sometimes chosen as burial sites, reflecting the status and personal significance of the deceased.

Cultural and Theological Significance:

Gardens as burial places carry deep theological symbolism. In the biblical narrative, gardens are often associated with the presence of God, as seen in the Garden of Eden, where humanity first encountered the divine. The use of gardens for burial thus evokes themes of paradise, restoration, and eternal life.

The choice of a garden for Jesus' burial underscores the hope of resurrection and the promise of new life. Gardens, with their cycles of growth and renewal, serve as a powerful metaphor for the Christian belief in life after death. The peaceful and beautiful setting of a garden reflects the Christian hope of a future resurrection and the ultimate restoration of creation.

Practical Considerations:

In ancient Israel, gardens were practical choices for burial due to their proximity to family homes and their enclosed, private nature. They provided a secure and respectful environment for the deceased, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The use of gardens for burial also allowed families to maintain a close connection to their loved ones, as these spaces were often visited and tended to regularly.

Overall, the use of gardens as burial places in the Bible highlights the intersection of cultural practices, theological beliefs, and the natural world, offering a glimpse into the ways in which the ancient Israelites and early Christians understood life, death, and the hope of resurrection.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 21:18,26
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 19:41
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The African Rome
... With itsgardens, villas, andburial-places of the dead... the holyplaces, came the
places of amusement... entrails of the sacrificial victims, orused magic spells....

Egypt
... Itsburial-places are met with in various localities in Upper... entombed at Abydos,
The mode ofburial was the... tools and weapons of bronze wereused in large...

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... This chapter will contain some descriptions ofplaces given by... to interrupt the account
of theburial of our... rolled against them; and the stoneused for this...

Kedron
... it was not possible to touch a place ofburial. The like care and curiosity was
used in leading away... within Jerusalem, and were not moved out of theirplaces....

Pagan Cemeteries.
... The space allotted forburial purposes was more extensive... have two or three favorite
halting-places, for instance... Festus was planted with pines, andused as a...

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles...
... appear in earliest times to have beenused only for... [4798] In Jerusalem there were
also twoplaces where executed... every indignity was shown at theburial of an...

Period i. The Apostolic Age: to Circa AD 100
... Apostles Peter and Paul, and the languageused regarding Paul... he says as follows
concerning theplaces where the... in a general way,(1) but hisburial-place is...

Travel. A Personal Experience.
... Street Station, is located the house, chapel,burial-grounds, and... in the little room
where heused to retire... forming one of the most magnificentplaces in the...

In Death and after Death
... or of compounds, vegetables being far moreused than minerals... Theburial-dress is
made of the most inexpensive... of public and private burying-places"the latter...

Imperial Tombs.
... aqueducts, bridges, quays,places of amusement,places of worship... Roman liberty,
had chosen for his ownburial-place, should... The building isused now as a circus...