Funeral: Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses
(Genesis 23:19; 25:9; 35:8,9) etc. The first traces of burning the dead are
found in
(1 Samuel 31:12) The burning of the body was affixed by the law
of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes
(Leviticus 20:14; 21:9) To leave
the dead unburied was regarded with horror
(1 Kings 13:22; 14:11; 16:4; 21:24)
etc. In the earliest times of which we have record kinsmen carried
their dead to the grave
(Genesis 25:9; 35:29; Judges 16:31) but in later
times this was done by others
(Amos 6:10) Immediately after decease
the body was washed, and then wrapped in a large cloth
(Acts 9:37)
(Matthew 27:59; Mark 15:46) In the case of persons of distinction, aromatics
were laid on the folds of the cloth
(John 19:39) comp.
(John 12:7) As
a rule the burial (q.v.) took place on the very day of the death
(Acts 5:6,10) and the body was removed to the grave in an open coffin or
on a bier
(Luke 7:14) After the burial a funeral meal was usually given
(2 Samuel 3:35; Jeremiah 16:5,7; Hosea 9:4)
