Grave: Among the ancient Hebrews graves were outside of cities in the open
field
(Luke 7:12; John 11:30) Kings
(1 Kings 2:10) and prophets
(1 Samuel 25:1)
were generally buried within cities. Graves were generally grottoes or
caves, natural or hewn out in rocks
(Isaiah 22:16; Matthew 27:60) There were
family cemeteries
(Genesis 47:29; 50:5; 2 Samuel 19:37) Public burial-places were
assigned to the poor
(Jeremiah 26:23; 2 Kings 23:6) Graves were usually closed
with stones, which were whitewashed, to warn strangers against contact
with them
(Matthew 23:27) which caused ceremonial pollution
(Numbers 19:16)
There were no graves in Jerusalem except those of the kings, and
according to tradition that of the prophetess Huldah.
