Burial

The burying of a dead body, usually in a family tomb. The lack of a proper burial was regarded as a great misfortune and disgrace. Burial was usually accompanied by mourning.

Burial in a family tomb

Genesis 49:29–31 See also Genesis 23:19–20, Genesis 25:9–10, Genesis 50:13; Judges 8:32, Judges 16:31; 1 Samuel 25:1 “at his home” probably refers to the family tomb, but could mean more literally under the floor of the house or yard; 2 Samuel 2:32, 2 Samuel 17:23

Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah.

Other places of burial

Genesis 35:8, Genesis 35:19–20

Burial of criminals hung on a tree

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 See also John 19:31 The request of the Jews was probably not only to avoid desecrating a special Sabbath, but also to identify Jesus Christ as one cursed by God.

If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Burial of an executed criminal or enemy under a heap of stones

Joshua 7:26, Joshua 8:29, Joshua 10:27; 2 Samuel 18:17

Lack of a proper burial

Jeremiah 22:18–19 See also Deuteronomy 28:26; 2 Samuel 21:12–14; 1 Kings 13:22; Ecclesiastes 6:3; Jeremiah 7:33, Jeremiah 16:4, Jeremiah 25:33

Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’ He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

Common burial-grounds

2 Kings 23:6; Jeremiah 26:23; Matthew 27:7

Burial accompanied by mourning

Acts 8:2 See also Deuteronomy 34:5–8

God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

Preparation of Jesus Christ's body for burial

John 19:39–40 See also Matthew 26:12 parallel Mark 14:8; Mark 16:1 parallels Luke 24:1, John 12:7

Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.