Mourning

The expression of grief at a time of bereavement or repentance, often accompanied by weeping, tearing of clothes and wearing sackcloth.

Regulations for the mourning of priests after bereavement

Leviticus 21:1–4, Leviticus 21:10–11

Mourning of God's people after bereavement

Israel for Aaron

Numbers 20:29

When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Israel for Moses

Deuteronomy 34:8

The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

David for Saul and Jonathan

2 Samuel 1:11–12 See also 2 Samuel 1:17–27

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

David for Absalom

2 Samuel 18:33

The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Job for his children

Job 1:20–21

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Other examples

See also Genesis 37:34–35, Genesis 50:11; 2 Samuel 13:31, 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Chronicles 35:23–25; Matthew 2:18; John 11:31, John 11:33; Acts 8:2

Examples of heathen mourning after bereavement

Isaiah 15:2–3; Jeremiah 47:5, Jeremiah 48:37; Ezekiel 27:30–32

Mourning as an expression of repentance

Exodus 33:4; Ezra 9:3–6

Mourning because of misfortune

2 Samuel 13:9; Job 2:12–13

The employment of professional mourners

Jeremiah 9:17–18; Amos 5:16; Matthew 9:23 parallels Mark 5:39, Luke 8:52

Mourning spoken of metaphorically

Jeremiah 7:29 See also Isaiah 3:18–24; Ezekiel 7:18; Joel 1:8; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16

Cut off your hair and throw it away. Raise up a lamentation on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’

As a sign of repentance for sin

Joel 2:12–13 See also Isaiah 22:12

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.