Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, burial practices were an essential aspect of honoring the deceased, and the sanctity of burial sites was highly regarded. However, the act of robbing graves or disturbing burying places is mentioned in the Scriptures, reflecting both the vulnerability of these sites and the moral implications of such acts.Old Testament Context The Old Testament provides instances where burial sites were desecrated or robbed, often as a result of warfare or divine judgment. One notable example is found in 2 Kings 23:16, where King Josiah, in his zeal for religious reform, desecrated the tombs of idolatrous priests: "As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside. So he sent and had the bones removed from the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things." The desecration of graves was sometimes a consequence of divine retribution. In Jeremiah 8:1-2, the prophet speaks of a time when the bones of the kings of Judah, their officials, priests, prophets, and inhabitants of Jerusalem would be brought out of their graves and exposed to the sun, moon, and stars they had loved and served. This act was a sign of disgrace and judgment: "At that time, declares the LORD, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. They will be exposed to the sun, moon, and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, and which they have followed, consulted, and worshiped. They will not be gathered or buried, but will lie like dung on the face of the earth." New Testament Context While the New Testament does not explicitly mention the robbing of graves, the sanctity of burial places is implied through the respectful treatment of the dead. The burial of Jesus Christ is a significant event, highlighting the importance of proper burial practices. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, provided his own new tomb for Jesus' burial, as recorded in Matthew 27:59-60: "So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away." The resurrection of Jesus, which involved the emptying of His tomb, was not an act of robbery but a divine event that fulfilled prophecy and demonstrated His victory over death. The empty tomb became a testament to His resurrection, as described in Matthew 28:6: "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He lay." Moral and Theological Implications The robbing of graves in biblical times was considered a grave offense, reflecting a lack of respect for the dead and the sacredness of burial sites. Such acts were often associated with judgment and disgrace. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of honoring the deceased and maintaining the sanctity of their resting places. In a broader theological context, the resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms the understanding of burial and death. While the robbing of graves was an act of dishonor, the empty tomb of Christ signifies hope and the promise of eternal life for believers. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 8:1At that time, said the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: Nave's Topical Index Library The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued) The First Theban Empire The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued) And Disputes In Jericho and at Bethany - Jericho - a Guest with Zacch??us - the ... The Political Constitution of Egypt The Reaction against Egypt The Ancestral Home Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his ... The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt Resources Is burial the only option a Christian can consider? | GotQuestions.orgWhy was a burial place so important in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Is the Shroud of Turin authentic? | GotQuestions.org Burial: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Burial for Criminals, Marked by Heaps Burial of Enemies, Sometimes Performed by the Conquerors Burial of Persons Embalmed, Deferred for Seventy Days Burial of Persons Hanged, Always on the Days of Execution Burial of the Friendless, a Kind Act Burial were Ceremonially Unclean Burial: An Ignominious, Compared to the Burial of an Ass Burial: Antiquity of Coffins For Burial: Antiquity of Purchasing Places For Burial: Attended by Family of the Dead Burial: Attended by Female Friends Burial: Attended by Great Lamentation At Burial: Attended by Hired Mourners Burial: Attended by Numbers of Friends Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends of Jacob Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Abner Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Child of Jeroboam Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Stephen Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: The Son of the Widow of Nain Burial: Burial of Gog (Multitude) Requiring Seven Months Burial: Burying Places for Poor and Strangers Burial: Burying Places in Caves Burial: Burying Places in Gardens Burial: Burying Places in Houses Burial: Burying Places in Valleys Burial: Burying Places of Kings Burial: Burying Places with Shelves Burial: Burying Places: A Place of Honor Burial: Burying Places: And Inscriptions Burial: Burying Places: Anyone Who Touched, Were Unclean Burial: Burying Places: Bought by Abraham Burial: Burying Places: Closed With Stones Burial: Burying Places: Demoniacs Lived In Burial: Burying Places: Family Burial: Burying Places: Joseph Burial: Burying Places: King Saul's Burial: Burying Places: Marked With Pillars, Rachel's Burial: Burying Places: On Hills Burial: Burying Places: Painted and Garnished Burial: Burying Places: Refused to the Dead Burial: Burying Places: Robbed Burial: Burying Places: Sealed Burial: Burying Places: Under Trees, Deborah's Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Jacob Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Joseph Burial: Frequently Prepared and Pointed out During Life Burial: Held in High Veneration Burial: Illustrative of Regeneration Burial: Members of a Family Interred in the Same Burial: Often Desecrated by Idolatry Burial: Often Took Place Immediately After Death Burial: Orations Sometimes Made At Burial: Places Used for Caves Hewn out of Rocks Burial: Places Used for Gardens Burial: Places Used for Houses of the Deceased Burial: Places Used for Natural Caves Burial: Places Used for The City of David for the Kings of Judah Burial: Places Used for Tops of the Hills Burial: Places Used for Under Trees Burial: Privation of, Considered a Calamity Burial: Privation of, Threatened As a Punishment Burial: Provided for Aliens and Strangers Burial: Provided for the Common People Burial: Sometimes had Inscriptions Burial: Sometimes not Apparent Burial: The Body Was: Anointed For Burial: The Body Was: Carried on a Bier To Burial: The Body Was: Preserved With Spices Burial: The Body Was: Sometimes Burned Before Burial: The Body Was: Washed Before Burial: The Body Was: Wound in Linen For Burial: The Jews Anxious to be Interred in Their Family Places of Burial: The Right of all Nations Burial: Visited by Sorrowing Friends Related Terms |
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