Burial: Burying Places in Gardens
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In biblical times, burial practices were deeply significant, reflecting cultural, religious, and familial values. One notable practice was the use of gardens as burying places. This choice of location for burial is mentioned in several instances in the Scriptures, highlighting its importance and symbolism.

Biblical References and Context

1. The Burial of Jesus: One of the most significant references to a burial in a garden is found in the New Testament concerning the burial of Jesus Christ. After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid to rest in a tomb located in a garden. The Gospel of John provides this detail: "At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid" (John 19:41). This garden tomb, owned by Joseph of Arimathea, underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the honor given to Jesus in His burial.

2. The Tomb of Lazarus: Another reference to a garden burial is the account of Lazarus. While the specific mention of a garden is not made, the setting of Lazarus's tomb in Bethany suggests a place of peace and seclusion, often associated with gardens. Jesus's miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) further emphasizes the garden as a place of divine intervention and hope.

3. Old Testament Practices: In the Old Testament, gardens were often associated with royal and noble burials. The burial of kings and significant figures in gardens or near them was a practice that denoted honor and reverence. For instance, King Manasseh was buried in the garden of his own house, the garden of Uzza (2 Kings 21:18). This practice reflects the desire to be buried in a place of beauty and tranquility, close to one's residence or a place of personal significance.

Symbolism and Significance

Gardens in the biblical narrative are often symbolic of life, growth, and renewal. The choice of a garden as a burial place can be seen as a reflection of these themes, suggesting a belief in life beyond death and the hope of resurrection. The garden, as a place of beauty and peace, provides a fitting backdrop for the final resting place of loved ones, offering solace to the bereaved.

Moreover, the use of gardens for burials can be seen as a reflection of the biblical view of creation. Gardens, as cultivated spaces, represent humanity's stewardship over creation and the harmony intended between God, humanity, and the earth. In this light, burial in a garden can be viewed as a return to the earth in a manner that honors God's creation.

Cultural and Historical Considerations

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, gardens were often associated with temples and sacred spaces. The use of gardens for burials may have been influenced by these cultural practices, where gardens served as places of worship and reflection. The integration of burial sites within gardens could thus reflect a desire to maintain a connection with the divine even in death.

Overall, the practice of burying in gardens, as seen in the biblical text, underscores themes of honor, hope, and the continuity of life. It reflects a deep-seated belief in the sacredness of life and the promise of resurrection, central tenets of the Christian faith.
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2 Kings 21:18,26
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
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John 19:41
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.
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Library

In Death and after Death
... The burial-dress is made of the most inexpensive linen, and bears ... We read of public
and private burying-places"the latter chiefly in gardens and caves ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 10 in death and.htm

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... For, every indignity was shown at the burial of an ... of Palestine (in Rome, and other
places), written in ... which was supposed to complete the burying-place, or ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm

God, the All-Seeing One
... 14, 1858 At The Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens by CH ... God knows the burial-places
of all his people ... no such thing as forgetfulness of the burying-places of his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/god the all-seeing one.htm

God, the All-Seeing One
... at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens. ... God knows the burial-places of all his people. ...
God knoweth no such thing as forgetfulness of the burying-places of his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/god the all-seeing one.htm

The First Theban Empire
... At El-Kab and other places the courses of crude brick are slightly concave, somewhat
resembling a wide inverted arch whose outer curve rests on the ground. ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... composed the Travels of an Egyptian, speaks in several places of marauding ... has remained
undisturbed until the present day; but before re-burial some renovation ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... The name of Joppa is written Yapu, Yaphu, and the gardens which then surrounded
the ... This is the form of plough still employed by the Syrians in some places. ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

In Jericho and at Bethany - Jericho - a Guest with Zacch??us - the ...
... Luke places the incident at the arrival, the other two ... to anoint His Body for the
burying.' [5035] [5036] Her ... and that of preparation for that Burial which, of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiv in jericho and.htm

Pagan Cemeteries.
... They have two or three favorite halting-places, for instance ... know that the Greens
themselves had their burial-ground on ... easy of access, that the burying of a ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vi pagan cemeteries.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... now mostly confined to those sweet sleeping places beyond our ... he not to be buried
with the burial of an ... is reading the funeral service, and is burying the man ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about cremation? Should Christians be cremated? | GotQuestions.org

Is it true that Jesus was crucified above the tomb of Adam? | GotQuestions.org

Why are the circumstances of the death of Moses so mysterious? | GotQuestions.org

Burial: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Burial

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 with Spices

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: Bier (Coffin) Used At

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: Asa

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: Jacob

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: Design of

Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Jacob

Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Joseph

Burial: Figurative

Burial: Followed by a Feast

Burial: Frequently Prepared and Pointed out During Life

Burial: Held in High Veneration

Burial: Illustrative of Regeneration

Burial: Lack of, a Disgrace

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: Perfumes Burned At

Burial: Pillars Erected On

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: Probable Origin of

Burial: Provided for Aliens and Strangers

Burial: Provided for the Common People

Burial: Rites of

Burial: Sometimes had Inscriptions

Burial: Sometimes not Apparent

Burial: Soon After Death

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: Tombs Erected Over

Burial: Visited by Sorrowing Friends

Related Terms

Burial-ground (1 Occurrence)

Funeral (3 Occurrences)

Cremation

Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)

Coffin (2 Occurrences)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Immersion

Trine

Triune

Pharaoh (245 Occurrences)

Cuttings (5 Occurrences)

Arimathaea (4 Occurrences)

Arimathea (4 Occurrences)

Site (19 Occurrences)

Hittite (45 Occurrences)

Flesh (468 Occurrences)

Ephron (13 Occurrences)

Grave (128 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Prepare (199 Occurrences)

Preparation (28 Occurrences)

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)

Cave (40 Occurrences)

Mamre (10 Occurrences)

Buried (125 Occurrences)

Lamentation (45 Occurrences)

Bought (66 Occurrences)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Jehu (63 Occurrences)

Baptist (16 Occurrences)

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Isaac (127 Occurrences)

Machpelah (6 Occurrences)

Oil (281 Occurrences)

Carried (327 Occurrences)

Uzziah (27 Occurrences)

Mary (50 Occurrences)

Zela (2 Occurrences)

Zelah (2 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)

Nevermore (3 Occurrences)

Untimely (5 Occurrences)

Urn (1 Occurrence)

Uzzi'ah (26 Occurrences)

Object (76 Occurrences)

Ointment (29 Occurrences)

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)

Jewish (49 Occurrences)

Genesis

Gibeath (2 Occurrences)

Gaash (4 Occurrences)

Golgotha (4 Occurrences)

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)

Ishmael (44 Occurrences)

Intended (38 Occurrences)

Interposed (5 Occurrences)

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)

Foreigners (76 Occurrences)

Travelers (6 Occurrences)

Timnath-heres (1 Occurrence)

Tomb (70 Occurrences)

Townspeople (4 Occurrences)

Thaddaeus (2 Occurrences)

Timnathheres (1 Occurrence)

Reached (152 Occurrences)

Renowned (15 Occurrences)

Rome (12 Occurrences)

Rending (8 Occurrences)

Elisha (70 Occurrences)

Embalming (3 Occurrences)

Eshtaol (7 Occurrences)

Desire (565 Occurrences)

Dionysus

Donkey's (7 Occurrences)

Dragged (19 Occurrences)

Matthias (2 Occurrences)

Burial: Burying Places in Caves
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