Tomb

From the burial of Sarah in the cave of Machpelah, (Genesis 23:19) to the funeral rites prepared for Dorcas, (Acts 9:37) there is no mention of any sarcophagus, or even coffin, in any Jewish burial. Still less were the rites of the Jews like those of the Pelasgi or Etruscans. They were marked with the same simplicity that characterized all their religious observances. This simplicity of rite led to what may be called the distinguishing characteristic of Jewish sepulchres --the deep loculus --which, so far as is now known, is universal in all purely Jewish rock-cut tombs, but hardly known elsewhere. Its form will be understood by referring to the following diagram, representing the forms of Jewish sepulture. In the apartment marked A there are twelve such loculi about two feet in width by three feet high. On the ground floor these generally open on the level of the door; when in the upper story, as at C, on a ledge or platform, on which the body might be laid to be anointed, and on which the stones might rest which closed the outer end of each loculus. The shallow loculus is shown in chamber B, but was apparently only used when sarcophagi were employed, and therefore, so far as we know, only during the Graeco-Roman period, when foreign customs came to be adopted. The shallow loculus would have been singularly inappropriate and inconvenient where an unembalmed body was laid out to decay, as there would evidently be no means of shutting it off from the rest of the catacomb. The deep loculus, on the other hand, was strictly conformable with Jewish customs, and could easily be closed by a stone fitted to the end and luted into the groove which usually exists there. This fact is especially interesting as it affords a key to much that is otherwise hard to be understood in certain passages in the New Testament; Thus in (John 11:59) Jesus says, "Take away the stone," and (ver. 40) "they took away the stone" without difficulty, apparently. And in ch. (John 20:1) the same expression is used "the stone is taken away." There is one catacomb-- that known as the "tomb of the kings" --which is closed by a stone rolled across its entrance; but it is the only one, and the immense amount of contrivance and fitting which it has required is sufficient proof that such an arrangement was not applied to any other of the numerous rock tombs around Jerusalem nor could the traces of it have been obliterated had if anywhere existed. Although, therefore, the Jews were singularly free from the pomps and vanities of funereal magnificence, they were at all stages of their independent existence an eminently burying people. Tombs of the patriarchs . --One of the most striking events in the life of Abraham is the purchase of the field of Ephron the Hittite at Hebron, in which was the cave of Machpelah, in order that he might therein bury Sarah his wife, and that it might be a sepulchre for himself and his children. There he and his immediate descendants were laid 3700 years ago, and there they are believed to rest now, under the great mosque of Hebron; but no one in modern times has seen their remains, or been allowed to enter into the cave where they rest. From the time when Abraham established the burying-place of his family at Hebron till the time when David fixed that of his family in the city which bore his name, the Jewish rulers-had no fixed or favorite place of sepulture. Each was buried on his own property, or where he died, without much caring for either the sanctity or convenience chosen. Tomb of the kings. --Of the twenty-two kings of Judah who reigned at Jerusalem from 1048 to 590 B.C. eleven, or exactly one half, were buried in one hypogeum in the "city of David." Of all these it is merely said that they were buried in "the sepulchres of their fathers" or "of the kings" in the city of David, except of two-- Asa and Hezekiah. Two more of these kings--Jehoram and Joash --were buried also in the city of David "but not in the sepulchres of the kings." The passage in (Nehemiah 3:18) and in Ezek 43:7,9 Together with the reiterated assertion of the books of Kings and Chronicles that these sepulchres were situated in the city of David, leaves no doubt that they were on Zion, or the Eastern Hill, and in the immediate proximity of the temple. Up to the present time we have not been able to identify one single sepulchral excavation about Jerusalem can be said with certainty to belong to a period anterior to that of the Maccabees, or more correctly, to have been used for burial before the time of the Romans. The only important hypogeum which is wholly Jewish in its arrangement, and may consequently belong to an earlier or to any epoch, is that known as the tombs of the prophets, in the western flank of the Mount of Olives. It has every appearance of having originally been a natural cavern improved by art, and with an external gallery some 140 feet in extent, into which twenty-seven deep or Jewish loculi open. Graeco-Roman tombs . --Besides the tombs above enumerated, there are around Jerusalem, in the valleys of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat and on the plateau to the north, a number of remarkable rock-cut sepulchres, with more or less architectural decoration, sufficient to enable us to ascertain that they are all of nearly the same age, and to assert with very tolerable confidence that the epoch to which they belong must be between the introduction of Roman influence and the destruction of the city by Titus, A.D. 70. In the village of Siloam there is a monolithic cell of singularly Egyptian aspect which Deuteronomy Saulcy assumes to be a chapel of Solomon's Egyptian wife. It is probably of very much more modern date, and is more Assyrian than Egyptian in character. The principal remaining architectural sepulchres may be divided into three groups: first, those existing in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and known popularly as the tombs of Zechariah of St. James and of Absalom. Second those known as the tombs of the Judges, and the so-called Jewish tomb about a mile north of the city. Third, that known as the tomb of the kings, about half a mile north of the Damascus Gate. Of the three first-named tombs the most southern is known as that of Zechariah a popular name which there is not even a shadow of tradition to justify. Tombs of the judges . --The hypogeum known as the tombs of the judges is one of the most remarkable of the catacombs around Jerusalem, containing about sixty deep loculi, arranged in three stories; the upper stories with ledges in front, to give convenient access, and to support the stones that close them; the lower flush with the ground; the whole, consequently, so essentially Jewish that it might be of any age if it were not for its distance from the town and its architectural character. Tombs of Herod . --The last of the great groups enumerated above is that known as the tomb of the kings --Kebur es Sulton --or the Royal Caverns, so called because of their magnificence and also because, that name is applied to them by Josephus. They are twice again mentioned under the title of the "monuments of Herod." There seems no reason for doubting that all the architectural tombs of Jerusalem belong to the age of the Romans. Tomb of Helena of Adiabene . --There was one other very famous tomb at Jerusalem, which cannot he passed over in silence, though not one vestige of it exists --the supposed tomb of Helena. We are told that "she with her brother was buried in the pyramids which she had ordered to be constructed at a distance of three stadia from Jerusalem." Joseph. Ant. xx. 4,3. This is confirmed by Pelusanias. viii. 16. The tomb was situated outside the third wall near a gate between the tower Psephinus and the Royal Caverns. B.J. v. 22 and v. 4,2. The people still cling to their ancient cemeteries in the valley of Jehoshaphat with a tenacity singularly characteristic of the east. [BURIAL, SEPULCHRES]

Tomb

See SEPULCHRE.

1. (n.) A pit in which the dead body of a human being is deposited; a grave; a sepulcher.

2. (n.) A house or vault, formed wholly or partly in the earth, with walls and a roof, for the reception of the dead.

3. (n.) A monument erected to enclose the body and preserve the name and memory of the dead.

4. (v. t.) To place in a tomb; to bury; to inter; to entomb.

RACHEL'S TOMB

(matstsebheth qebhurath rachel): In Genesis 35:20 we read: "Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day," i.e. the time of the writer. Though the pillar, i.e sepulchral monument, has long disappeared, the spot is marked until this day, and Christians, Jews and Mohammedans unite in honoring it. The present tomb, which, apparently, is not older than the 15th century, is built in the style of the small-domed buildings raised by Moslems in honor of their saints. It is a rough structure of four square walls, each about 23 ft. long and 20 ft. high; the dome rising 10 ft. higher is used by Mohammedans for prayer, while on Fridays the Jews make supplication before the empty tomb within. It is doubtful, but probable, that it marks the exact spot where Rachel was buried. There are, apparently, two traditions as to the location of the place. The oldest tradition, based upon Genesis 35:16-20; Genesis 48:7, points to a place one mile North of Bethlehem and 4 miles from Jerusalem. Matthew 2:18 speaks for this place, since the evangelist, reporting the slaughter of the innocents of Bethlehem, represents Rachel as weeping for her children from her neighboring grave. But according to 1 Samuel 10:2;, which apparently represents another tradition, the place of Rachel's grave was on the "border of Benjamin," near Beth-el, about 10 miles North of Jerusalem, at another unknown Ephrath. This location, some believe, is corroborated by Jeremiah 31:15, where the prophet, in relating the leading away of the people of Ramah, which was in Benjamin, into captivity, introduces Rachel the mother of that tribe as bewailing the fate of her descendants. Those that believe this northern location to be the place of Rachel's grave take the words, "the same is Beth-lehem," in Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7, to be an incorrect gloss; but that is a mere assumption lacking sufficient proof.o, following J. P. Peters, rearranges the text by transferring the clause "and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council" to the end of the preceding verse (Encyclopaedia Biblica, IV, cols. 4001). There certainly does not seem to be trustworthy external evidence to prove that the terms "the judgment," "the council," "the Gehenna of fire" stand to each other in a relation of gradation, as lower and higher legal courts, or would be so understood by Christ's hearers. What is beyond dispute is that Christ condemns the use of disparaging and insulting epithets as a supreme offense against the law of humanity, which belongs to the same category as murder itself. It should be added, however, that it is the underlying feeling and not the verbal expression as such that constitutes the sin. Hence, our Lord can, without any real inconsistency, address two of His followers as "foolish men" (Luke 24:25, anoetoi, practically equivalent to Raca, as is also James's expression, "O vain man," James 2:20).

Mr. Nathan Strauss, of New York City, has purchased the land surrounding Rachel's grave for the purpose of erecting a Jewish university in the Holy Land.

S. D. Press

TOMB

toom.

See BURIAL.

3419. mnemeion -- a memorial, a monument
... a memorial, a monument. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: mnemeion Phonetic
Spelling: (mnay-mi'-on) Short Definition: a tomb, sepulcher Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3419.htm - 7k

3418. mnema -- a memorial, a sepulcher
... a memorial, a sepulcher. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: mnema Phonetic
Spelling: (mnay'-mah) Short Definition: a tomb, monument Definition: a tomb ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3418.htm - 7k

5028. taphos -- a burial, hence a grave
... a burial, hence a grave. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: taphos
Phonetic Spelling: (taf'-os) Short Definition: a tomb, burial-place Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5028.htm - 6k

1430b. gadish -- a tomb
... gadish. 1431 . a tomb. Transliteration: gadish Short Definition: tomb. Word Origin
from an unused word Definition a tomb NASB Word Usage tomb (1). ...
/hebrew/1430b.htm - 5k

1430. gadiysh -- a heap, stack
... shock stack of corn, tomb From an unused root (meaning to heap up); a stack of sheaves;
by analogy, a tomb -- shock (stack) (of corn), tomb. 1429, 1430. ...
/hebrew/1430.htm - 5k

6900. qeburah -- a grave, burial
... Word Origin from qabar Definition a grave, burial NASB Word Usage burial (3), burial
place (2), grave (7), tomb (2). burial, burying place, grave, sepulcher. ...
/hebrew/6900.htm - 6k

6913. qeber -- a grave, sepulcher
... Word Origin from qabar Definition a grave, sepulcher NASB Word Usage burial (6),
burial place (1), grave (28), graves (16), tomb (8), tombs (8). ...
/hebrew/6913.htm - 6k

1004. bayith -- a house
... 1), place (2), places (1), prison* (15), residence (1), room (6), rooms (1), shrine*
(1), temple (36), temple to the house (1), temples (2), tomb (1), treasury ...
/hebrew/1004.htm - 7k

The Tomb of Jesus
... The Tomb of Jesus. A Sermon ... I. AN INVITATION GIVEN. I shall commence my remarks this
morning by inviting all Christians to come with me to the tomb of Jesus. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the tomb of jesus.htm

The Angel in the Tomb
... THE ANGEL IN THE TOMB. 'They saw a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed in a long white garment; and they were aifrighted ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the angel in the tomb.htm

April the Fifth the Empty Tomb
... APRIL The Fifth THE EMPTY TOMB. LUKE xxiv.1-12. That empty tomb means the conquest
of death. The Captive proved mightier than the captor. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/april the fifth the empty.htm

Jesus in the Tomb.
... CHAPTER XXVI. JESUS IN THE TOMB. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon,
according to our manner of reckoning,[1] when Jesus expired. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxvi jesus in the.htm

The Tomb of the Pharaoh
... CHAPTER XXIII THE TOMB OF THE PHARAOH. It was far into the tenth night that Kenkenes
arrived in Thebes. ... This was the keeper of the tomb of Rameses the Great. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxiii the tomb of.htm

The Empty Tomb. Ch. 24:1-12
... VII. THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION. CHS. 22 TO 24 K. The Empty Tomb. Ch.
24:1-12. 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/k the empty tomb ch.htm

Whether Christ was in the Tomb Only one Day and Two Nights?
... OF CHRIST'S BURIAL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ was in the tomb only one
day and two nights? Objection 1: It would seem that Christ ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ was in the.htm

In Joseph's Tomb
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 80 In Joseph's Tomb. ... As the last rays of the setting sun
ushered in the Sabbath, the Son of God lay in quietude in Joseph's tomb. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 80 in josephs tomb.htm

Christ Hath Left the Dismal Tomb; --
... EASTER IX Christ hath left the dismal tomb;". 7,8,7,6. Christ hath left the dismal
tomb;". Glory, Glory, He is risen; Like a cloud hath passed the gloom,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/ix christ hath left the.htm

Guards are Placed Around the Tomb of Jesus.
... CHAPTER LVII. Guards are placed around the Tomb of Jesus. Late on Friday
night, I saw Caiphas and some of the chief men among the ...
/.../chapter lvii guards are placed.htm

Tomb (70 Occurrences)
... dead. 4. (vt) To place in a tomb; to bury; to inter; to entomb. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. RACHEL'S TOMB. (matstsebheth ...
/t/tomb.htm - 31k

Entrance (190 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:60 and laid it in his new tomb, that he hewed in the rock, and having
rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, he went away; (See NAS NIV). ...
/e/entrance.htm - 37k

Week (18 Occurrences)
... Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the
week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ...
/w/week.htm - 13k

Rolled (38 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock,
and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. ...
/r/rolled.htm - 18k

Early (157 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the
tomb when the sun had risen. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/early.htm - 40k

Rachel's (5 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia RACHEL'S TOMB. ... higher is used by Mohammedans for prayer,
while on Fridays the Jews make supplication before the empty tomb within. ...
/r/rachel's.htm - 11k

Magdalene (12 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV). Matthew 27:61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the
other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/m/magdalene.htm - 10k

Door (249 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock,
and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. ...
/d/door.htm - 40k

Ran (100 Occurrences)
... Matthew 28:8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran
to bring his disciples word. ... Luke 24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. ...
/r/ran.htm - 35k

Golgotha (4 Occurrences)
... The tomb and skull of Adam, still pointed out in an excavated chamber below the
traditional Calvary, marks the survival of this tradition on the spot. ...
/g/golgotha.htm - 19k

What is the importance of the empty tomb? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Jesus Family Tomb? Has the lost tomb of Jesus Christ been discovered? | GotQuestions.org

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Tomb: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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