Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, burial practices were significant cultural and religious events, often accompanied by orations or expressions of mourning. These orations served as a means to honor the deceased, express grief, and reflect on the life and faith of the departed. The practice of delivering orations at burials is evidenced in several scriptural accounts, highlighting its importance in the ancient Near Eastern context.One of the earliest examples of a burial oration can be found in the account of Abraham mourning for his wife Sarah. Genesis 23:2 states, "And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her." While the text does not provide the specific words spoken by Abraham, it indicates a period of mourning and likely included expressions of sorrow and remembrance. Another notable instance is found in the account of Jacob's death. In Genesis 50:1-3 , Joseph mourns for his father: "Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, taking the forty days required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days." The extended period of mourning and the involvement of the Egyptians suggest that orations or formal expressions of grief were part of the burial customs. The practice of delivering orations is further illustrated in the New Testament. In Acts 9:36-39 , the account of Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) includes a scene where the widows weep and show the garments she made, indicating a communal expression of grief and remembrance: "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him. 'Please come to us without delay,' they said. So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." The tradition of orations at burials reflects the deep respect for the deceased and the communal nature of mourning in biblical times. These expressions of grief were not only personal but also served to unite the community in shared sorrow and remembrance. The biblical accounts demonstrate that such practices were integral to the cultural and religious fabric of the time, providing comfort and closure to those left behind. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Samuel 3:33,34And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dies? Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Raising of the Young Man of Nain - the Meeting of Life and ... The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ... The Assumption of Moses [Endnotes] Sources. Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects. Book ii. Concerning Persecution To Pammachius against John of Jerusalem. Examination of the Treatise 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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