Burial: Places Used for Gardens
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Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, gardens were often used as places for burial, serving as serene and sacred spaces for the interment of the dead. The use of gardens for burial is rooted in the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Near East, where gardens symbolized life, beauty, and the hope of resurrection.

Biblical Examples:

1. The Garden Tomb of Jesus:
One of the most significant examples of a garden used for burial is the tomb of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus was buried in a garden near the site of His crucifixion. John 19:41 states, "Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." This garden tomb, owned by Joseph of Arimathea, was a place of tranquility and new beginnings, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ.

2. The Burial of Lazarus:
Another notable instance is the burial of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, who was laid to rest in a tomb that may have been situated in a garden setting. While the specific location is not detailed, the narrative in John 11 suggests a peaceful and private area, typical of garden burials of the time.

3. Old Testament References:
The Old Testament also alludes to gardens as places of burial. In 2 Kings 21:18 , it is recorded that King Manasseh "was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza." This indicates that royal and private gardens were sometimes chosen as burial sites, reflecting the status and personal significance of the deceased.

Cultural and Theological Significance:

Gardens as burial places carry deep theological symbolism. In the biblical narrative, gardens are often associated with the presence of God, as seen in the Garden of Eden, where humanity first encountered the divine. The use of gardens for burial thus evokes themes of paradise, restoration, and eternal life.

The choice of a garden for Jesus' burial underscores the hope of resurrection and the promise of new life. Gardens, with their cycles of growth and renewal, serve as a powerful metaphor for the Christian belief in life after death. The peaceful and beautiful setting of a garden reflects the Christian hope of a future resurrection and the ultimate restoration of creation.

Practical Considerations:

In ancient Israel, gardens were practical choices for burial due to their proximity to family homes and their enclosed, private nature. They provided a secure and respectful environment for the deceased, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The use of gardens for burial also allowed families to maintain a close connection to their loved ones, as these spaces were often visited and tended to regularly.

Overall, the use of gardens as burial places in the Bible highlights the intersection of cultural practices, theological beliefs, and the natural world, offering a glimpse into the ways in which the ancient Israelites and early Christians understood life, death, and the hope of resurrection.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The African Rome
... With its gardens, villas, and burial-places of the dead ... the holy places, came the
places of amusement ... entrails of the sacrificial victims, or used magic spells. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii the african rome.htm

Egypt
... Its burial-places are met with in various localities in Upper ... entombed at Abydos,
The mode of burial was the ... tools and weapons of bronze were used in large ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... This chapter will contain some descriptions of places given by ... to interrupt the account
of the burial of our ... rolled against them; and the stone used for this ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlix a description of.htm

Kedron
... it was not possible to touch a place of burial. The like care and curiosity was
used in leading away ... within Jerusalem, and were not moved out of their places. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 38 kedron.htm

Pagan Cemeteries.
... The space allotted for burial purposes was more extensive ... have two or three favorite
halting-places, for instance ... Festus was planted with pines, and used as a ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vi pagan cemeteries.htm

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... appear in earliest times to have been used only for ... [4798] In Jerusalem there were
also two places where executed ... every indignity was shown at the burial of an ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm

Period i. The Apostolic Age: to Circa AD 100
... Apostles Peter and Paul, and the language used regarding Paul ... he says as follows
concerning the places where the ... in a general way,(1) but his burial-place is ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the apostolic age .htm

Travel. A Personal Experience.
... Street Station, is located the house, chapel, burial-grounds, and ... in the little room
where he used to retire ... forming one of the most magnificent places in the ...
/.../ix travel a personal experience.htm

In Death and after Death
... or of compounds, vegetables being far more used than minerals ... The burial-dress is
made of the most inexpensive ... of public and private burying-places"the latter ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 10 in death and.htm

Imperial Tombs.
... aqueducts, bridges, quays, places of amusement, places of worship ... Roman liberty,
had chosen for his own burial-place, should ... The building is used now as a circus ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iv imperial tombs.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: Places Used for Caves Hewn out of Rocks
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