Topical Bible: Burial: Places Used for Tops of the Hills

◄ Burial: Places Used for Tops of the Hills ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the practice of burial was deeply significant, reflecting cultural, religious, and familial values. One notable aspect of burial customs in ancient Israel and surrounding regions was the use of elevated locations, such as the tops of hills, for interment. This practice is evidenced in various scriptural accounts and archaeological findings, highlighting the importance of these sites in the biblical narrative.

Biblical References and Context

The use of hilltops for burial is not extensively detailed in the Bible, but there are instances where elevated places are associated with significant events or burials. The choice of such locations may have been influenced by several factors, including visibility, proximity to sacred sites, or the desire for a prominent resting place.

One of the most notable references to burial on elevated ground is found in the account of the burial of Saul and his sons. After their deaths in battle, the men of Jabesh-gilead retrieved their bodies and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh (1 Samuel 31:11-13). While the text does not explicitly state that this was on a hill, the mention of a tree and the cultural context suggest a location of prominence.

Additionally, the patriarchs of Israel were often buried in significant locations that were elevated or otherwise set apart. For example, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah in Hebron for the burial of Sarah (Genesis 23:19), a site that, while not on a hilltop, was a distinct and revered location. The emphasis on securing a specific burial site underscores the importance of the place of interment.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The use of hilltops for burial may have been influenced by the broader ancient Near Eastern practice of associating high places with the divine. Elevated sites were often seen as closer to the heavens and thus more suitable for sacred activities, including burial. This connection between high places and the divine is evident in the frequent use of hilltops for altars and worship in the Old Testament, despite the eventual prohibition of such practices in favor of centralized worship in Jerusalem.

Furthermore, the choice of a hilltop burial site could reflect a desire for the deceased to be remembered and honored. A burial on a hill would be more visible to the community, serving as a lasting memorial to the individual and their family. This visibility could also symbolize the hope of resurrection and eternal life, themes that are woven throughout the biblical narrative.

Archaeological Insights

Archaeological discoveries have provided additional insights into the practice of hilltop burials in the ancient Near East. Excavations have uncovered tombs and burial sites located on elevated terrain, often accompanied by markers or monuments. These findings support the biblical accounts and offer a glimpse into the burial customs of the time.

In summary, while the Bible does not provide extensive details on the use of hilltops specifically for burial, the cultural and religious context, along with archaeological evidence, suggests that elevated sites held significant meaning for burial practices in biblical times. The choice of such locations reflects a blend of reverence, remembrance, and religious symbolism that permeates the biblical understanding of life, death, and the hope of resurrection.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 24:33
And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 23:16
And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them on the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Kumaon.
... have been suppressed, such as the burial of lepers alive ... I remember riding with
confidence over places where at ... is lighter and will continue to be largely used. ...
/.../kennedy/life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xx kumaon.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... employed in describing this temple is that used in the ... I believe that it included
the burial-places of Thutmosis I ... The tops of the pyramids were gilt, so that ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... From this point the hills come so near the shore that ... docket to have come from Naharaim
has been used as a ... Niebuhr places it on the southern slope of the Masios ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... The term Zend-Avesta, commonly used to designate the ... Altars, however, were erected
on the tops of hills ... It follows the traditional type of burial-places in use ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued)
... The same artifices which had been used by the pyramid ... Where the inscribed texts in
the burial-chamber of Unas ... it was found necessary in several places to cover ...
/.../chapter ithe close of the.htm

The Preface to the Commandments
... no small mercy to be delivered out of idolatrous places. ... Christ at a feast mentions
his burial; a good ... The Carthaginians used, at first, to send the tenth of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 3 the preface to the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... rock, the ravine being in several places so narrow ... The higher ground and the
hill-tops are sometimes covered ... and Tibneh with the stone knives used by Joshua ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... by each other's hands, and their burial-place was ... difficult of access, which are
still used as habitations ... we should read Khubishna, and he places the country ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... wheat and corn; but when they beheld, the tops of all ... he called for the seal, wherewith
they used to be ... that they might be known in the places whither they ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... and its surrounding buildings were used for purposes of ... may have served as the
burying-places of Tutankhamon ... engineers, in search of suitable burial sites, at ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm