Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, burial practices varied across different cultures and periods. While the predominant method of handling the deceased in Israelite tradition was burial, there are instances in the Scriptures where bodies were burned before burial. This practice, though not common among the Israelites, is mentioned in specific contexts.One of the most notable instances of burning before burial is found in the account of King Saul and his sons. After their defeat by the Philistines, the bodies of Saul and his sons were desecrated and displayed on the walls of Beth-shan. The men of Jabesh-gilead, in an act of bravery and respect, retrieved the bodies. The Scripture records, "Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days" (1 Samuel 31:13). However, 1 Chronicles 10:12 adds that they burned the bodies before burying the bones, indicating a purification process or a means to prevent further desecration. Another reference to burning is found in the judgment pronounced upon Achan and his family. After Achan's sin brought trouble upon Israel, he and his family were stoned and then burned, as recorded in Joshua 7:25: "And all Israel stoned them with stones. And after they had stoned them, they burned them with fire" . This act was part of the divine judgment and purification of the community from sin. The burning of bodies is also mentioned in Amos 2:1, where the Moabites are condemned for burning the bones of the king of Edom to lime. This act is portrayed negatively, highlighting the desecration and disrespect associated with burning in this context. In the broader biblical narrative, burning of bodies is not the normative practice for the Israelites. Burial, as seen in the patriarchal narratives and throughout Israel's history, was the standard method of honoring the deceased. The burning of bodies, when it occurred, was often associated with judgment, purification, or extraordinary circumstances. The practice of burning before burial, while present in certain biblical accounts, serves as a reminder of the diverse cultural and religious practices surrounding death and the treatment of the dead in the ancient Near East. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Samuel 31:12All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Resurgam Also this Holy Hermit, Richard, Out of the Abundance of his ... A Royal Progress The Review of the Troops at Doriscus. 1 Cor. xv. 1, 2 Light and Shade. Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment The Number of those who Fought for Religion in Gaul under Verus ... God, the All-Seeing One God, the All-Seeing One Resources What does the Bible say about cremation? Should Christians be cremated? | GotQuestions.orgIs 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 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 |