Topical Encyclopedia In the ancient Near Eastern context, the burial of enemies by their conquerors was not a common practice, as leaving the bodies of the defeated unburied was often intended as a sign of disgrace and divine judgment. However, there are instances in the biblical narrative where conquerors performed the burial of their enemies, reflecting a sense of respect, honor, or fulfillment of divine command.One notable example is found in the account of the battle between Israel and the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, where King Saul and his sons were defeated. After the Philistines discovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, they desecrated them by hanging them on the wall of Beth-shan. However, the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead retrieved the bodies and gave them a proper burial. This act of bravery and respect is recorded in 1 Samuel 31:11-13 : "When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. They went to Jabesh and burned them there. Then they took their bones, buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days." Another instance is seen in the aftermath of the battle between Israel and the Moabites. In 2 Kings 3, the Israelites, along with their allies, defeated the Moabites. After the victory, the Israelites were instructed to destroy the cities and fields of Moab. However, there is no specific mention of the burial of the Moabite dead by the Israelites, indicating that burial was not a standard practice for enemies. Yet, the narrative highlights the importance of following divine instructions in warfare, as seen in 2 Kings 3:18-19 : "This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; He will also deliver Moab into your hands. Then you shall attack every fortified city and every major town. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones." The burial of enemies by conquerors can also be seen as an act of mercy or a demonstration of the conqueror's piety and adherence to divine law. In Deuteronomy 21:22-23 , the Israelites are commanded to bury executed criminals on the same day of their death: "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you must not leave the body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." This command underscores the importance of burial as a means of maintaining the sanctity of the land and respecting the dignity of the human body, even in the case of enemies. In summary, while the burial of enemies by conquerors was not a widespread practice in biblical times, certain instances reflect a complex interplay of cultural norms, divine commandments, and acts of honor or mercy. These narratives provide insight into the values and beliefs of the ancient Israelites regarding life, death, and the treatment of foes. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 11:15For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; Torrey's Topical Textbook Ezekiel 39:11-14 Library Crucified, Dead, and Buried. ' The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty the Legendary History of Egypt The Gods of Egypt The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt The First Theban Empire The Iranian Conquest The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment: The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Against Jovinianus. Resources What is the importance of the empty tomb? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Joseph of Arimathea? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of the cave of Machpelah? | 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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