When his Breath Fades Away: Burial Rites of First Century Jews

 

During the last few weeks, I’ve been finishing up edits on The Tomb, a Novel of Martha, the third book in The Living Water Series. We read in the Gospel of John about the ultimate miracle that Jesus performed in Bethany—bringing Lazarus back to life after four days in the tomb. But what do we know of the day Martha’s brother died? This week, I’ll write a little about ancient burial rites and next week watch for a post about how a Jewish family mourned for a loved one.

“When his breath fades away” was a common euphemism for death in first century Judea.

Jews had a deep respect for death and treated their dead with honor. There were plenty of similarities and some surprising differences between first century Jewish burial rites and what Christians typically do today. As in our Christian burial practices, and indeed those from many religions, the hours immediately after a death was a time to:

• prepare the body for burial
• preserve the dignity of the deceased
• comfort the mourners.

Preparing the body for burial: The Law was strict in matters of death, and the first and most important law was that no dead body was to be left unburied, even that of a criminal or an enemy.

• The deceased was to be buried the day that he died, with no exceptions. Even if he died on the Sabbath, it was allowed to do the work involved in readying the body for burial.
• His eyes were closed and he was to be kissed with love by his family
• His body was washed with spring water
• He anointed with perfumes. Anointing was with nard, myrrh, and aloes was considered a tribute such as was paid to the living when scented balm was put on their heads at a banquet. Both embalming and cremation was forbidden.
• In earlier times, the dead person was dressed in the clothes of their profession (a soldier with his sword or a prophet with his cloak) but by the time of Christ, the body was wrapped in a shroud and the face wrapped in a veil called a soudarion while the feet and hands were tied with linen strips.
• A male Jew was covered with his talit or prayer shawl from which  tassels had been cut off to symbolize that the dead man is no longer required to keep the requirements of the law.
• As many families still do today, there was a formal viewing time when friends and relatives could come and see his body and say goodbye for the last time.

The body was then carried to the tomb or grave in an open litter  by the person’s relatives and friends, just as we use pall-bearers today. Women would lead the mourners, and the procession was required to be noisy. It would be considered rude not to cry out very loudly, throw dust on your hair and rend your clothing. It was so important that the law required even the poorest husband to hire at least two flute players and one mourner if he had no family to mourn his wife.

Tombs

There were no cemeteries as we know them today but the law stated that the dead must be buried at least fifty cubits from any dwelling. As for tombs, some were much like what we know today: a simple grave with a flat stone put over it, flush with the earth. Other tombs—and often the most common—were natural caves or vaults cut into a rocky cliff. Sometimes the tomb would have several rooms for related family members. The body was laid upon a bench cut in the rock and a heavy rock or gate would be put over the entrance to protect the body from thieves or wild animals.

• It wasn’t unusual for wealthier families to have a monument of carved rock outside the tomb in memory of their loved one much like we do today.
• Although we often think of Jesus and Lazarus being buried in a rocky tomb, it was a common practice for Jews to locate their tombs in a garden and plant flowers and shrubs near them much as we maintain our cemeteries today.

After the burial rites were complete, the family would return home to begin the mourning. Next week, I’ll write about what was required and how first century Jewish mourning was much like what Christians practice today.

What surprised you about Jewish burial practices? What else do you see that is similar to our practices today? Please let me a comment below.