Meaning of GRAVE

The Hebrews buried their dead either in pits covered with slabs or in natural or artificial caves, when local conditions favored this type of burial (Gen. 23:9; Is. 22:16; Mt. 27:60; Jn. 11:38).

The natural caves and grottoes were extended by excavating them deeper (Gen. 50:5). The rock formations around Jerusalem are full of these tombs.

The entrance to the cave or its sepulchral chambers was closed with a large round stone that was rolled down until it fit into place (Mt. 27:60), thus preventing the entry of jackals or other animals.

Generally, the graves were located far from homes; Although some of them were found in the gardens of some houses (2 Kings 21:18, 26) or within the city walls (1 Kings 2:10), they were generally outside the cities, sometimes in enclosures surrounded by trees and gardens (Jn. 19:41).

It was also common for burial chambers, excavated high into a steep rock face, to open high above the ground.

Every year, in the month of Adar, the exterior of the tombs was whitewashed, whitewashing them (Mt. 23:27), not only to decorate them, but to warn those who passed by so that they would not touch them, which which entailed a legal impurity.

The individual tomb was dug into the floor of the cave, and covered with a slab, or carved as a niche in the rock wall.

The interior of some tombs featured a circular bench, carved into the wall to receive the mortal remains, which were sometimes placed in two floors of niches or cavities. Large tombs could contain eight or even thirteen bodies.

Coffins were generally not used. Occasionally, the tombs of the wealthy contained stone sarcophagi. The entrance to the cave was sometimes very elaborate, or a monument was erected, such as a simple column (2 Kings 23:17) or a mausoleum (1 Mac. 13:27).

The Hebrews and surrounding nations possessed family tombs (Gen. 49:29-31; 2 Sam. 2:31; 1 Kings 13:22; 1 Mac. 9:19; 13:25). There was a public cemetery for the poor, and a place to bury foreigners (2 Kings 23:6; Jer. 26:23; Mt. 27:7).