The Bible, God & Funerals/Memorials Part I – The Old Testament

 “O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much

About man’s creaturely power and goodness,

When, if thou didst not hold us back every moment, we should be devils incarnate.

This by bitter experience, Thou has taught me concerning myself.” p. 4 The Valley of Vision - A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions edited by Arthur Bennett

One of the great benefits of reading the Bible from beginning to end over and over is one begins to see themes and patterns and ways of God. Some of these themes, patterns and ways of God have been seen by many others and written about by others. A few for whatever reasons seem to have either not been seen, or people for whatever reasons have not taken the time to write about them. Or it is very likely I just have not stumbled upon their writings.

Because I’ve attended funerals and memorials since I was a child. And because I have been officiating at them off and on over the last forty years or so. And because I’ve sensed at many (if not all) of these funerals/memorials a significant level of disconnect or confusion or conflicting emotions about some of the things said and done regarding the one who had died, I’ve been increasingly alert to what the Bible has to say about the deaths, burials and memorials of people in the Bible. And how that revelation should form the guardrails for how we do memorials and funerals (if we even do them at all).

So what do we learn about memorials and funerals from the early chapters of Scripture?

Well what we learn is there were none – that is there were none similar to how we tend to do funerals and memorials in the West; or if there were the Holy Spirit did not feel they were worth recording in Scripture. For instance, have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit chose to not even mention the death (much less some kind of funeral or memorial) of so many people mentioned in Scripture who knew and walked with God and served God? The long list starts in Genesis with :

Eve

Enoch (he actually never died and then one day God brought him home/to heaven alive)

Noah’s sons

Rebekah

Leah

Then for many of those who knew and walked with and served God, while their deaths are mentioned, there is no mention whatsoever of any kind of observance, funeral or memorial for them that family or friends might be invited to. That long list starts with:

In Genesis:

Abel (Gen. 4:8)

Adam (Gen. 5:5)

Noah (Gen. 9:29)

Abraham (Gen. 25:8-10)

Sarah (Gen. 23:2)

Isaac (Gen. 35:28,29)

Rachel (Gen. 36:19,20)

Jacob (49:33-50:14) see notes at bottom

Joseph (50:26)

Below are some of the notes I wrote over the last year or so about more notable servants of God in Genesis:

Much of chapter five is a listing of Adam and Eve’s descendants and then their age when they died. For instance, “So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years,  and he died”. 5:27

What about Abraham and Sarah? Surely these giants of the faith had fitting memorials.

 “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah…with Sarah his wife.”  Gen. 25:8-10  No memorial of any kind mentioned. “Gathered to his people” speaks to how he will now be gathered with other believers who have died before him including Sarah.

Sarah – Genesis ch. 23 is mostly about Abraham securing a field with a cave in which Abraham could bury his wife. Vs. 2 “Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.” No other people it seems were involved in the mourning. (Mourning is mostly what we see in Scripture if we even see that).

Isaac – the son of promise – “Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” Gen. 35:28,29   No memorial of any kind mentioned. 

Rachel – the love of Jacob’s life died just after giving birth to Benjamin. Gen. 36:19, 20 says, “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethelehem). Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.”

Rebekah – her death not explicitly mentioned in Scripture; Jacob speaking -  “There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah – “ Gen. 49:31

Jacob – Jacob’s death was unusual in that it took place in Egypt so Joseph had the Egyptian embalmers embalm his father, which was a forty day process. And the official mourning for him by the Egyptians lasted seventy days!  When all of that was over Joseph then asked permission of Pharoah to fulfill his father’s command to bury him in Canaan, which Pharoah granted. When they got to the burial site they observed seven more days of mourning and lamentation. It is possible that some of this mourning was tied up in the grief Joseph had of being forcibly separated from his father when his brothers sold him as a slave and the years he then had to live away from his father. With all the mourning there was no service where things were said about Jacob, pictures were displayed, etc. See Gen. 49:33-50:14

And then there’s Joseph. Surely one of the heroes of the book of Genesis. The last verse of the book of Genesis (50:26) says, “So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” End of story.

Exodus? There are no notable deaths mentioned therein.

Leviticus?   

Aaron’s sons are killed by God for unholy activity in the Sanctuary. Moses commanded Aaron’s uncle’s sons to carry their dead bodies to the outside of the camp. Moses then commanded Aaron and his other two sons to not visibly mourn the deaths of his sons/their brothers. (Lev. 10:1-6). 

Numbers?

Thousands of Israelites are killed by God because of their rebellion and idolatry and grumbling at several different points in their journeys in the wilderness. But no mention is made of any burial much less memorial.

The first notable death in the book of Numbers is that of Miriam. Tis hardly mentioned, “Now Miriam died there and was buried there.” Numbers 20:2

Aaron’s death gets a little more coverage in Numbers 20:23-29. Basically God commanded Moses to take Aaron and his son Eleazar to Mount Hor, where Moses was to put Aaron’s garments on Eleazar. God made clear that Aaron would not be able to enter the promised land because of his disobedience (along with Moses) at the Rock or water of Meribah. Vs. 28, 29 read, “After Moses had stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on the mountain top. Them Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.”  Interesting that God didn’t want anyone else to witness Aaron’s death and burial or even to know exactly where he was buried. From this passage it doesn’t even appear he was buried at all. But we know from Deuteronomy 10:6 he was buried, so we assume Moses and Eleazar buried him.

Interesting that the daughters of Zeolphehad, who had died, could have said of their father,  “he was a good man”, as they sought to get their rightful inheritance from his estate, but instead they said these words, “Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.” Numbers 27:3

Deuteronomy?

Moses the only one. No memorial or funeral for Moses. Numbers 12:3 says of Moses “…was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.” God saw him this way, but also took very seriously his disobedience at the Rock or Water of Meribah. God Himself buried Moses & never let anyone know where. They mourned Moses’s death for 30 days, but not in response to God’s directive as far as we can tell.  Appears to be more the tradition of that day.

“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Bethpeor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.”  Deut. 34:5-8

Joshua?

Two notable deaths – Joshua and Eleazar, both who walked with and served God. Little said about their deaths/burials.

“It came about after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of Mount Gaash.” Joshua 24:29,30   (see also Judges 2:8,9 for similar wording – repeated for different reasons).

“And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.” Joshua 24:33

Judges? 

No mention of Deborah the prophetess’s death or burial. (See chps. 4,5).

Gideon – “And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” 8:32

Samson – He died killing many Philistines and himself. “Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. ..”  Judges 16:31

Ruth?

Elimelech, Naomi’s husband died as did his two sons. No mention of burial, etc.

I Samuel?

What about Samuel?  “Then Samuel died; and all Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and buried him at his house in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.” (rest of the chapter about David).  Mourning not directed by God, though God clearly in Scripture sees the validity and necessity of mourning the loss of a loved one (except for the few times when He explicitly commanded people not to mourn).

King Saul?  “Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “it was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed of the Lord because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. Now may the Lord show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.” II Samuel 2:4-6 (see also I Samuel 31:11-13). (See I Chronicles 10:13,14 as to why God killed Saul via the Philistines).

II Samuel?

Asahel –  “And they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until the day dawned at Hebron.” II Samuel 2:32

I Kings?

David - "Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David." I Kings 2:10 If there were any observances for King David, the Holy Spirit did not see fit for it to be mentioned. And we know David overall was a "man after God's own heart."

Solomon – “And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David, and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.” I Kings 11:43 (cf. II Chr. 9:31). So how is it that a king of whom Scripture says, “Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, …” I Kings 4:30,31  How is it that such a great king who ruled over such a great kingdom and who built such a great temple for the worship of his God, could have so little said and done for him at his death?  Well one reason for this is he did not end well and God is very much into our ending well (see I Kings 11:4). There are other reasons, which will become clearer as we proceed on our journey through Scripture.

The man of God that God killed via a lion – I Kings 13:26, 29-31

Jereboam’s son – I Kings 14:17,18

Jereboam – vs. 20

Reheboam – vs. 31

“And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David;…” I Kings 15:8

I Kings 16:16 Baasha slept with his fathers

I Kings 16:28 Omri slept with his fathers

I Kings 22:37 “So the king (Ahab) died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.”

I Kings 22:50 “And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jerhoram his son became king in his place.” He was a more godly king than most, but his death and burial made little of.

II Kings?

II Kings 1:17 “So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken….”

II Kings 2:11-17  Elijah’s removal from the earth

II Kings 9:25, 26=Joram; 28=Ahaziah; 35=Jezebel

II Kings 10:35 Jehu

II Kings 12:21 Joash/Jehoash

II Kings 13;9 Jehoahaz; vs. 13=JOash; vs. 20=Elisha

II Kings 14:16 Jehoash; 20=Amaziah; 29=Jeroboam

II Kings 15:7 Azariah; 22=Menahem; 38=Jotham;

II Kings 16:20 Ahaz

II Kings 21:18 Manasseh; 26= Amon

II Kings 23: 29,30 = Josiah (one of the kings I most admire, but he did not end well, which II Chronicles 35 makes more clear).

I Chronicles?

I Chr. 1 – many kings

I Chr. 10:12 – Saul’s burial; why God killed him vs. 13,14

II Chronicles?

II Chr. 12:16 – Rehoboam’s death

II Chr. 13:20 – Jereboam’s death

II Chr. 14:1 – Abijah’s death

II Chr. 16:13,14 – Asa’s burial

II Chr. 21:1 – Jehoshapt’s death/burial

II Chr. 21:19,20 – Jehoram’s

II Chr. 22:29 – Ahaziah’s death

II Chr. 24:15,16 – Jehoida’s death

II Chr. 24:25 – Joash’s death

II Chr. 25:27,28 – Amaziah’s death

II Chr. 26:23 – Uzziah’s death

II Chr. 27:9 – Jothams death

II Chr. 28:27 – Ahaz’s burial

II Chr. 32:33 – Hezekiah’s death/burial with honor

II Chr. 35:24,25 – Josiah’s death/burial

No mention of Ezra and Nehemiah’s or Esther’s deaths.

Job 42:17 “And Job died, an old man and full of days.”

No mention of the prophet Isaiah’s death. But he has many statements about God and man that should be considered when deciding whether to have a funeral/memorial for someone; and/or how to put together a funeral/memorial for someone. Here’s a couple for your consideration:

“Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?” Isaiah 2:22

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another….” Isaiah 42:8

No mention of the prophet Jeremiah, Ezekiel or Daniel’s death in Scripture.

But perhaps I should mention that in the book of Ezekiel Ezekiel's wife died and God's instructions to him about that should be touched on. "And the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded." Ezekiel 24:15-18 If you read the whole passage you will see that this very unusual event was to be a loud pictorial message to Israel of the coming judgment for their rebellion and idolatry. God is God and He knows what is necessary to get a message across to a hard hearted people. Ezekiel knew God, loved God and trusted He was good even though this was very painful and unusual, perhaps unprecedented. But it again shows God is most concerned about the living and desires that none should perish but all should come to repentance.

No mention of the deaths of the minor prophets in Scripture with the exception of Zechariah’s martyrdom mentioned in II Chronicles 24:21 & Luke 11:49-51 in the New Testament.

Clearly in the Old Testament God never prescribed or ordained funerals/memorials even for those who most walked with and served Him. (Nor does He anywhere say they should not be done).

Wherever veneration of the saints came from, it was not from Him. Even for those in the Old Testament who ended well in their service of Almighty God, they were far from perfect, and everything they had was from Him, everything they did for Him was by His power and enabling grace.

But what can we learn from the New Testament?  Well our next post in this two part series will hopefully make that clear.  May the Holy Spirit continue to help us all see the difference between the cultural Christianity we have grown up with and His kingdom will and way. And may He give us ever increasing zeal for His glory and His alone. And if we have any part in putting a memorial or funeral together, may that ever increasing zeal guide our steps.