A History of Death in the Hebrew Bible

Sunday, September 8, 2024

A History of Death in the Hebrew Bible

Matthew Suriano

The descriptions of death and burial in the Hebrew Bible are brief and ambiguous. Portrayals of postmortem existence are also enigmatic, seemingly contradictory and not fixed during First and Second Temple times.

The Psalms often depict the dead as residing in Sheol, a dark and dreary place: tomb-like. Passages in Genesis and Ecclesiastes imply that Sheol is the common fate of all people regardless of whether they were righteous or unrighteous. While Sheol is mentioned sixty-six times in the Hebrew Bible, it is never clear whether it is a final resting place; the prophet Samuel is recalled from death by King Saul.

A tomb also holds positive connotations in biblical literature. An ideal death involved being “gathered to one’s kin” and buried inside the family tomb. Burial practices also changed over time. The excavation of Iron Age tombs from Judah show that the dead received two burials: an initial interment when the body was brought to the tomb, and; a secondary burial when their bones were transferred to a repository of family bones stored inside the tomb.

Matthew Suriano – Associate Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Maryland

This event will be held at Yayla Bistro / 2201 N. Westmoreland street / Arlington / VA/ 22213

For questions or to request accommodations contact:

Donald Kane