Sepulchre

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For the sepulchral burial site of Jesus in Jerusalem, see Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A sepulcher, or sepulchre, is a type of tomb or burial chamber[1]. In ancient Hebrew practice, sepulchres were often carved into the rock of a hillside.

The word is sometimes confused with "sepulture", the act of burying a dead person.

Referring from the Easton's Bible Dictionary, 'Sepulchre' is first mentioned as having been purchased by Abraham for Sarah from Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:20). This was the "cave of the field of Machpelah", where Abraham and Rebekah and Jacob and Leah were also buried (79:29-32). In Acts 7:16 it is said that Jacob was "laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money[2] of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem." [3]

Tombs of the Hebrews were generally excavated in the solid rock or were natural caves. Mention is made of such tombs in Judges 8:32; 2 Samuel 2:32; and 2 Kings 9:28; 23:30. They were sometimes made in gardens (2 Kings 21:26; 23:16; Matthew 27:60). They are found in great numbers in and around Jerusalem and all over the land. They were sometimes whitewashed (Matthew 23:27, 29). The body of Jesus was laid in Joseph of Arimathea's new rock-hewn tomb[4], in a garden near to Calvary perhaps the site of the Holy Sepulchre. The mouth of such rocky tombs was usually closed by a large stone (Hebrew golal), which could only be removed by the united efforts of several men (Matthew 28:2; John 11:39)

"Sepulchre" is also the name of a novel written by Kate Mosse.

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1] Dictionary.com definition
  2. ^ Joshua 24:32
  3. ^ It has been proposed, as a way of reconciling the apparent discrepancy between this verse and Gen. 23:20, to read Acts 7:16 thus: "And they [i.e., our fathers] were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Emmor [the son] of Sychem." In this way the purchase made by Abraham is not confounded with the purchase subsequently made by Jacob in the same district. Of this purchase by Abraham there is no direct record in the Old Testament. (See Thomas Campbell)
  4. ^ Mark 15:46

This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.