•The mode of burial;
•The prevalent notions regarding this duty.
•A natural cave enlarged and adapted by excavation, or an artificial imitation of one was the standard
type of sepulchre. Sepulchres, when the owner’s means permitted it, were commonly prepared
beforehand, and stood often in gardens, by roadsides, or even adjoining houses. Kings and prophets
alone were probably buried within towns. (1 Kings 2:10; 16:6,28) Cities soon became populous
and demanded cemeteries, (Ezekiel 39:15) which were placed without the walls. Sepulchres were
marked sometimes by pillars or by pyramids. Such as were not otherwise noticeable were
scrupulously “whited,” (Matthew 23:27) once a year, after the rains before the passover, to warn
passers-by of defilement.
•“The manner of the Jews” included the use of spices, where they could command the means. ( 2
Chronicles 16:10) A portion of these was burnt in honor of the deceased, and to this use was
probably destined part of the one hundred pounds weight of “myrrh and aloes” in our Lord’s case.
In no instance, save that of Saul and his sons, were the bodies burned; and even then the bones
were interred, and re-exhumed for solemn entombment. It was the office of the next of kin to
perform and preside over the whole funeral office; though public buriers were not unknown in
New Testament times. (Acts 5:6,10) The body was borne by the nearest relatives. The grave-clothes
were probably of the fashion worn in life, but swathed and fastened with bandages, and the head
covered separately.
•The precedent of Jacob’s and Joseph’s remains being returned to the land of Canaan was followed,
in wish at least, by every pious Jew.
Burnt Offering
The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed by fire on the altar, and the
whole of which, except the refuse ashes “ascended” in the smoke to God. The meaning of the whole
burnt offering was that which is the original idea of all sacrifice, the offering by the sacrificer of
himself, soul and body, to God—the submission of his will to the will of the Lord. The ceremonies
of the burnt offering are given in detail in the book of Leviticus. [Sacrifice]
Bush
The Hebrew word seneh occurs only in those passages which refer to Jehovah’s appearance to
Moses “in the flame of fire in the bush.” (Exodus 3:2,3,4; 33:16) It is quite impossible to say what
kind of thorn bush is intended; but it was probably the acacia a small variety of the shittim tree
found in the Sinai region.
Bushel
[Weights And Measures AND Measures]
Butler
One of the officers of the king’s household, (Nehemiah 1:11) who had charge of the wine and
poured it out for the king. The chief butler, as the title signifies, was in charge of the butlers. (Genesis
40:1-13)
Butter
Curdled milk. (Genesis 18:8; 32:14; Judges 5:25; Job 20:17) Milk is generally offered to
travellers in Palestine in a curdled or sour state, leben, thick, almost like butter. Hasselquist describes
the method of making butter employed by the Arab women: “they made butter in a leather bag,
hung on three poles erected for the purpose, in the form of a cone, and drawn to and fro by two
women.”
frankie
(Frankie)
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