Conflicting Burial Narratives in Scripture: Who Was Buried Where?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 50:13 contradicts Genesis 23:19, Acts 7:16, Isaiah 22:16, Genesis 49:29-30 and Matthew 27:60. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In examining the burial stories in biblical scripture, we encounter interesting contradictions that prompt deeper reflection on the narratives. According to Genesis 50:13, Joseph and his brothers honored their father Jacob’s final wishes by returning him to the land of Canaan to be buried in a special family cave. This cave, which their ancestor Abraham purchased as a family graveyard, echoes the importance of familial bonds and honoring ancestral wishes.
However, other biblical verses present discrepancies that challenge this straightforward account. Genesis 23:19 narrates the burial of Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Hebron, emphasizing that neither Joseph nor his brothers were involved in any burial there.
Acts 7:16 further complicates the matter, suggesting that the bodies were laid in a sepulchre bought by Abraham for a sum of money, seemingly differing from the story of a cave. This brings to mind an analogy of purchasing a family plot versus an individual grave, each carrying different connotations and contexts.
Likewise, Isaiah 22:16 references carving a sepulchre in the rock, a distinct departure from utilizing an existing cave as described in Genesis. Similarly, Genesis 49:29-30 discusses Jacob's desire to be gathered to his people and buried in Abraham's cave, without pinpointing Joseph's exclusive role as suggested elsewhere.
Adding to this complexity, the New Testament in Matthew 27:60 recounts Jesus' burial in a newly hewn rock tomb, contrasting sharply with the tradition-bound burial practices of using ancestral caves like Machpelah.
These contradictions prompt vital questions: How do these differing accounts influence our understanding of burial traditions in biblical times? And what significance do they hold for the broader themes of family and faith? By comparing and contrasting these verses, we embark on a journey through biblical history, reflecting on the nuanced layers of these ancient stories.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 50:13 | For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. |
| 2. | Genesis 23:19 | And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan. |
| 3. | Acts 7:16 | And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor [the father] of Sychem. |
| 4. | Isaiah 22:16 | What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, [as] he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, [and] that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? [as...: or, O he] |
| 5. | Genesis 49:29-30 | And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that [is] in the field of Ephron the Hittite, |
| 6. | Matthew 27:60 | And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. |