But their usual Epitaph or inscription upon their Sepulchers, was,[708] Let this soul be bound up in the Garden of Eden, or in the bundle of the living, Amen, Amen, Amen, Selati.
[708] נשמתה תהא צרורה בגן עדן א א א סלת Sheindler in נדר
The latter Jews have been strangely conceited concerning the place of burials, and are perswaded that if an Israelite be buried in any strange country, out of the promised Land, he shall not be partaker so much as of Resurrection, except the Lord vouchsafe to make him hollow passages, under the earth, thorow which his body by a continual volutation and rolling, may be brought into the land of Canaan. The ground hereof is taken from the charge of Jacob unto his son Joseph, that he should not bury him in the land of Egypt, but in Canaan. For which charge they assign three reasons.[709] First, because he foresaw by the spirit of Prophecy, that the dust of that land should afterward be turned into lice. Secondly, because those who died out of the holy Land should not rise again without a painful rolling and tumbling of their bodies thorow those hollow passages. Thirdly, that the Egyptians might not idolatrously worship him.
[709] Solom. Jarchi. Gen. 47. 29.
They made a feast at their burials, which is stiled The bread of men, Ezek. 14. 17. And a cup of consolation, Jer. 16. 7. because it was administred to comfort those that were sad of heart. It much resembled the Roman Silicernium.
From those two places last quoted, we may observe, that at the burial of their friends, they used these ceremonies which follow; some to testifie, some to augment their grief. 1. Cutting themselves, that is, wounding or cutting any part of their body, with any kind of Instrument. This practice was learned from the Heathens,[710] who were wont not only to scratch their face, but to punch and prick certain parts of their body with a needle, and then cover it over with ink, which they used as a special ceremony in their superstitious worship, and therefore it is forbid, Deut. 14. 1. Secondly, making themselves bald,[711] which was done divers manner of ways; either by shaving their hair, or plucking it off with their hands, or by impoisoned plaister to make it fall off. Other Nations were wont to shave off the hair of their head, and to offer it in the behalf of the dead: they did sometimes shave their cheeks, sometimes their eye-lids: and this also, being an Heathenish custome, was likewise forbidden in Israel, Deut. 14. 1. Thirdly, going bare headed, that they might cast dust or ashes upon their heads, signifying thereby that they were unworthy the ground on which they went. Fourthly, going barefooted for their greater humiliation. Fifthly, the covering of their lips, for that was a special sign of sorrow and shame, The Seers shall be ashamed, &c. they shall all cover their lips, for they have no answer of God, Mich. 3. 7. If it be demanded, how they covered their lips? It is thought[712] they did it by casting the skirt of their cloak, or garment over them. Sixthly,[713] renting their cloaths. Seventhly, putting sackcloth about their loyns, Gen. 37. 34. These were general tokens of grief, used upon all extroardinary occasions of sorrow. Two other there were, more proper to burials, to augment their grief. First, Minstrels, who with their sad tunes inclined the affections of the people to mourning.[714] Of these there were two sorts: Some playing on pipes, others sounding trumpets. At the funeral of Noblemen, or old men, they used a trumpet: at the funeral of the common people, or children, they used a pipe.[715] In this respect it is said; That Jesus, when he raised Jairus his daughter, cast out the Minstrels, Mat. 9. 23. Secondly, women hired to sing at burials for the same purpose, and likewise by outward significations of sorrow, to move the company, and more strongly to affect them, Call for the mourning women, &c. and send for skilful women, Jer. 9. 17. These the Romans called, Præficas, quasi in hoc ipsum præfectas, Chief or skilful mourners.
[710] Gentes, quasdam corporis partes acu vulnerabant, vel alias incidebant atramentumque superponebant, quod in cultum dæmonum suorum fiebat, præcipietur ergo ne ullo pacto sicut gentes ferirent carnes suas; quemadmodum sacerdotes Cybeles & deæ Sororum, ut refert Lucianus. P. Fag. Deut. 14. 1. Unguibus ora soror fædans & pectora pugnis. Virg. lib. 4. Æneid.
[711] Sectis fratri imposuere capillos. Ovid. Met. 3.
[712] D. Kimchi & Aben. Esra P. Fag. Lev. 14. 45.