Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Grief
Subjects in this Topic:
(represented by numerous Heb. words, Gr. ëýðç ). The Oriental exhibits affliction over public or private misfortune, especially the death of a beloved relative or friend, by much more demonstrative signs than the European, although the degree of connection between the deceased and the mourner, and the greater or more moderate vehemence of character of the bereaved individual, naturally cause a certain modification of his grief, which is too apt to be lost sight of by archaeologists. The customs of the ancient Hebrews were in this respect little different from those of modern Orientals, and therefore derive ready elucidation from the accounts of modern travellers. In the most violent outburst of sorrow, in the instantaneous overflow of lamentation, they wrung their hands above the head (2Sa_13:19), or beat the breast with them (Nah_2:8; Luk_18:13; comp. Joseph. Ant. 16:7, 5: ñָôã , êüðôåóèáé ; see Homer, Il. ii, 700: Herodotus, it, 85; Lucian, Luct. 12; Appian, Pun. 43; Virgil, AEn. 4:673; 12:871; Martial, ii, 11, 5; Petron. 111), or smote them upon the thigh (Jer_31:19; comp. Polyb. 15:27, 11; Hom. Odys. ' 13:198; Plant. Trucul. ii, 7, 42; see Dougtaei Analect, i, 274) or on the head (Josephus, Ant. 16:10, 7), tore the beard and hair (Ezr_9:3; Job i, 20; comp. Joseph. Ant. 15:3, 9; 16:7, 5; Barhebr. Chronicles p. 256; Virgil, AEn. 12:870; Ovid, Met. 11:746; Apul. Met. 9:p. 212, Bip.; Curtius, iii, 11, 25; Petron. 111,113; Martial, ii, 11, 5), strewed ashes (see Carpzov, De cinerum op. Hebr, usu. maroris atque luctus ôåêìçñßῳ , Rost. 1739) on the head (1Sa_4:12; 2Sa_1:2; 2Sa_13:19; 2Sa_15:32; Neh_9:1; Eze_27:30; Lam_2:10; Job_2:11; 1Ma_3:47; 1Ma_4:39; 1Ma_11:71; 2Ma_10:26; 2Ma_14:15; Jdt_9:1; 3Ma_4:6; Rev_18:19; Josephus, War, ii, 12, 5; 15, 4; Ant. 20:6,1; comp. Homer, Il. 18:23 sq.; 24:164; Eurip. Suppl. 827; Hecub. 496; Diod. Sic. i, 72, 917 Lucian, Luct. 127 Apulej. Metam. 9:p. 212, Bip.; see Burckhardt, Nubia, p. 475; Irwin, Trav. p. 303, 307; Kirchmann, Defuner. Rom. ii, 12; Mishna, Taanith, ii, 1), or rolled themselves in dust and ashes (Eze_27:30; comp. Homer, Il. 22:414; 24:640; Lucian, Luct. 12), tore the garments (see Hede-nus. De scissione vest. Ebraeis ac gentibus usitata, Jen. 1663; also in Ugolini Thes. xxix; Wichmannshausen, De laceratione vestium ap. Hebr. Viteb. 1716; also in Ugolino, xxxiii: this rending; however, had certain restrictions, Otho, Lex. Rabb. p. 360; see also Ugolino, De sacerdotio, ch. vi. in his Thesaur. xiii) from their breast (Gen_37:29; Gen_44:13; Jdg_11:36; 1Sa_4:12; 2Sa_1:2; 2Sa_1:11; 2Sa_3:31; 1Ki_21:27; 2Ki_4:8; 2Ki_6:30; 2Ki_11:14; 2Ki_19:17; 2Ki_22:11; Ezr_9:3; Est_4:1; 1Ma_2:14-17; 1Ma_3:47; 1Ma_4:39; 1Ma_5:14; 1Ma_11:71; 1Ma_13:45; Jdt_14:13; Jdt_14:15; Jer_41:5; Ep. Jeremiah 30; Joseph. War, ii, 15, 2 and 4; Act_14:14; Mishna, Moed Katon, iii, 7; Shab. 13:3; comp. Barhebr. Chronicles p. 256; Herod. iii, 66; 8:99; Lucian, Luct. 12; Achil. Tat. 4:6; Curtius, iii, 11, 25; 4:107 23; v, 12,13, 31; 10:5, 17; Sueton. Caes. 33; Nero, 42; Dougtaei Analect. i, 118; Arvieux, iii, 282), lacerated even their face and body (Jer_16:6; Jer_41:5; Jer_47:5; Eze_24:17; comp. Appian, Pun. 46; Virgil, AEn. 4:673; 12:871; Cicero, Leg. ii, 23, 59; Petron. 16:111: Ruppell, Abyss. ii, 57), though this last (see Wich- mannshausen, De corpore scissuris figurisque non crue-tando, Viteb.; Michaelis, De incisura propter mortuos, in his Observ. sacr. Arnhem. 1752, p. 131 sq.) was forbidden by the Mosaic law (Lev_19:28; Deu_14:1 sq.), as it was in the twelve Roman tables (Cic. Leg. ii, 23 sq.).
These marks of deep grief were usually combined together. At protracted and regularly appointed seasons of mourning (for the deceased), persons were accustomed to fast (q.v.), put on mourning-weeds, SEE SACKCLOTH, cover up the lower part of the countenance (Eze_24:17; Eze_24:22; Mic_3:7; comp. Est_7:8) or the entire head (2Sa_15:30; 2Sa_19:4; Jer_14:3-4; Homer, Od. 4:154; 8:92), neglect to wash and anoint themselves (comp. Diod. Sic. i, 72 and 91), or cleanse their clothes (2Sa_14:2; 2Sa_19:24; comp. 2Sa_12:20; Dan_10:3; Jdt_10:2 sq.), and abstain from all ornament (Eze_26:16 [compare 24:17]; Jonah iii, 6; Jdt_10:3; comp. Homer, Il. 22:468 ;-Lycophron, Cassand. 862; Livy, 9:7; 34:7; Sueton. Octav. 100), even laying aside their shoes (2Sa_15:30; Eze_24:17; Eze_24:23), and, as a special token of humiliation, shearing off the beard and hair, the pride of an Oriental (Isa_15:2; Jer_7:29; Jer_16:6; Jer_41:5; Jer_48:37; Ep. Jeremiah 12; Amo_8:10; Mic_1:16; Eze_7:18; Eze_27:31; comp. Homer, Il. 23:46 sq.; Od. 4:197; 24:45 sq.; Euripid. Orest. 458; Alcest. 427; Diod. Sic. i, 84; AElian, V. H. 7:8; Herod. 4:71; 9:24; Curtius, 10:5,17; Sueton. Calig. 5; Ovid, Ars. Am. iii, 38). In deep grief they also seated or lay themselves on the ground (2Sa_12:16; 2Sa_13:31; Isa_3:20; Isa_47:1 [Eze_8:14]; Jon_3:6; Neh_1:4; Job_2:8; Job_16:15; Mat_11:21, etc.; comp. Josephus, Ant. 19:8, 2; Philo, Opp. ii, 519; Homer, Il. 18:26; see Kype, Observ. i, 261). Mourning usually lasted seven days (1Sa_31:13; 1Ch_10:12; Judith 16:29; Sir_22:12; Joseph. Ant. 17:8, 4; comp. Heriod. 7:11; Lucian, Dea Syr. 52 sq.; see Movers, Phonic. p. 200); in extraordinary cases, longer (Num_20:29; Deu_21:18; Joseph. War, iii, 9, 5). Wealthy persons were accustomed to hire professional mourning women îְ÷åֹðְðåֹú , proficae, Jer_9:16), who uttered loud wailing cries in the house and at the grave during the days of mourning (2Ch_35:25), often in responsive chants (Moed Katon, iii, 8), and with instrumental accompaniment (Chel. 16:7). The same custom is well known to have prevailed among the Greeks (see Potter, Antiq. ii, 407 sq.) and Romans. On the usages of the modern East, see Mayr, Schicksale, ii, 87. Public mourning was instituted upon general calamities; the Jews were also obliged to take part in lamentation for the death of (heathen) rulers (Philo, Opp. ii, 525; comp. Livy, 9:7). It was a peculiarity of Persian usage that no mourner could enter the royal palace (Est_4:2), such probably being regarded as uncleanly by the Zend religion (Creuzer, Symbol. i, 712). See generally Geier, De Ebraeorum luctu luqentiumque ritibus (Lips. 1656; ed. by Kall, Hafn. 1745; also in Ugolini Thesaur. xxxiii); Otho, Lex. Rabb. p. 390; on the Grecian usages, Nicolai, De luctu Graecorum (Marb. 1698), and Lange, Observatt. sacr. p. 346 sq.; on modern Persian. Chardin, Voyage, 6:485 sq. SEE MOURNING; SEE FUNERAL,