292. Rarity of Burial in Cities
• 1 min. read • grade level: 10
This was a departure from the ordinary custom, as the dead were usually buried outside the cities. It was therefore a mark of high honor to the remains of the departed king that he was buried within the city; the stronghold of Zion which was called after his name. Here, also, Solomon was afterward buried (1 Kings 11:4343And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. (1 Kings 11:43)). Ahaz was likewise buried in the city, though not in the tomb of the kings (2 Chron. 28:2727And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. (2 Chronicles 28:27)). Hezekiah, his son, was buried “in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David” (2 Chron. 32:3333And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. (2 Chronicles 32:33)). Manasseh, who succeeded him and Amon, his son, were both buried in Jerusalem in the garden of Uzza (2 Kings 21:18,2618And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 21:18)
26And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 21:26)).
The sepulcher of David was known in apostolic times (Acts 2:2929Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (Acts 2:29)). Its location is pointed out in the present day on the southern hill of Jerusalem, commonly called Mount Zion, under the Mosque of David. It is jealously guarded by Mohammedans from all intrusion. Dr. Barclay thinks that “the Tomb of David is several hundred yards east of the traditional locality” (City of the Great King, p. 215).