SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES

The Israelites expressed sorrow for the death of a loved one and for personal repentance, as well as corporate crimes, in several ways:

1. tear outer robe, Gen. 37:29,34; 44:13; Jdgs. 11:35; 2 Sam. 1:11; 3:31; 1 Kgs. 21:27; Job 1:20

2. put on sackcloth, Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 3:31; 1 Kgs. 21:27; Jer. 48:37

3. take off shoes, 2 Sam. 15:30; Isa. 20:3

4. put hands on head, 2 Sam. 13:19; Jer. 2:37

5. put dust on head, Jos. 7:6; 1 Sam. 4:12; Neh. 9:1

6. sit on the ground, Lam. 2:10; Ezek. 26:16 (lie on the ground, 2 Sam. 12:16); Isa. 47:1

7. beat the breast, 1 Sam. 25:1; 2 Sam. 11:26; Nah. 2:7

8. mourn, 1 Sam. 25:1; 2 Sam. 11:26

9. cut the body, Deut. 14:1; Jer. 16:6; 48:37

10. fast, 2 Sam. 1:12; 12:16,21; 1 Kgs. 21:27; 1 Chr. 10:12; Neh. 1:4

11. chant a lament, 2 Sam. 1:17; 3:31; 2 Chr. 35:25

12. baldness (hair pulled out or shaved), Jer. 48:37

13. cut beards short, Jer. 48:37

14. cover head or face, 2 Sam. 15:30; 19:4

These were outward signs of inner feelings.