The Incineration of Saul's and His Sons' Corpses according to Josephus

Full title
The Incineration of Saul's and His Sons' Corpses according to Josephus
Research notes

Reader Checked|OA 13/12/2012

Reference type
Author(s)
Avioz, Michael
Year
2009
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume
18
Number of volumes
0
Issue / Series Volume
4
Pages
285-292
Alternative title
JSP
Label
20/07/2009
Abstract

This article deals with Josephus's retelling of the Bible story of the incineration of the bones of Saul and his sons in 1 Samuel 31. In several places in the biblical text, researchers have found echoes of the practice of cremation, a practice borne out in archaeological excavations. The question dealt with in the Bible is: How does Josephus treat the practice of cremation? This question is examined through comparison of earlier texts that retell the biblical accounts. It is argued that Josephus (Ant. 6.375-77) omits cremation from his account in order not to draw similarities between Israelite burial practices and pagan ones.