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

Research notes: 
Reader Checked OA 13/12/2012
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Avioz, Michael
year: 
2009
Full title: 

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

Translated title: 
Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume: 
18
Issue / Series Volume: 
4
Number of volumes: 
0
Series Title: 
Abbreviated Series Name: 
Collaborating Author: 
Place of Publication: 
Publisher: 
Pages: 
285-292
Chapter: 
Work type: 
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.

Notes: 
Language: 
Alternative title: 
JSP
Date: 
Hebrew bible: 
Book: 
1 Samuel
Chapter(s): 
31
Verse(s): 
Edition: 
Original Publication: 
Reprint edition: 
URL: 
http://jsp.sagepub.com/content/18/4/285
DOI: 
ISBN: 
Accession number: 
Call num: 
Label: 
20/07/2009
Record number: 
16 472