Who purchased a cave to bury three generations of his family? What rare Biblical miracle occurred at the location of Elisha's grave? Which well-known Old Testament individuals are buried in modern Iran, Iraq and Egypt? Was Jonah laid to rest at sea?
Aaron
Aaron, like his brother Moses, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land due to his refusal to carry out God's will at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:22 - 24). He died in the middle of July in 1406 B.C. at the age of 123 (Numbers 33:39), just a few months after his sister Miriam perished (Numbers 20:23 - 28). His grave was placed on Mount Hor (Numbers 33:37 - 39).
Abdon
Abdon, who served from 1064 to 1056, was one of Israel's Judges (Judges 12:13 - 15). He was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim.
Abner
Abner was the commander of King Saul's army (1Samuel 14:50). After Saul's death, He initially supported Saul's son Ishbosheth as Israel's king instead of David. He later switched his allegiance to David (2Samuel 3:19 - 21).
Abner was murdered by Joab, however, the captain of David's army (2Samuel 8:16), as revenge for his killing of Joab's brother Asahel (2Samuel 3:22 - 30). Abner's grave was placed in Hebron (2Samuel 3:31 - 32).
Abraham
Abraham lived in Mamre (Hebron) for quite some time (Genesis 13:18). When his wife Sarah died, at the age of 127, he purchased a nearby cave (the cave of Machpelah) and buried her in it (23:2, 19). When Abraham himself died at the age of 175 his sons Isaac and Ishmael also placed his body within the cave (Genesis 25:8 - 10).
Amos
The death and burial of Amos the minor prophet is not found in Scripture. A Rabbinic tradition states he was killed by Judah's King Uzziah who struck him on the forehead with a glowing iron.
Balaam
The Midianites were a semi-nomadic people who lived roughly east and southeast of Moabite territory. God commanded Moses, in the last battle he would lead before his death, to execute his punishment upon them for their attempts to lead Israel astray (Numbers 25, 31:16). The subsequent battle killed all the Midianite males including Balaam (Numbers 31:1 - 8). Balaam's body may have been left unburied and not placed in a grave.
Daniel
The death and burial of Daniel is not found in Scripture. The traditional location, however, of Daniel's tomb is Susa in Iran.
Elijah
Elijah was famously taken up in a chariot of fire away from Elisha (2Kings 2). He was not taken to heaven to receive his reward, however, but to a place where he could safely live out the rest of his days as a human.
Years after Elijah left Elisha he wrote a letter and sent it to Judah's King Jehoram warning him that evil would come upon him and his household for his many sins (2Chronicles 21:9 - 15). It is unknown where Elijah is buried.
Elisha
Elisha died sometime during the reign of Israel's King Jehoash (sometimes called Joash, 2Kings 13:14, 20). Jehoash ruled from 798 to 782 B.C.
The Bible is silent regarding exactly where he was buried although it was somewhere in Israel (northern ten tribes). Shortly after he perished a dead body was hastily placed in his tomb. When this body touched Elisha's bones it miraculously came back to life (2Kings 13:20 - 21)!
Elon
Elon was one of Israel Judges who served from 1074 to 1064 B.C. He was buried in the city of Ajalon in Zebulun's territory (Judges 12:12).
Esther
Queen Esther and Mordecai were part of the royal court of Persia at Shushan (Esther 2:5 - 7, 16 - 17). Although their deaths are not delineated in Scripture, tradition places their graves in Hamadan, Iran.
The burial location of Esther and Mordecai is the most important pilgrimage site for Jews in Iran. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the Iranian government in 2008.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel was taken captive by Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar during his second attack on Jerusalem in 597 B.C. Ezekiel died while in Babylonian captivity, possibly near the Chebar River (Ezekiel 1:3). One tradition states he is buried near Kefil located in the southern part of modern Iraq.
Ezra
Several traditions have developed over his place of burial. One tradition says that he is buried in al-Uzayr near Basra (Iraq) where there is a tomb building. Another tradition alleges that he is buried in Tadif near Aleppo, in northern Syria.
Gideon
Gideon, who led the well-known army of 300 men against Israel's enemies, was a Judge of Israel from 1145 to 1105 B.C. He was buried in the same tomb as his father in Ophrah.
Habakkuk
The death and burial of Habakkuk the minor prophet is not found in Scripture. Jewish tradition, however, places his grave in the territory of Naphtali a few miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee. Another tradition places his burial in Tuyserkan located in the western section of modern Iran.
Haggai
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Haggai. Additionally, no tradition could be found regarding the location of his grave.
Hosea
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Hosea. Additionally, although one tradition states that the prophet's grave is located in a cemetery in Safed, located northwest of the Sea of Galilee, it is generally considered historically worthless.
Ibzan
Ibzan, a Judge of Israel from 1081 to 1074 B.C., was buried in Bethlehem (Judges 12:10).
Isaac
Abraham purchased a family burial location, called the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23), after the death of his wife Sarah. When Isaac died at the age of 180 he was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob in this grave location (Genesis 35:27 - 29).
Isaiah
Isaiah authored several Biblical books between 740 and 686 B.C. Some Christian and Jewish traditions believe Isaiah was "sawn asunder" (Hebrews 13:37) by Judah's evil King Manasseh (see 2Kings 21:16). The king, who ruled from 696 to 642 B.C., is thought to have used a wooden saw to murder the prophet. It is unknown where Isaiah's grave is located.
Jacob
Abraham purchased a family burial location, called the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23) in Hebron, after the death of Sarah. Jacob, prior to his death at age 147, requested his sons bury him in this cave (Genesis 49:29 - 31). After being embalmed his body is escorted, by a large entourage, to Hebron where he is laid to rest with other family members in the cave (Genesis 50:1 - 13).
Jair
Jair was a Judge of Israel from 1079 to 1057. He was buried in the city of Camon located in the region of Gilead, possibly near Havoth-jair (Judges 10:5).
Jeremiah
Jeremiah did his writing from 627 to 585 B.C. Late in his life the prophet was, against his will, taken by some Jewish rebels to Egypt (Jeremiah 40 - 45). Although the Bible is silent regarding where Jeremiah is buried, some Biblical commentaries have speculated that the prophet died in Egypt at the hands of those who forced him to leave Judah.
Jezebel
Jezebel was killed in the city of Jezreel (2Kings 9:30 - 37). Instead of receiving a proper burial, however, the dogs of the city are allowed to tear her body into pieces and eat her corpse! This gruesome act was the fulfillment of prophecy (see 1Kings 21:23, 2Kings 9:1 - 10). All that was left of her was her skull, feet and the palms of her hands which was not enough to put in a grave (2Kings 9:10).
Joab
Joab was the captain of King David's army (2Samuel 8:16). He made the serious mistake of supporting Adonijah, the half-brother of Solomon, as Israel's new king after the death of David. His attempt to take refuge at God's tabernacle in Jerusalem failed and he was killed by order of Solomon (1Kings 2:28 - 34).
Joab was buried near his house in the Judean wilderness, which was likely the wilderness area east of Bethlehem (1Kings 2:34).
Joel
The death and burial of Joel the minor prophet is not found in Scripture. One tradition, however, places his burial in Jish (Gush Halav) located roughly 20 kilometers northwest of the Sea of Galilee.
Jonah
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Jonah. One tradition places his tomb in Nineveh. Other rival traditions place his grave in the ancient Israel city of Gath-hepher, or in the city of Sarafand in Lebanon, or in the ancient Philistine city of Ashdod and others.
Jonathan
Jonathan, after he was killed battling the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, had his corpse nailed to the wall of Bethshan. The men of Jabesh valiantly rescued his body then burnt and finally buried his remains in the city (1Chronciles 10:8 - 10, 1Samuel 31:8 - 13). King David retrieved his remains and that of his father King Saul and put them in the grave of Saul's father located in Zelah (Zela, 2Samuel 21:12 - 14). Though likely close to Jerusalem, the exact location of this Benjamite city is unknown.
Joseph
Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, dies at the age of 110 in Egypt. His body is embalmed and placed in a coffin somewhere in Egypt (Genesis 50:24 - 26). Before his death, however, he makes the children of Israel promise to bring his remains into the Promised Land.
Years later, as Moses and the Israelites leave Egyptian slavery, they take Joseph's remains with them (Exodus 13:19). Upon entering the Promised Land the Israelites buried Joseph in Shechem within the land purchased by his father Jacob (Joshua 24:32).
Joshua
Joshua, who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land, died at the age 110. He was buried at Timnathheres within the tribe of Ephraim's territory (Judges 2:8 - 9).
Leah
Abraham purchased a family burial location, called the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23), after the death of his wife Sarah. Jacob buries his wife Leah in the cave that already possesses the graves of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 49:31).
Malachi
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Malachi. Additionally, tradition is also silent about where he is buried.
Micah
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of Micah the minor prophet. One Jewish tradition, however, places Micah's grave in Chesil, a town in southern Judah.
Miriam
Moses' sister Miriam dies at Kadesh (also called Kadesh-barnea and Meribah) in the spring of 1406 B.C. (Numbers 20:1). Although the Bible does not state her age at death, she was older than her brothers Aaron (who, four months later, dies at 123 years old) or Moses (who dies less than a year later at 120, see Exodus 2:1 - 7).
Mordecai
Queen Esther and Mordecai were part of the royal court of Persia at Shushan (Esther 2:5 - 7, 16 - 17). Although their deaths are not delineated in Scripture, tradition places their graves in Hamadan, Iran.
Moses
Moses, like his brother Aaron, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land due to his refusal to carry out God's will at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:22 - 24). He dies, at the age of 120, on Mount Nebo. God himself places his body in an unmarked grave so that no one will be able to find it (Deuteronomy 34:1 - 7).
Nahum
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of Nahum the minor prophet. One tradition places his tomb in Alqosh in the northern part of modern Iraq. Other places, however, lay claim to hosting his grave which include Ramah in Galilee or Elcesei in Israel's West Bank area.
Obadiah
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of Obadiah the minor prophet. One tradition places his final resting place in Sebastia (Sebaste) in the northern part of the modern West Bank of Israel.
Rachel
Rachel, who died giving birth to Benjamin, Jacob's last son, was buried near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16 - 20).
Rebekah
Abraham purchased a family burial location, called the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23), after the death of his wife Sarah. When Rebekah died, at an unknown age, she was buried by her husband Isaac in the same cave as Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 35:27 - 29, 49:30 - 31).
Ruth
The book of Ruth is one of only two Biblical writing authored by a woman. Ruth was likely buried in Bethlehem where she lived for several years with her husband Boaz (Ruth 4:11).
Samson
Samson, after sacrificing his life to kill a large group of Philistine leaders, dies at Gaza. His family retrieves his corpse and buries him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the same location as his father Manoah's grave (Judges 16:21, 31).
Samuel
Samuel's final resting place was at his home in Ramah (1Samuel 25:1).
Sarah
Sarah, Abraham's beautiful wife, dies in her old age at 127. Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah, located near Hebron (Mamre), as a family burial location. Sarah is the first person of several family members to have her grave in the cave (Genesis 23).
Terah
Terah, the father of Abraham, died in Haran at the age of 205. He was likely buried in or near the city (Genesis 11:32).
Tola
Tola, who judged Israel from 1102 to 1079, was buried in his hometown of Shamir located near Mount Ephraim (Judges 10:1 - 2).
Zechariah
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Zechariah. Additionally, tradition is also silent about where his grave is located.
Zephaniah
The Bible is silent regarding the death and burial of the minor prophet Zephaniah. Additionally, tradition is also silent about the location of his grave.