Grief
Grief
(represented by numerous Heb. words, Gr. λύπη). The Oriental exhibits affliction over public or private misfortune, especially the death of a beloved relative or friend, by much more demonstrative signs than the European, although the degree of connection between the deceased and the mourner, and the greater or more moderate vehemence of character of the bereaved individual, naturally cause a certain modification of his grief, which is too apt to be lost sight of by archaeologists. The customs of the ancient Hebrews were in this respect little different from those of modern Orientals, and therefore derive ready elucidation from the accounts of modern travellers. In the most violent outburst of sorrow, in the instantaneous overflow of lamentation, they wrung their hands above the head (2Sa 13:19), or beat the breast with them (Na 2:8; Lu 18:13; comp. Joseph. Ant. 16:7, 5: סָפד, κόπτεσθαι ; see Homer, Il. ii, 700: Herodotus, it, 85; Lucian, Luct. 12; Appian, Pun. 43; Virgil, AEn. 4:673; 12:871; Martial, ii, 11, 5; Petron. 111), or smote them upon the thigh (Jer 31:19; comp. Polyb. 15:27, 11; Hom. Odys. ' 13:198; Plant. Trucul. ii, 7, 42; see Dougtaei Analect, i, 274) or on the head (Josephus, Ant. 16:10, 7), tore the beard and hair (Ezr 9:3; Job i, 20; comp. Joseph. Ant. 15:3, 9; 16:7, 5; Barhebr. Chronicles p. 256; Virgil, AEn. 12:870; Ovid, Met. 11:746; Apul. Met. 9:p. 212, Bip.; Curtius, iii, 11, 25; Petron. 111,113; Martial, ii, 11, 5), strewed ashes (see Carpzov, De cinerum op. Hebr, usu. maroris atque luctus τεκμηρίῳ, Rost. 1739) on the head (1Sa 4:12; 2Sa 1:2; 2Sa 13:19; 2Sa 15:32; Ne 9:1; Eze 27:30; La 2:10; Job 2:11; Job 1 Macc. 3:47; 4:39; 11:71; 2 Macc. 10:26; 14:15; Judith 9:1; 3 Macc. 4:6; Re 18:19; Josephus, War, ii, 12, 5; 15, 4; Ant. 20:6,1; comp. Homer, Il. 18:23 sq.; 24:164; Eurip. Suppl. 827; Hecub. 496; Diod. Sic. i, 72, 917 Lucian, Luct. 127 Apulej. Metam. 9:p. 212, Bip.; see Burckhardt, Nubia, p. 475; Irwin, Trav. p. 303, 307; Kirchmann, Defuner. Rom. ii, 12; Mishna, Taanith, ii, 1), or rolled themselves in dust and ashes (Eze 27:30; comp. Homer, Il. 22:414; 24:640; Lucian, Luct. 12), tore the garments (see Hede-nus. De scissione vest. Ebraeis ac gentibus usitata, Jen. 1663; also in Ugolini Thes. xxix; Wichmannshausen, De laceratione vestium ap. Hebr. Viteb. 1716; also in Ugolino, xxxiii: this rending; however, had certain restrictions, Otho, Lex. Rabb. p. 360; see also Ugolino, De sacerdotio, ch. vi. in his Thesaur. xiii) from their breast (Ge 37:36; Ge 44:13; Jg 11:36; 1Sa 4:12; 2Sa 1:2,11; 2Sa 3:31; 1Ki 21:27; 2Ki 4:8; 2Ki 6:30; 2Ki 11:14; 2Ki 19:17; 2Ki 22:11,20; Ezr 9:3; Es 4:1; Es 1 Macc. 2:147 3:47; 4:39; 5:14; 11:71; 13:45; Judith 14:13,15; Jer 41:5; Ep. Jeremiah 30; Joseph. War, ii, 15, 2 and 4; Ac 14:14; Mishna, Moed Katon, iii, 7; Shab. 13:3; comp. Barhebr. Chronicles p. 256; Herod. iii, 66; 8:99; Lucian, Luct. 12; Achil.
Tat. 4:6; Curtius, iii, 11, 25; 4:107 23; v, 12,13, 31; 10:5, 17; Sueton. Caes. 33; Nero, 42; Dougtaei Analect. i, 118; Arvieux, iii, 282), lacerated even their face and body (Jer 16:6; Jer 41:5; Jer 47:5; Eze 24:17; comp. Appian, Pun. 46; Virgil, AEn. 4:673; 12:871; Cicero, Leg. ii, 23, 59; Petron. 16:111: Ruppell, Abyss. ii, 57), though this last (see Wich- mannshausen, De corpore scissuris figurisque non crue-tando, Viteb.; Michaelis, De incisura propter mortuos, in his Observ. sacr. Arnhem. 1752, p. 131 sq.) was forbidden by the Mosaic law (Le 19:28; De 14:1 sq.), as it was in the twelve Roman tables (Cic. Leg. ii, 23 sq.). These marks of deep grief were usually combined together. At protracted and regularly appointed seasons of mourning (for the deceased), persons were accustomed to fast (q.v.), put on mourning-weeds, SEE SACKCLOTH, cover up the lower part of the countenance (Eze 24:17,27; Mic 3:7; comp. Es 7:8) or the entire head (2Sa 15:30; 2Sa 19:4; Jer 14:3-4; Homer, Od. 4:154; 8:92), neglect to wash and anoint themselves (comp. Diod. Sic. i, 72 and 91), or cleanse their clothes (2Sa 14:2; 2Sa 19:24; comp. 2Sa 12:20; Da 10:3; Judith 10:2 sq.), and abstain from all ornament (Eze 26:16 [compare 24:17]; Jonah iii, 6; Judith 10:3; comp. Homer, Il. 22:468 ;-Lycophron, Cassand. 862; Livy, 9:7; 34:7; Sueton. Octav. 100), even laying aside their shoes (2Sa 15:30; Eze 24:17,23), and, as a special token of humiliation, shearing off the beard and hair, the pride of an Oriental (Isa 15:2; Jer 7:29; Jer 16:6; Jer 41:5; Jer 48:37; Ep. Jer 12; Am 8:10; Mic 1:16; Eze 7:18; Eze 27:31; comp. Homer, Il. 23:46 sq.; Od. 4:197; 24:45 sq.; Euripid. Orest. 458; Alcest. 427; Diod. Sic. i, 84; AElian, V. H. 7:8; Herod. 4:71; 9:24; Curtius, 10:5,17; Sueton. Calig. 5; Ovid, Ars. Am. iii, 38). In deep grief they also seated or lay themselves on the ground (2Sa 12:16; 2Sa 13:31; Isa 3:20; Isa 47:1 [Eze 8:14]; Jon 3:6; Ne 1:4; Job 2:8; Job 16:15; Mt 11:21, etc.; comp. Josephus, Ant. 19:8, 2; Philo, Opp. ii, 519; Homer, Il. 18:26; see Kype, Observ. i, 261). Mourning usually lasted seven days (1Sa 31:13; 1Ch 10:12; Judith 16:29; Sirach 22:12; Joseph. Ant. 17:8, 4; comp. Heriod. 7:11; Lucian, Dea Syr. 52 sq.; see Movers, Phonic. p. 200); in extraordinary cases, longer (Nu 20:29; De 21:18; Joseph. War, iii, 9, 5). Wealthy persons were accustomed to hire professional mourning women מקוֹננוֹת, proficae, Jer 9:16), who uttered loud wailing cries in the house and at the grave during the days of mourning (2Ch 35:25), often in responsive chants (Moed Katon, iii, 8), and with instrumental accompaniment (Chel. 16:7). The same custom is well known to have prevailed among the Greeks (see Potter, Antiq. ii, 407 sq.) and Romans. On the usages of the modern East, see Mayr, Schicksale, ii, 87. Public mourning was instituted upon general calamities; the Jews were also obliged to take part in lamentation for the death of (heathen) rulers (Philo, Opp. ii, 525; comp. Livy, 9:7). It was a peculiarity of Persian usage that no mourner could enter the royal palace (Es 4:2), such probably being regarded as uncleanly by the Zend religion (Creuzer, Symbol. i, 712). See generally Geier, De Ebraeorum luctu luqentiumque ritibus (Lips. 1656; ed. by Kall, Hafn. 1745; also in Ugolini Thesaur. xxxiii); Otho, Lex. Rabb. p. 390; on the Grecian usages, Nicolai, De luctu Graecorum (Marb. 1698), and Lange, Observatt. sacr. p. 346 sq.; on modern Persian. Chardin, Voyage, 6:485 sq. SEE MOURNING; SEE FUNERAL,
