List of burial places of biblical figures

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The following is a list of burial places attributed to biblical personalities according to various religious and local traditions. In order to pay homage, celebrate, and commemorate great people of the Bible, tombs and monuments were established on locations where people believe that the person was buried. The locations listed are not based on factual evidence, but rather locations mentioned in the text of the Bible or oral traditions of indigenous peoples. The State of Israel and many of its surrounding neighbors have put monuments on the grave locations in an attempt to preserve them as holy sites. Many sites have been transmitted from generation to generation and there are historical accounts from travellers which state their existence. The great Kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luria, also known as Arizal, visited many of the already attributed sites and confirmed or dismissed that they were in fact the authentic tomb. He also revealed other previously unknown ones.

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[edit] Figures mentioned in the Torah

Biblical figure Place name and location Image Notes
Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Esau and Leah Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron, Judea According to Jewish tradition, only Esau's head is buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs. It is also possible the Ishmael was buried here as well. (source needed)
Seth In Judaism: Tiberias, Israel[1]
In Islam: Al-Nabi Shayth, Lebanon
. .
Rachel Rachel's Tomb, outside Bethlehem, Judea Rachel died on the eleventh day of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, and was buried by Jacob on the road to Efrat, just outside Bethlehem. Today Rachel's Tomb, located between Bethlehem and the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, is visited by tens of thousands of visitors each year. According to some scholars, Rachel was actually buried in Ramah further north of modern day Bethlehem. The structure was build in 1841 by Sir Moses Montifeore. This is a place where barren women would pray to have children.
Zilpah and Bilhah Tomb of the Matriarchs, Tiberias, Israel . .
Reuben Palmachim, Israel During the Ottoman period Arabs would gather each year at the Mamluk-era structure. Nowadays, infrequent Jewish visitors come to pray at the site.
Judah Yehud, Israel[2] . .
Simeon Kibbutz Eyal, Israel. Others says it is located at Kafr Manda or Kafr Katan, near Jenin, West Bank[2] . .
Dan Beit Shemesh, Israel[3] . .
Zebulun Tomb of Zebulun, Sidon, Lebanon . In the past, towards the end of Iyyar, Jews from the most distant parts of Palestine and the Jews who lived in Lebanon would make a pilgrimage to this tomb.[4]
Joseph According to Jews: Joseph's Tomb, Nablus, Samaria (pictured);
According to Muslims: Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron, Judea
Some others consider Joseph to have been buried next to the Cave of the Patriarchs, where a mediaeval structure known as the kalah (castle) is now located.

Some archaeologists believe that the site in Nablus is a few centuries old and could contain the remains of a Muslim sheikh named Yusef Al-Dwaik.

Benjamin Kfar Saba, Israel Two structures 30m away from each other are each claimed by Jews and Muslims as the authentic tomb. This site is questionable, however, because it is not located in the area of Tribe of Benjamin.[citation needed]
Serah Pir-i Bakran, near Esfahan, Iran[5] . .
Ephraim and Menashe Joseph's Tomb, Nablus, Samaria .
Jochebed, Miriam, Zipporah and Elisheva Tomb of the Matriarchs, Tiberias, Israel . .
Moses Mount Nebo (Jordan) According to the Bible, the exact place of Moses' grave remains unknown.
Aaron Mount Hor mentioned in the Bible is identified by some as Mt. Harun (Aaron's Mountain) near Petra, Jordan. At 1350 meters above sea-level, it is the highest peak in the area; it is believed to be the place where Aaron died and was buried. A 14th century mosque stands here with its white dome visible from most areas in and around Petra.
Eleazar Awarta, Samaria[6] . Due to the uncertain security situation, the Israel Defence Forces limits visits by Jews to one annual night close to the 5th of Shevat on the Hebrew calendar (around January-February).
Ithamar Awarta, Samaria . Ibid.
Jethro In Judaism and Druzism: Jethro's Tomb, Hittin, overlooking the Sea of Galilee;
In Islam: Wadi Shoaib, just west of Mahis, Jordan, although Islam also attributes other sites located in the Sinai and in historical Palestine.[7]
. Each year on April 25, the Druze gather at the site to discuss community affairs.[8]
Aholiab Sujod, Southern Lebanon[9] . .

[edit] Figures mentioned in the Nevi'im (Prophets)

Biblical figure Place name and location Image Notes
Nun Timnath-heres, attributed to Kifl Hares, Salfit Governorate, Samaria .
Joshua Timnath-heres, attributed to Kifl Hares, Salfit Governorate, Samaria Thousands make the pilgrimage to his tomb on the annual commemoration of his death, 26th of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar.
Caleb Timnath-heres, attributed to Kifl Hares, Salfit Governorate, Samaria .
Othniel Ben Kenaz Hebron, Judea [10] . .
Shamgar Tebnine, Lebanon[11] . .
Deborah, Barak and Yael Tel Kaddesh, Israel[12] .
Samson Beit Shemesh, Israel[13] . .
Elkanah Kedita, Upper Galilee, Israel[14] . .
Hannah and Samuel Tomb of Samuel, Jerusalem, Israel[15] (pictured). Other sources claim Samuel's tomb is located 30km outside Saveh City, Iran. .
Jesse and Ruth Hebron, Judea . .
David David's Tomb, Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel .
Absalom Yad Avshalom, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel Archaeologists have dated the 'tomb' to the first century CE. It is believed to be the 'tomb' of Absalom. It may contradict 2 Samuel 18:17 which says Absalom's body was covered over with stones in a pit in the forest of Ephraim.
Abner ben Ner Hebron, Judea [16] .
Isaiah Esfahan, Iran[17] . .
Hushai Yirka, Israel . .
Iddo Golan Heights, Israel[18] . .
Jehoshaphat Mount of Olives, Jerusalem[19] . .
Elisha Elisha's Tomb. Disputed between: near Mt. Carmel, Samaria or Kfar Yassif near Acre, Israel . .
Huldah Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. Other sources place it adjacent to the Huldah Gates[20] . .
Zedekiah Cave of Zedekiah, Old City of Jerusalem[21] . .
Ezekiel Ezekiel's Tomb, Al Kifl, Iraq Up till the mid-20th century, up to 5,000 Jews used to come to the tomb during Passover.[22] Muslims believe this tomb to be that of an unspecified personality named Dhul-Kifl. (For an image of the tomb, see: [1])
Baruch ben Neriah Al Kifl, Iraq . His tomb is located about 1 mile away from Ezekiel's Tomb
Hosea Ancient Jewish cemetry of Safed[23] .
Jonah Mashhad, Israel . .
Micah Kabul, Israel[24] . .
Nahum Al Qush, south of Dahuk, Iraq. There are however two other sites mentioned in historical accounts: Elkesi, near Ramah in the Galilee and Elcesei in Judea.[25] . .
Habakkuk Some locate it at Hokuk, others at Kadarim, Israel.[26][27] Others at Toyserkan, Iran.[28] (pictured) .
Zephaniah En-Nabi Safi, Southern Lebanon[29] . .
Haggai and Malachi Near the Seven Arches Hotel, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem[30] . .
Zechariah In Druzism: Abu Sinan, Israel . .

[edit] Figures mentioned in the Ketuvim (Writings)

Biblical figure Place name and location Image Notes
Job In Druzism: Chouf District, Lebanon (pictured). Another tradition locates it at Salalah, Oman .
Jesse and Ruth Hebron, Judea . .
Mordecai and Esther Esther and Mordecai Tomb, Hamedan, Iran Persian Jews still make annual pilgrimage in honor of the Purim festival.
Daniel Tomb of Daniel, Susa, Iran (pictured). There are however six other traditional sites including Kirkuk in Iraq and Samarkand in Uzbekistan At the site in Kirkuk, the locales claim that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaria are buried alongside Daniel.
Ezra Al Uzayr, near Basra, Iraq .
Zechariah ben Jehoiada Tomb of Zechariah, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem .

[edit] See also

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