Corpses were considered as unclean and defiling in the Old Testament, so that priests were not to touch dead bodies except those of near kinsfolk (Leviticus 21:1-3 ), the high priest and a Nazirite not even such (Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6-8 ). Nu 19 presents to us the ceremonial of purification from such defilement by the sprinkling with the ashes of a red heifer, cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet.
It was considered a great calamity and disgrace to have one's body left unburied, a "food unto all birds of the heavens, and unto the beasts of the earth" (Deuteronomy 28:26; 2 Samuel 21:10; Psalm 79:2; Isaiah 34:3; Jeremiah 7:33 , etc.). Thence is explained the merit of Rizpah (2 Samuel 21:10 ), and of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, who protected or recovered and buried the mutilated bodies of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:11-13; 2 Samuel 2:4-7; compare 1 Chronicles 10:11 , 1 Chronicles 10:12 ). See BURIAL .
Even the corpses of persons executed by hanging were not to remain on the tree "all night," "for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Yahweh thy God giveth thee for an inheritance" (Deuteronomy 21:23 ).