Grave
Baruch's grave became the subject of later legends. According to a Muslim tradition reported by sources including Petachiah of Ratisbon, an Arabian king once ordered it to be opened; but all who touched it fell dead. The king thereupon commanded the Jews to open it; and they, after preparing themselves by a three days' fast, succeeded without a mishap. Baruch's body was found intact in a marble coffin, and appeared as if he had just died. The king ordered that it should be transported to another place; but, after having dragged the coffin a little distance, the horses and camels were unable to move it another inch. The king, greatly excited by these wonders, went with his retinue to Muhammad to ask his advice. Arrived at Mecca, his doubts of the truth of the teachings of Islam greatly increased, and he and his courtiers finally accepted Judaism. The king then built a "bet ha-midrash" on the spot from which he had been unable to move Baruch's body; and this academy served for a long time as a place of pilgrimage.
Baruch's tomb is a mile away from that of Ezekiel, near Mashhad Ali; and a Jewish rabbinic source reported that a strange plant, the leaves of which are sprinkled with gold dust, grows on it. According to the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, he was translated to paradise in his mortal body. The same is stated in Derekh Eretz Zu??a (i.) of Ebed-Melech. Those who regard Baruch and Ebed-melech as identical find this deduction is evident.
Read more about this topic: Baruch Ben Neriah
Famous quotes containing the word grave:
“All that grave weight of America
Cancelled! Like Greece and Rome.
The future in ruins!”
—Louis Simpson (b. 1923)
“I put on
the body-armor of black rubber
the absurd flippers
the grave and awkward mask.”
—Adrienne Rich (b. 1929)
“Promise me solemnly, I said to her as she lay on what I believed to be her death bed, if you find in the world beyond the grave that you can communicate with methat there is some way in which you can make me aware of your continued existencepromise me solemnly that you will never, never avail yourself of it. She recovered and never, never forgave me.”
—Samuel Butler (18351902)