Was embalming a Jewish burial custom during the 1st century C.E.?
Hebrews/Jews have shown special interest in the treatment of Hebrew/Jewish dead bodies at all dates. Bodies, or as much of a body that can be found are to be treated with the greatest respect. They are to be cleaned, wrapped in ritually clean and approved cloth, and either buried or exposed, as was Jesus, until all flesh was gone when the bones were placed in an ossuary. Embalming, necrotopsy, deliberate mummification, and such intrusive postmortem activities are considered major transgressions and insults to Hashem [“The Name” a word for the Divine that does not utter any of the names of the Divine in accordance with the Law]. Hashem made people and gave them life, they are Hashem’s, other people have no right to mistreat Hashem’s creation. After the daspora and 2000 yrs of persecution and the splintering into religious groups – orthodax, hashadim, reformed, etc. The specific treatment of the dead body changed a bit [some groups permit autopsy, cremation, etc. as long as it is done wi
I don’t believe so. Jewish tradition was to wash the body, wrap in linen and bury it by dusk on the day of death. Then they visited the tomb daily for three to 5 days to confirm death. Embalmed there would be no fear of premature burial. Embalming was mainly an Egyptian thing till perhaps the 19th Century, really taking off in the American Civil War to ship dead soldiers home for family burial.
