In biblical times, burial practices were significant and often reflected the beliefs and customs of the people. The act of burial was not merely a practical necessity but held deep spiritual and cultural meaning. The Bible provides several instances where individuals made specific burial requests, highlighting the importance of burial locations and the desire to be laid to rest with one's ancestors.

Abraham and Sarah: One of the earliest recorded burial requests in the Bible is that of Abraham, who sought a burial place for his wife Sarah. In Genesis 23, Abraham negotiates with the Hittites to purchase the cave of Machpelah as a family burial site. This request underscores the importance of having a designated family burial place. Abraham's insistence on purchasing the land, rather than accepting it as a gift, indicates the significance he placed on owning the burial site. Genesis 23:19 states, "After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan."

Jacob and Joseph: The patriarch Jacob made a specific burial request to his sons, asking to be buried with his fathers in the cave of Machpelah. In Genesis 49:29-30 , Jacob commands, "I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site." This request was honored by his sons, who carried his body back to Canaan from Egypt.

Joseph, Jacob's son, also made a burial request. Before his death, Joseph asked the Israelites to carry his bones out of Egypt and bury them in the Promised Land. This request is recorded in Genesis 50:25 : "And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, 'When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from this place.'" This request was fulfilled centuries later, as noted in Joshua 24:32 , "And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of ground that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of silver."

David and Solomon: King David, before his death, expressed his desire to be buried in the City of David. In 1 Kings 2:10 , it is recorded, "Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David." His son Solomon honored this request, ensuring that David was laid to rest in the royal burial grounds.

New Testament Context: In the New Testament, burial practices continue to hold importance. The burial of Jesus is a significant event, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple, requested the body of Jesus from Pilate and provided his own new tomb for Jesus' burial. Matthew 27:59-60 states, "So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away."

The burial requests and practices in the Bible reflect a deep respect for the deceased and a desire to honor familial and spiritual connections. These accounts demonstrate the importance of burial locations and the fulfillment of last wishes, which were often tied to faith and the hope of resurrection.