and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

It was a sacred duty for the Jews to comfort the bereaved. The Talmud stipulates that there were to be “Three days for weeping and seven for lamenting and thirty from cutting the hair and pressed clothes.” This means that there were to be seven days of deep mourning, the first 3 of which were to be for weeping. During these seven days, the bereaved could not anoint themselves, study, conduct business, put on shoes, or even wash. The following 30 days were of much lighter mourning. During the funeral itself, as many as possibly could, were in attendance, but it was forbidden for any to talk to the bereaved family members, so that they would be left alone with their grief. After the funeral, however, it was considered one of the highest duties of the Jews to visit and comfort the mourners. On the Sabbath, of course, all mourning was suspended so that the mouners would rest according to the commandment.

In death the two worlds were said to meet and kiss and those who had died were now able to behold God and were at rest. Such passages as (Psalms 112:6, Prov 10:7, Isaiah 11:10) were applied and with words such as these the Jews would have been comforting the sisters of Lazarus.

Psalms 112:6  Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered for ever.

Proverbs 10:7  The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Isaiah 11:10  In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.