Drawing By Hugh Claycombe

The interior of rolling-stone tombs resembled this artist’s reconstruction. One entered a central chamber by stepping down from the doorway threshold, benches were cut into the stone walls on two or three sides; perpendicular to the benches narrow, body-length burial chambers called kokhim were cut into the walls. The benches were sometimes used as surfaces on which the body would be cleansed, anointed and wrapped in a shroud before being placed in a kokh. In the case of Jesus’ burial the body was not washed and remained on the bench (Luke 23:53–24:3).