Mourning. Oriental mourning is public and careful of prescribed ceremonies. Genesis 23:2, Job 1:20, Job 2:12. Among the forms observed the following may be mentioned: Rending the clothes, Genesis 37:29, Genesis 37:34, Genesis 44:13, etc.; dressing in sackcloth, Genesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 3:31, 2 Samuel 21:10, etc.; ashes, dust or earth sprinkled on the person, 2 Samuel 13:19, 2 Samuel 15:32, etc.; black or sad-colored garments, 2 Samuel 14:2, Jeremiah 8:21, etc.; removal of ornaments or neglect of person, Deuteronomy 1:21-13, etc.; shaving the head, plucking out the hair of the head or beard, Leviticus 10:6, 2 Samuel 19:24, etc.; laying bare some part of the body, Isaiah 20:2, Isaiah 47:2, etc.; fasting or abstinence in meat and drink, 2 Samuel 1:12, 2 Samuel 3:35, 2 Samuel 12:16, 2 Samuel 12:22, etc. In later times for the employment of persons hired for the purpose of mourning, Ecclesiastes 12:5, Jeremiah 9:17, Amos 5:16, Matthew 9:23, friends or passers-by to join in the lamentations of bereaved or afflicted persons, Genesis 50:3, Judges 11:40, Job 2:11, Job 30:25, etc.; and in ancient times the sitting or lying posture in silence indicative of grief, Genesis 23:3, Judges 20:26, etc. The period of mourning varied. In the case of Jacob it was seventy days, Genesis 50:3; of Aaron, Numbers 20:29, and Moses, Deuteronomy 34:8, thirty. A further period of seven days in Jacob's case. Genesis 50:10. Seven days for Saul, which may have been an abridged period in the time of national danger. 1 Samuel 31:13.