דברי הימים ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק י״ד

A royal funeral is marked by unique customs that express both immense respect and deep sorrow for the passing of a monarch. The preparations for such a significant event do not always begin after death. In this case, the king prepared for his own passing during his lifetime by personally digging and readying his burial place [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

When the time came for his burial, his resting place was filled with many different kinds of precious spices. These were not simply gathered together, but were carefully and professionally blended by an expert perfumer to create a special mixture.

A large fire was also a central part of the ceremony, though there are different understandings of what was actually burned. One approach suggests that the fire was used to burn the expertly mixed spices and perfumes until they turned to ash, which was then sprinkled over the king [רש"י, רד"ק]. Alternatively, the fire was part of a traditional state burial custom reserved for kings who pass away peacefully. In this view, the fire was not for the spices, but rather to burn the king's bed and personal belongings. Destroying his private property ensured that no one else would ever use his items, serving as a powerful display of profound honor and grief over his death [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].