It is quite odd: scholars really resist accepting that there are any references to life after death in the Old Testament. Shannon Burkes (Death in Qoheleth and Egyptian Biographies), says that Daniel 12:2-23 is the only “indisputable” reference to it: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;a and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
But he adds some other possibilities. Let us take them in order.
- Psalm 49:15 “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” This gives the impression that the soul will either go to or be destined for Sheol, but God will save it. This is reinforced by a comparison with Hosea 13:14.
- Psalm 73:26 (and 27, I would add) “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.” I cannot see how this can mean anything except that the psalmist expects to spend eternity with God.
- Job 19:26 “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,” Once more, what can this possibly be except a teaching of the resurrection? This would be consistent with the Syriac version of the Book of Job saying in its version of chapter 42 that Job will be one of those who will be resurrected.
- Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” This is a prefiguration of the resurrection of Christ, but it is said as if this was true of all of us – and perhaps it is. It anticipates the promise of being raised to heaven, after a certain time.
- Hosea 13:14 “I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?” This passage is the same idea as Psalm 49:15, only even more clear that it refers to life after death.
- Ezekiel 37:12-14 “Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.” Again, what can this be but resurrection from the dead and new life on this earth?
- The Book of Isaiah. There are three passages which are said to possibly refer to life after death: Isaiah 25:7-8; 26:19; 53:10. I cannot see why the last of these is on the list, but consider 26:19 “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”