ASHES
He is mentioned several times in connection with the consumed remains of sacrifices that were thrown next to the altar and then outside the city or camp during the wilderness wandering (Lev. 1:16; 4:12; 6:3- 4).
In Jerusalem there was a “valley of corpses and ashes”, whose name was surely derived from the fact that they were burned there (Jer. 31:40). Sprinkling ashes on the head was a sign of mourning, sadness or repentance (2 Sam. 13:19; Is. 58:5; 61:3; Jer. 6:26; Lam. 3:16; Ez. 27: 30; Jon. 3:6; Jb. 2:8; Mt. 11:21).
Pain is also manifested by the expression of sitting on ashes, and a man dejected and humiliated by his enemies is a man of ashes (Jb. 30:19; 42: 6). The formula “I am of dust and ashes” is an expression of exquisite courtesy (Gen. 18:27; Eccl. 10:9).
Ashes are usually joined to dust and mud, always indicating a painful and sad situation (Jb. 30:19; 42:6). To reduce to ashes, as in almost all languages, means to completely destroy (Ez. 28:18; 2 Pet. 2:6).
In the midst of all this negative picture that the word “ashes” evokes there is a metaphor that brings a little joy and says that God scatters frost like ashes (Ps. 147:16).