THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
Did Jacob not swear an oath to Joseph out of respect for his revered ancestors, stating, 'Let me rest with my fathers: and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their sepulchre' (Gen. 47:30)? Did not the children of Israel carry the bones of Joseph out of Egypt with great reverence for their holy forebear (Num. 24:32)? Moreover, when it occurred that a dead man's body was inadvertently cast into the open and unprotected tomb of the prophet Elisha and came into contact with Elisha's bones, it was restored to life (4 Kings 13:21). Thus, it is certainly inappropriate for a corpse to be placed in the uncovered grave of the prophet Elisha.
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It is not only fitting but also commendable that the prophet's burial site should be distinctly marked to ensure that the defiled do not come into contact with the sacred. This would allow those seeking purification and holiness to easily discover the life-giving bones amidst those of the dead.