Why was a man hanged on a tree considered accursed and had to be buried the same day?
Scripture required burial the same day because one hanged on a tree is accursed of God, and the body could not remain overnight lest the land God gave Israel be defiled. This law pictured Christ, who hung on the tree and was made sin for us.
Les explains that the law said the hanged man's body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but it must be buried that day. The reason given is that he who is hanged on a tree is accursed of God, and the land which the Lord God gave Israel for an inheritance was not to be defiled. Les points out that when Israel saw the sun begin to set, they scrambled to get him off the tree so he would not remain there after sundown. He teaches that this was a preview of what Christ accomplished in our behalf: Christ hung on the tree, and II Corinthians 5:21 says God hath made him to be sin for us. The hanged rebel, stoned to death and hung for public spectacle, pictured the one who was to come.
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.