Elder in the Old Testament
Elder in the Old Testament
elder, (, zaken): Among primitive peoples authority seems naturally to be invested in those who by virtue of greater age and, consequently, experience are best fitted to govern Thus Iliad iii.149. Later the idea of age became merged in that of dignity (Il. ii.404, ii.570; Odyssey ii.14). In like manner the word patres came to be used among the Romans (Cic. Rep. 2, 8, 14). So also among the Germans authority was entrusted to those who were older; compare Tacitus Agricola. The same is true among the Arabians to the present day, the sheik being always a man of age as well as of authority.
From the first the Hebrews held this view of government, although the term elder came later to be used of the idea of the authority for which, at first, age was regarded necessary. Thus the office appears in both the Jahwist, J (9th century bc) (Exo 3:16; Exo 12:21; Exo 24:1, of the elders of the Hebrews; and of the Egyptians, Gen 50:7); and Elohist (E) (8th century bc) (Exo 17:5; Exo 18:12; Exo 19:7 (the second Deuteronomist (D2)); Jos 24:31, elders of Israel, or of the people. Compare the principle of selection of heads of tens, fifties, etc., Exo 18:13, seventy being selected from a previous body of elders); compare Jahwist(J)-Elohist(E) (Num 11:16, Num 11:24). Seventy are also mentioned in Exo 24:1, while in Jdg 8:14 seventy-seven are mentioned, although this might be taken to include seven princes. Probably the number was not uniform.
Elder as a title continues to have place down through the times of the Judges (Jdg 8:16; Jdg 2:7(D); compare Rth 4:2) into the kingdom. Saul asked to be honored before the elders (1Sa 15:30); the elders of Bethlehem appeared before Samuel (1Sa 16:4); the elders appeared before David in Hebron (2Sa 17:15; 1Ch 11:3); elders took part in the temple procession of Solomon (1Ki 8:3; 2Ch 5:4). They continued through the Persian period (Ezr 5:5, Ezr 5:9; Ezr 6:7, Ezr 6:14; Ezr 10:8, Ezr 10:14; Joe 1:14 margin) and the Maccabean period (Judith 6:16; 7:23; 8:10; 10:6; 13:12; 1 Macc 12:35), while the New Testament (, presbuteros, Mat 16:21; Mat 26:47, Mat 26:57; Mar 8:31; Luk 9:22; Act 4:5, Act 4:23) makes frequent mention of the office.
The elders served as local magistrates, in bringing murderers to trial (Deu 19:12; Deu 21:1; Jos 20:4), punishing a disobedient son (Deu 21:19), inflicting penalty for slander (Deu 22:15), for noncompliance with the Levirate marriage law (Deu 25:7), enforcing the Law (Deu 27:1), conducting the service in expiation of unwitting violation of the Law (Lev 4:13).
In certain passages different classes of officers are mentioned as judges and officers (Deu 16:18), elders and officers (Deu 31:28), heads, tribes, elders officers (Deu 29:10 (Hebrew 9)). It is probable that both classes were selected from among the elders, and that to one class was assigned the work of judging, and that the officers exercised executive functions (Schrer). In entirely Jewish communities the same men would be both officers of the community and elders of the synagogue. In this case the same men would have jurisdiction over civil and religious matters.
Literature
Schrer, GJV3, section 23, especially 175ff (Eng. edition, II, i, 149ff; Benzinger, H A2, 51; Deissmann, Bibelstudien, 153ff (s.v. ); BDB, 278 (); Preuschen, Griechisch-Deutsches Handwrterbuch, under the word, 958 f.