One of the significant contributions of archeology has been that, through the discovery of ancient documents from Bible lands, we have a better understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek languages of the Old and New Testaments. One scholar, John MacDonald from the University of Glasgow, recently published a study on the Hebrew word naar,<\/i> which appears frequently in the Old Testament, and found that the term is pregnant with meaning hitherto unsuspected.<\/p>\n
Naar<\/i> is translated in our Bibles as \u201cchild\u201d, \u201cyoung man\u201d, or \u201cservant\u201d. In studying the use of this word in the Ugaritic texts,1 however, MacDonald found that the term was used to designate a male of high birth. The naar<\/i> was in an upper stratum of society, a person associated with a professional guild or class, or a superior military figure.<\/p>\n
MacDonald analyzed the use of naar<\/i> in the Bible and concluded that the status of the naar<\/i> in Israelite society could be divided into two main categories: civilian and military. In the non-military realm, the naar<\/i> was one of high birth who could be in charge of household servants, or be a member of a particular professional guild. The term is used without regard to age, but when the naar<\/i> was old enough, he assumed responsible duties. In the royal court, he was a noble whose advice was acceptable to kings. The naar<\/i> was the member of a hierarchy, whether in the royal palace or in the household of wealthy aristocracy. If he was the son of a king or noble, he was himself in the ranks of nobility. The naar<\/i> could hold property, be wealthy, receive gifts from famous persons or, in certain cases, be salaried. But the best known role of the naar<\/i> in Israelite society was that of <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 17<\/p>\n
an elite military officer.<\/p>\n
In the elite corps of the army, the naar<\/i> was of full warrior status; he could serve as a scout or the armor-bearer of a senior military man. A naar\u2019s<\/i> success as a military leader could lead to his elevation in rank and the captaincy of soldiers. A very high-ranking naar<\/i> could have a place at court and eat at the royal table. MacDonald concluded that the best term for the Hebrew military naar<\/i> is \u201csquire\u201d, a well-known figure in the military organization of the later middle ages. A squire was a young man of good birth attendant upon a knight, one ranking next to a knight under the feudal system of military service and tenure, or a personal attendant for a sovereign or nobleman. A naar<\/i> in Israelite military service was, according to MacDonald, a member of the aristocracy, a young knight.<\/p>\n
Let us now look at a few examples of the use of the term naar<\/i> in the Bible.<\/p>\n
Abraham\u2019s Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
In Genesis 18 three angels came to Abraham to tell him about the coming judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah. To provide a fitting meal for his special guests, Abraham ordered Sarah to make cakes upon the hearth (verse 6), while he himself selected a tender calf from his herd and gave it to his naar<\/i> to prepare (verse 7). The naar<\/i> in this account was Abraham\u2019s personal attendant. The scene is one of Abraham, a great and wealthy tribal leader, at his personal tent with his wife and his naar<\/i> in attendance on him.<\/p>\n
Joseph the Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
We meet another naar<\/i> in the person of Joseph. In Genesis 41:12 when the chief butler was telling Pharaoh about Joseph\u2019s ability to interpret dreams, he referred to Joseph as a Hebrew naar<\/i>. Since Joseph was 30 years old at this time (Genesis 41:46) the translation of naar<\/i> as young man in verse 12 makes little sense. Before being put into prison, Joseph was head of the household of the Egyptian Captain of the Guard (Genesis 39:1\u20134). The Captain of the Guard was a very high-ranking officer, possibly of royal blood. Joseph therefore had a very responsible position as a person of high birth with exceptional abilities. Later, of course, Joseph was made overseer of all of Egypt (Genesis 41:40).<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 18<\/p>\n
Joshua the Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
Joshua is referred to as a naar<\/i> in Exodus 33:11, where he was in the Tabernacle when the Lord spoke with Moses \u201cface to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.\u201d At this time, Joshua was a personal attendant to Moses and was at his side even when he was speaking with God. Joshua was with Moses when he received the tablets of stone containing the law (Exodus 24:13). It was Joshua who first heard the noise of the Israelites\u2019 reveling when he and Moses came down from Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:17).<\/p>\n
Saul and the Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
When young Saul was sent to recover his father\u2019s missing asses in 1 Samuel 9, Saul\u2019s father sent a naar<\/i> along with him. It is evident from the narrative that the naar<\/i> was a person of status. The conversation in which the naar<\/i> suggested that they contact Samuel rather than returning home when they were not able to locate the asses (verses 5\u20138), is one that would hardly be expected between a wealthy man\u2019s son and a menial. It was the naar\u2019s<\/i> recommendation that was accepted. Moreover, the naar<\/i> had money when Saul did not (verse 8) and Samuel placed both Saul and his naar<\/i> in the best seats for the sacrificial meal (verse 22). Later when Saul\u2019s uncle inquired about the journey he spoke to both Saul and his naar<\/i> (1 Samuel 10:14), indicating that each one was an equally valid spokesman.<\/p>\n
Elijah\u2019s Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
Elijah and Elisha each had a naar<\/i> who acted as his personal attendant. When Elijah had caused the rain to cease across Israel (1 Kings 17:1), and was asking God to send rain (1 Kings 18:41, 42), it was his naar<\/i> who was by his side watching and was the one who saw a small cloud on the horizon (1 Kings 18:43, 44). Elijah\u2019s naar<\/i> then acted as a courier, taking news of the coming rain to Ahab, the king of Israel (1 Kings 18:44). When Elijah later fled from Jezebel, because she sought his life for killing the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19: 1\u20133), his naar<\/i> accompanied him (1 Kings 19:3).<\/p>\n
Gehazi the Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
Elisha\u2019s naar<\/i> is well known to us. He was constantly with Elisha as he carried on his prophetic ministry. We even know his name: Gehazi. Gehazi was with Elisha when he promised the Shunammite <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 19<\/p>\n
woman that she would have a son (2 Kings 4:8\u201317). Later, when the Shunammite woman\u2019s son died, it was Gehazi who vainly laid Elisha\u2019s staff on the child\u2019s face in an attempt to restore him to life (2 Kings 4:18\u201331). When Elisha himself appeared on the scene, the child was successfully raised to life by the man of God. It was Gehazi who then had the joy of calling in the mother to once again take her beloved son in her arms (2 Kings 4:32\u201337).<\/p>\n
Perhaps we best remember Elisha\u2019s naar<\/i> from his encounter with Naaman, the wealthy army commander from Syria. Naaman contracted the dreaded disease of leprosy and sought healing from Elisha (2 Kings 5:1\u20139). After he was healed by dipping seven times in the Jordan, he offered Elisha payment for his services (2 Kings 5:10\u201315). But Elisha would accept nothing and sent Naaman on his way (2 Kings 5:16\u201319). Gehazi, on the other hand, seeing a chance to come into some money, pursued Naaman and asked him for silver and clothing (2 Kings 5:20\u201324). Gehazi could not fool Elisha, however, and for his greedy act he was made a leper (2 Kings 5:25\u201327).<\/p>\n
Gehazi was evidently a faithful and well-loved naar,<\/i> for, in spite of his misconduct, Elisha kept him in his service. When the king of Syria sent his army to capture Elisha at Dothan because Elisha was able to forsee his movements, it was Gehazi who first spotted the enemy troops around the city (2 Kings 6:15). When Gehazi, panic stricken, reported this to his master, Elisha answered, \u201cFear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them\u201d (2 Kings 6:16. Then Elisha prayed that his naar\u2019s<\/i> eyes would be opened, \u201cand the Lord opened the eyes of the young man [naar<\/i>]; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha\u201d (2 Kings 6:17). Elisha then caused blindness to come upon the Syrian forces and eventually he sent them back to Syria (2 Kings 6:18\u201323).<\/p>\n
We meet Gehazi once more, this time speaking with the king of Israel telling him the great things that Elisha had done (2 Kings 8:4, 5). It is clear from the biblical record that Gehazi was an important person. He was the right-hand-man of one of Israel\u2019s great prophets and his word was honored by the king when he testified before him.<\/p>\n
From the time of Abraham to the time of Elisha we see that the naar<\/i> occupied a position of social prominence in Israelite society. Let us now turn briefly to the role of the naar<\/i> in the Israelite military forces.<\/p>\n
Jonathan\u2019s Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
When Saul was king of Israel, his son Jonathan had a naar<\/i> for his <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 20<\/p>\n
armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14:1). Acting as armor-bearer for a king or some other dignitary was a common role for a naar<\/i>. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan and his naar<\/i> engaged in a daring assault on the Philistine forces and succeeded in killing 20 men. The text makes it clear that there was a close relationship between the king\u2019s son and his naar<\/i> and that they were companions-at-arms (verses 14 and 17).<\/p>\n
David the Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
In the description of David\u2019s battle with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, David is described as a naar,<\/i> a young knight. In verse 33 Saul tried to discourage David from fighting the Philistine because he said that David was still only a naar<\/i> whereas the Philistine was a battle hardened knight who had apparently graduated from naar-ship<\/i>. When they came onto the battle field, the Philistine looked down his nose at David because he was only a naar,<\/i> a mere squire or young knight (verse 42).<\/p>\n
After David\u2019s victory over the Philistine giant, he went on to serve in Saul\u2019s army and was eventually in charge of all of the men of war (1 Samuel 18:5). David had a place at court, as befitted a knight. He sat at the royal table (1 Samuel 20:5) as did the army commander Abner (1 Samuel 20:25).<\/p>\n
Naars Lead the Attack<\/b><\/p>\n
When Saul died, David was anointed king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). But Saul\u2019s son Ishbosheth was made king over the northern tribes by Abner, Saul\u2019s commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 2:8, 9). One day the forces of David and Ishbosheth met at the pool of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:12, 13). (See Bible and Spade,<\/i> Spring 1974, pages 40\u201344, for more information on the pool of Gibeon.) The fighting first began by the naars<\/i> from the two armies opposing each other (2 Samuel 2:14\u201316). After that, a full-scale battle broke out between the two forces until the northern army was forced to retreat. Asahel, a soldier of Judah, set out after Abner. As the two were running, Abner made an interesting comment to Asahel: \u201cTurn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men [naar<\/i>], and take his spoil\u201d (2 Samuel 2:21). Now that we understand the status of a naar,<\/i> that statement takes on added meaning. As in Roman and Medieval practice, any soldier in normal circumstances was allowed to seize booty after a battle had been won. Since the \u201cknightly\u201d class would usually be in the forefront of the action against their opposite numbers in the enemy lines, they would have a better opportunity to <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 21<\/p>\n
take booty of quality and they had the right to plunder the goods of high-ranking foes they had slain or wounded. Therefore, when Abner admonished Asahel to take the spoil of a naar,<\/i> he was pointing him to one who would have some of the best of the booty. Unfortunately, Asahel did not heed Abner\u2019s admonition and he was killed by Abner (2 Samuel 2:23).<\/p>\n
The naar<\/i> was still an important military position in the time of the divided kingdom. We read in 1 Kings 20 of the siege of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, by Ben-Hadad, king of Syria. A prophet came to Ahab, king of Israel, and told him that the Syrians would be delivered into his hand as a demonstration of the power of God (verse 13). When Ahab asked who would do this great thing, the prophet answered that it would be by the naars<\/i> of the governors of the districts (verse 14). Apparently each governor throughout the kingdom was given a contingent of elite troops. When Ahab numbered the naars<\/i> of the districts he found that there was a total of 232. The naars<\/i> spearheaded the Israelite attack against the Syrians (verse 17). When Ben-Hadad was informed that they were coming he must have considered them to be valuable captives for he commanded his men to take them alive at all costs (verse 18). In the ensuing battle the Israelites had the upper hand and the Syrians were put to flight (verses 19\u201321). In this account we see the naars<\/i> as elite troops, professionals, who spearheaded attacks, and were even highly esteemed by the enemy king.<\/p>\n
Building and Guarding<\/b><\/p>\n
Even in the time of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the naar<\/i> still held a high position. In Nehemiah 4:16 it states that half of Nehemiah\u2019s naars<\/i> worked on the construction of the wall, probably as overseers, while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. Thus Nehemiah\u2019s naars<\/i> were no mere young men or servants, but were men of estate and wealth, superior citizens, capable of acting in construction or fully armed, guarding the work.<\/p>\n
Christ as Naar<\/b><\/p>\n
Before closing our short survey of the naar<\/i> in Israel, we must make mention the greatest Naar<\/i> of all: \u201cBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child [naar<\/i>] shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 22<\/p>\n
kings.\u201d (Isaiah 7:14\u201316) As Isaiah looked down the centuries of time and saw the coming of the Messiah, he was careful to refer to Him as a Naar,<\/i> one of high and noble birth. In this case, the Naar<\/i> he envisoned was of the highest possible birth, for He was the very Son of God. But in spite of His lofty position in the universe, His love for mankind was such that He \u201chumbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross\u201d (Philippians 2:8).<\/p>\n
(\u201cThe Status and Role of the Na\u2019ar in Israelite Society,\u201d by John MacDonald, Journal of Near Eastern Studies,<\/i> Vol. 35, No. 3, July 1976, pages 147\u2013170)<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 6:1 (Winter 1977) p. 23<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the significant contributions of archeology has been that, through the discovery of ancient documents from Bible lands, we have a better understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek languages of the Old and New Testaments. One scholar, John MacDonald from the University of Glasgow, recently published a study on the Hebrew word naar, … Continue reading “THE
\n\u201cNAAR\u201d IN ISRAELITE SOCIETY”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14893\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}