Elders as community leaders

cvElders in early Israel

Elders represented their people

Exodus 19:7 NASB95

So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him.

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Elders assisted Moses

Numbers 11:16–17 NASB95

The Lord therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. “Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.

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Elders met in a national assembly

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Elders functioned as judges, sometimes in the town gate

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Elders during the period of the monarchy

Tribal and town elders

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Elders were local representatives at national functions

1 Kings 8:1 NASB95

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion.

Elders advised the king

1 Kings 12:6–8 NASB95

King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

Elders functioned as judges at the town gate

Proverbs 31:23 NASB95

Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

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Elders in Israel during and after the exile

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Elders in NT Jewish society

Elders were local town and synagogue leaders

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Elders were members of the Sanhedrin

Mark 15:1 NASB95

Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.

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Elders were guardians of religious traditions

Matthew 15:1–2 NASB95

Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

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The elders’ rejection of Jesus Christ predicted by him

Matthew 16:21 NASB95

From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

The involvement of the elders in the trial and condemnation of Jesus Christ

Matthew 27:1 NASB95

Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death;

The elders’ involvement with the first Christians

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