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[German Version] In Mesopotamia, the elders constituted a body of local authorities, as already in the Gilgamesh Epic ( TUAT III, 658, 686; cf. 549ff.). The functions of city elders in the OT ( ziqnê hā'îr) included ritual (1 Kgs 21), political (Judg 8; 1 Kgs 12; 2 Kgs 10), and legal (Deut 21:18ff.; Lam 5:14) tasks. In the Pentateuch, the elders of Israel participate in the theophany and covenant at Sinai (Exod 24), and are present at Aaron's first sacrifice (Lev 9:1). Deuteronomistic historiography marks transitions by the elders: Israel's apostasy begins with the death of the elders of the wilderness generation (Josh 24:31; Judg 2:7); they prepare the way for the monarchy (1 Sam 8:4ff.); the dedication…

[German Version] Jehoshaphat, Judean king (868–847 bce), whose story is told in 1 Kgs 15:24; 22:1–38, 41–51; 2 Kgs 3:1–27; 12:19; 1 Chr. 3:10, and 2 Chr. 17:1–21:1. In his time, Judah (see also Tribes of Israel) became heavily dependent on the northern kingdom of Israel (II, 1) so that one can almost speak of a veiled vass…

[German Version] (Feb 3, 1786, Nordhausen – Oct 23, 1842, Halle). After studies at Helmstedt and Göttingen, ¶ Gesenius …

[German Version] I. Religious Studies The worldwide significance that trees and plants have in cultus and mythology is connected to the essential relationship between plants, animals and human beings. Trees and plants play an important part in archaic cultures and tribal religions. In religious studies three overlapping areas may be identified: 1. Cosmic connections. The world tree holds the cosmos together as axis mundi, with its roots in the underworld, its trunk in the human world, and its top in the ¶ world of the gods; for example Yggdrasil (Germanic peoples), Yaxche (Ma…

[German Version] I. Religious St…

[German Version] I. Linguistics – II. Philosophy – III. Religious Studies – IV. Philosophy of Religion – V. Old Testament – VI. New Testament – VII. Church History – VIII. Judaism – IX. Islam I. Linguistics Linguistically, a name is a proper noun ( nomen proprium) as opposed to…

[German Version] I. History of Religion – II. Old Testament – III. New Testament – IV. Church History – V. Dogmatics – VI. Ethics – VII. Practical Theology – VIII. Church Law – IX. Judaism – X. Islam I. History of Religion In the following comments the term community will refer exclusively to a religiously motivated association of people. From the standpoint of the his…

[German Version] I. Religious Studies – II. Old Testament – III. Early Judaism – IV. New Testament – V. Church History – VI. Systematic Theology – VII. Practical Theology – VIII. Law – IX. Missiology I. Religious Studies Over the course of history, the word office has been used for a wide variety of functions. In every case, however, what is peculiar to the term is that it refers to an activity independ…